U.S. Missed Opportunity in U.N. Human Rights Council
23 June 2006; New York Times

In a June 23rd editorial, the New York Times praised the Bush administration for insisting on high standards when the rules of membership for the United Nation’s new Human Rights Council. It criticizes the administration, however, for passing up an opportunity to further the Council and balance the voices of human rights abusers such as Cuba and China.

“Despite losing the fight over membership rules, Washington has pledged to help the new council succeed. Regrettably, it passed up an obvious chance to do so by choosing not to seek a seat itself this year. An American voice on the council would have been a spur toward greater candor and understanding. While it is hard to feel optimistic about a human-rights group that includes Saudi Arabia, where women's rights are virtually nonexistent, or Pakistan, where possible sentences include stoning and judicial gang rape, the problematic members only make up a fraction of the 47-member group.”