YES – Hillel Neuer, executive director of United Nations Watch

Oxfam betrayed the very people it was meant to protect. And this isn’t just about a few bad apples.
Before the organisation ever sent Roland van Hauwermeiren to be country director for Haiti – where he turned a villa rented by Oxfam into a brothel, sexually exploiting minors – officials knew of similar conduct by him and other Oxfam staffers in Chad.
Similarly, when they finally removed van Hauwermeiren, Oxfam covered up his crimes, allowing the abuser to find work with another aid agency.
Sadly, there have been many other sexual abuse scandals at Oxfam, as well as corruption and misuse of funds.
The problem with international agencies, including the UN, is that there is no accountability.
When Priti Patel served as International Development Secretary and tried to speak of abuses, the bureaucrats muzzled her, to protect the establishment.
Oxfam’s funds have to be cut now – and only they are to blame.

——

The post UN Watch in City AM: "In light of the Haiti prostitution scandal, should Oxfam lose UK government funding?" appeared first on UN Watch.

Ban Ki-moon Should Apologize to Families
& Reopen Investigation

EXPERT REPUDIATES U.N. REPORT, SAYS WORLD BODY IS CULPABLE

Geneva, Oct. 24 – The U.N. needs to reopen its 2011 investigation into Haiti’s cholera epidemic in light of new evidence from one of the investigating scientists that points to U.N. culpability for the outbreak, a catastrophe that has already killed 7,500 and sickened more than 300,000, said UN Watch, a non-governmental watchdog group based in Geneva.
However, speaking Monday at a U.N. briefing, Under-Secretary-General Hervé Ladsous, the world body’s head of peacekeeping, dismissed a top scientist’s conclusion that the epidemic originated in a U.N. camp of peacekeepers from Nepal.
Ladsous pointed to the 2011 report by a U.N. expert panel which, he said, “concluded that it was impossible to establish the origins of the disease.”
In response, UN Watch executive director Hillel Neuer highlighted the fact that the new evidence comes from a member of the U.N. panel itself, Dr. Daniele Lantagne, a leading international public health expert.
“Why is the U.N. hiding behind a report whose conclusions are now repudiated by one of its chief authors? It makes no sense. The U.N.’s response is deeply disappointing, and an abdication of basic accountability from an organization that regularly demands it of others.”
Instead, said Neuer, “the logical and moral thing for Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon to do is reopen the investigation, with a fully independent panel and public inquiry, and that is what we are demanding.”
“We recall that the UN Charter, whose anniversary the world celebrates today on UN Day, speaks of the organization’s commitment to solving health-related problems.”
Dr. Lantagne, according to a BBC report, changed her view about the source of the cholera epidemic following new genome data and other evidence.
No longer standing by the 2011 UN Report which she co-authored — and which stressed that the outbreak was “not the fault” of any “group or individual” — she now states that “the most likely source of the introduction of cholera into Haiti was someone infected with the Nepal strain of cholera and associated with the United Nations Mirabalais camp.”
The original report hinted at the same conclusion in recommending that U.N. staffers sent to future crisis situations “receive a prophylactic dose of appropriate antibiotics before departure or be screened.”
“No one is accusing the U.N. of deliberately poisoning Haiti’s water supply,” said Neuer. “But when one of its own designated experts concludes that a U.N. division negligently caused a mass epidemic, the victims are owed a better response than denial and deafening silence.”
“Given that we are now looking at one of the greatest violations of the right to health in the past decade,” said Neuer, “and given that the UN is the one responsible, we also call on UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay to speak out, as well as the UN’s expert on the right to health, Anand Grover.”
A UN spokesman in Haiti, Nigel Fisher, acknowledged the new information but refused to comment. “The investigation is still with the [UN’s New York] legal office, so I’m not able to say anything at this time until that’s gone through the due process.”
The consequences go beyond embarrassment, with compensation claims by Haitian victims now reaching into the billions.
Neuer urged the UN to apologize for its negligence, and “to give the victims of Haiti what they deserve: justice, dignity and full compensation.”

The post U.N. Wrong to Reject New Evidence It Caused Haiti’s Cholera Epidemic appeared first on UN Watch.

Item 10 – Interactive Dialogue with Independent Expert on Haiti

31^st Session of the Human Rights Council, March 22, 2016

Delivered by Ms. Katie Buie

Thank you Mr. President.
UN Watch would like to thank the Independent Expert for his report on the situation of Human Rights in Haiti.
UN Watch is deeply concerned by the continued gross and systematic human rights violations taking place in Haiti. Regarding the report before us today, we would like to draw particular attention to two specific issues.
First, UN Watch is alarmed by the growing incidence of prolonged pretrial detention. We reiterate the call made by the Independent Expert to put an end to this practice. Despite repeated calls by the Independent Expert in recent years to this effect, the problem has only become more prevalent. Now, more than 70% of all detainees in Haiti are being held in pretrial detention. Among women, the pretrial detention rate is a staggering 87%.
Additionally, UN Watch is concerned that extreme social, political, and economic inequalities inhibit the majority of Haitian citizens from exercising full enjoyment of their human rights. These inequalities are of particular concern for women in Haiti, who suffer from gender based violence and inequality in almost all areas of life. As noted by the Independent Expert, poor reproductive health, as well as persistent physical and sexual violence, contributes greatly to the abysmal and rapidly declining state of gender equality in Haiti.
UN Watch echoes the request made by the Independent Expert to strengthen laws against gender based violence, harassment and sexual assault – in particular, we urge the Haitian government to pass the recent proposed amendment to the Criminal Code to protect Haitian women from systematic sexual harassment and violence.
We would like to ask the Independent Expert what concrete steps the Haitian government can take to immediately end the worsening practice of prolonged pretrial detention?
Thank you, Mr. President

The post Haiti must end long pretrial detention appeared first on UN Watch.

Thank you, Mr. President.
UN Watch is concerned about continuing violations of basic rights, and barriers to long-term development in Haiti. We agree with the Independent Expert that these issues are interlinked with the deep inequalities present in Haitian society. As such, the extension of the mandate of MINUSTAH through October 2015 by the Security Council is warranted.
UN Watch is further concerned, as documented in the report, that unacceptable human rights violations and inequalities persist. UN Watch is alarmed by an illiteracy rate that plagues more than half of the population, low gender equality, widespread gender violence, inhumane and cruel treatment of prisoners, overcrowding in jails and prolonged pretrial detentions, the continued use of child workers, and a deplorable situation for IDPs.
Though the adoption of legislation to address many of these issues is commendable, there is sharp disparity between legislation and practice.
UN Watch agrees with the Independent Expert that despite their complexity, these issues are not insuperable. However, in addition to the shock treatment suggested to immediately address concerning violations of basic human rights, UN Watch wishes to highlight the importance too, of long-term policies and enforced legislation such as strengthening: education, the rule of law and accountability. This two-prong approach would best serve to minimize human rights violations in the short-term, and guarantee stability and development in Haiti in the long-term.
Accordingly, UN Watch wishes to ask the Independent Expert two questions:
1) Have you considered evaluating best practices from other states in transition to combat the very high percentage of illiteracy in Haiti?
2) What tangible and effective measures can be implemented to empower women and combat the widespread gender inequality and violence?
I thank you, Mr. President.

The post The UN should guarantee rights protection and development in Haiti appeared first on UN Watch.

Ban Ki-moon Should Apologize to Families & Reopen Investigation

EXPERT REPUDIATES U.N. REPORT, SAYS WORLD BODY IS CULPABLE

Geneva, Oct. 24– The U.N. needs to reopen its 2011 investigation into Haiti’s cholera epidemic in light of new evidence from one of the investigating scientists that points to U.N. culpability for the outbreak, a catastrophe that has already killed 7,500 and sickened more than 300,000, said UN Watch, a non-governmental watchdog group based in Geneva.

However, speaking Monday at a U.N. briefing, Under-Secretary-General Hervé Ladsous, the world body’s head of peacekeeping, dismissed a top scientist’s conclusion that the epidemic originated in a U.N. camp of peacekeepers from Nepal.

Ladsous pointed to the 2011 report by a U.N. expert panel which, he said, “concluded that it was impossible to establish the origins of the disease.”

In response, UN Watch executive director Hillel Neuer highlighted the fact that the new evidence comes from a member of the U.N. panel itself, Dr. Daniele Lantagne, a leading international public health expert.

“Why is the U.N. hiding behind a report whose conclusions are now repudiated by one of its chief authors? It makes no sense. The U.N.’s response is deeply disappointing, and an abdication of basic accountability from an organization that regularly demands it of others.”

Instead, said Neuer, “the logical and moral thing for Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon to do is reopen the investigation, with a fully independent panel and public inquiry, and that is what we are demanding.”

“We recall that the UN Charter, whose anniversary the world celebrates today on UN Day, speaks of the organization’s commitment to solving health-related problems.”

Dr. Lantagne, according to a BBC report, changed her view about the source of the cholera epidemic following new genome data and other evidence.

No longer standing by the 2011 UN Report which she co-authored — and which stressed that the outbreak was “not the fault” of any “group or individual” — she now states that “the most likely source of the introduction of cholera into Haiti was someone infected with the Nepal strain of cholera and associated with the United Nations Mirabalais camp.”

The original report hinted at the same conclusion in recommending that U.N. staffers sent to future crisis situations “receive a prophylactic dose of appropriate antibiotics before departure or be screened.”

“No one is accusing the U.N. of deliberately poisoning Haiti’s water supply,” said Neuer. “But when one of its own designated experts concludes that a U.N. division negligently caused a mass epidemic, the victims are owed a better response than denial and deafening silence.”

“Given that we are now looking at one of the greatest violations of the right to health in the past decade,” said Neuer, “and given that the UN is the one responsible, we also call on UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay to speak out, as well as the UN’s expert on the right to health, Anand Grover.”

A UN spokesman in Haiti, Nigel Fisher, acknowledged the new information but refused to comment. “The investigation is still with the [UN’s New York] legal office, so I’m not able to say anything at this time until that’s gone through the due process.”

The consequences go beyond embarrassment, with compensation claims by Haitian victims now reaching into the billions.

Neuer urged the UN to apologize for its negligence, and “to give the victims of Haiti what they deserve: justice, dignity and full compensation.”

The post U.N. Wrong to Reject New Evidence It Caused Haiti’s Cholera Epidemic appeared first on UN Watch.

Ban Ki-moon Should Apologize to Families & Reopen Investigation

EXPERT REPUDIATES U.N. REPORT, SAYS WORLD BODY IS CULPABLE

Geneva, Oct. 24 – The U.N. needs to reopen its 2011 investigation into Haiti’s cholera epidemic in light of new evidence from one of the investigating scientists that points to U.N. culpability for the outbreak, a catastrophe that has already killed 7,500 and sickened more than 300,000, said UN Watch, a non-governmental watchdog group based in Geneva.

However, speaking Monday at a U.N. briefing, Under-Secretary-GeneralHervé Ladsous, the world body’s head of peacekeeping, dismissed a top scientist’s conclusion that the epidemic originated in a U.N. camp of peacekeepers from Nepal.

Ladsous pointed to the 2011 report by a U.N. expert panel which, he said, “concluded that it was impossible to establish the origins of the disease.”

In response, UN Watch executive director Hillel Neuer highlighted the fact that the new evidence comes from a member of the U.N. panel itself, Dr. Daniele Lantagne, a leading international public health expert.

“Why is the U.N. hiding behind a report whose conclusions are now repudiated by one of its chief authors? It makes no sense. The U.N.’s response is deeply disappointing, and an abdication of basic accountability from an organization that regularly demands it of others.”

Instead, said Neuer, “the logical and moral thing for Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon to do is reopen the investigation, with a fully independent panel and public inquiry, and that is what we are demanding.”

“We recall that the UN Charter, whose anniversary the world celebrates today on UN Day, speaks of the organization’s commitment to solving health-related problems.”

Dr. Lantagne, according to a BBC report, changed her view about the source of the cholera epidemic following new genome data and other evidence.

No longer standing by the 2011 UN Report which she co-authored — and which stressed that the outbreak was “not the fault” of any “group or individual” — she now states that “the most likely source of the introduction of cholera into Haiti was someone infected with the Nepal strain of cholera and associated with the United Nations Mirabalais camp.”

The original report hinted at the same conclusion in recommending that U.N. staffers sent to future crisis situations “receive a prophylactic dose of appropriate antibiotics before departure or be screened.”

“No one is accusing the U.N. of deliberately poisoning Haiti’s water supply,” said Neuer. “But when one of its own designated experts concludes that a U.N. division negligently caused a mass epidemic, the victims are owed a better response than denial and deafening silence.”

“Given that we are now looking at one of the greatest violations of the right to health in the past decade,” said Neuer, “and given that the UN is the one responsible, we also call on UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay to speak out, as well as the UN’s expert on the right to health, Anand Grover.”

A UN spokesman in Haiti, Nigel Fisher, acknowledged the new information but refused to comment. “The investigation is still with the [UN’s New York] legal office, so I’m not able to say anything at this time until that’s gone through the due process.”

The consequences go beyond embarrassment, with compensation claims by Haitian victims now reaching into the billions.

Neuer urged the UN to apologize for its negligence, and “to give the victims of Haiti what they deserve: justice, dignity and full compensation.”

The post Issue 387: U.N. Rejects New Evidence It Caused Haiti’s Cholera Epidemic appeared first on UN Watch.

GENEVA, January 27, 2010 — Today’s urgent meeting of the UN Human Rights Council regarding Haiti is “a harmful waste of the organization’s precious time, resources, and moral capital,” said a human rights watchdog group.

“Haiti is certainly a dire emergency, but this council, which is supposed to address human rights violations, has no budget, authority or expertise on humanitarian aid, and is clearly the wrong forum,” said Hillel Neuer, executive director of UN Watch, a Geneva-based monitoring organization.

According to UN estimates, a day of conference and translation services costs up to $200,000. “Instead of being used for today’s questionable exercise, that money should have gone to Haiti’s needy victims,” said Neuer.

“Unlike other UN bodies, the Human Rights Council has neither the power of the purse nor of the sword, only the power to turn a spotlight on the worst abusers,” said Neuer. “Tragically, however, the council has refused to hold special sessions to try and stop Iran from massacring student protesters, terrorists from killing civilians in Baghdad and Kabul, or China and Cuba from arresting bloggers, journalists and dissidents. Yet today it convenes — to do exactly what? Condemn the earth for quaking? It’s nonsensical.”

“Dominated by repressive regimes, the council is wasting its time on an issue that involves no violation or perpetrator. It’s a public relations exercise that diverts the Human Rights Council’s attention from examining genuine human rights abuses, and aids member states that want us to believe the council is nevertheless doing something.”

“The council was similarly misused last year with an urgent session on the financial crisis, and the year before that on the rise in food prices. Because it’s inherently the wrong forum, both meetings amounted to futile political exercises that produced nothing but paper.”

“I regret that the United States and the European Union have lent their names as co-sponsors to this equally futile exercise. It only takes the Council further away from its stated mission of protecting individual human rights, and sends the wrong message.”

The EU and other Western countries had previously demanded that all special sessions include a specific description of the human rights violations at issue (see par. 64 at p. 17 here). However, many co-sponsored today’s session despite the absence of any such description or violations.

The UN titled the meeting a “Special Session on Support to recovery process in Haiti: A Human Rights approach.”

For more information on previous special sessions, see below.

* * *

Background:  Previous 12 UN Human Rights Council Special Sessions

From its inception in June 2006, the UN Human Rights Council has held 10 special sessions on countries, of which six were sponsored by Arab states and devoted to the one-sided condemnation of Israel, and four on the rest of the world combined. An additional two sessions were held on food and financial crises, both of which pointed an accusing finger at the West. Following is a summary.

• 12th special session (October 2009): Condemned Israel for alleged violations (but failed to condemn Hamas), and adopted report of UN Human Rights Council Fact-Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict (“Goldstone Report”).
• 11th special session (May 2009): Praised Sri Lankan government (ignored killing of 20,000 civilians).
• 10th special session (February 2009): Financial crisis (blamed the West).
• 9th special session (January 2009): Condemned Israel for Gaza war (ignored Hamas terrorism).
• 8th special session (November 2008) DR Congo (failed to reinstate investigator eliminated by council earlier in the year).
• 7th special session (May 2008) Food crisis (blamed the West).
• 6th special session (January 2008):  Condemned Israel for actions in Gaza (ignored Hamas terrorism).
• 5th special session (October 2007): Myanmar.
• 4th special session (December 2006) Darfur (praised Sudan for its “cooperation”).
• 3rd special session (November 2006): Condemned Israel for errant shell in Beit Hanoun (ignored Hamas terrorism).
• 2nd special session (August 2006): Condemned Israel for Lebanon war (ignored Hezbollah terrorism).
• 1st special session (July 2006): Condemned Israel for responding to Gilad Shalit capture (ignored Hamas terrorism).

The post Group: U.N. rights council’s Haiti parley is “harmful diversion” appeared first on UN Watch.

According to UN estimates, a day of conference and translation services costs up to $200,000. “Instead of being used for today’s questionable exercise, that money should have gone to Haiti’s needy victims,” said Neuer.

“Unlike other UN bodies, the Human Rights Council has neither the power of the purse nor of the sword, only the power to turn a spotlight on the worst abusers,” said Neuer.

“Tragically, however, the council has refused to hold special sessions to try and stop Iran from massacring student protesters, terrorists from killing civilians in Baghdad and Kabul, or China and Cuba from arresting bloggers, journalists and dissidents. Yet today it convenes — to do exactly what? Condemn the earth for quaking? It’s nonsensical.”

“Dominated by repressive regimes, the council is wasting its time on an issue that involves no violation or perpetrator. It’s a public relations exercise that diverts the Human Rights Council’s attention from examining genuine human rights abuses, and aids member states that want us to believe the council is nevertheless doing something.”

“The council was similarly misused last year with an urgent session on the financial crisis, and the year before that on the rise in food prices. Because it’s inherently the wrong forum, both meetings amounted to futile political exercises that produced nothing but paper.”

“I regret that the United States and the European Union have lent their names as co-sponsors to this equally futile exercise. It only takes the Council further away from its stated mission of protecting individual human rights, and sends the wrong message.”

The EU and other Western countries had previously demanded that all special sessions include a specific description of the human rights violations at issue (see par. 64 at p. 17 here). However, many co-sponsored today’s session despite the absence of any such description or violations.The UN titled the meeting a “Special Session on Support to recovery process in Haiti: A Human Rights approach.”For more information on previous special sessions, see below.

* * *

Background: Previous 12 UN Human Rights Council Special Sessions

From its inception in June 2006, the UN Human Rights Council has held 10 special sessions on countries, of which six were sponsored by Arab states and devoted to the one-sided condemnation of Israel, and four on the rest of the world combined. An additional two sessions were held on food and financial crises, both of which pointed an accusing finger at the West. Following is a summary.

12th special session (October 2009): Condemned Israel for alleged violations (but failed to condemn Hamas), and adopted report of UN Human Rights Council Fact-Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict (“Goldstone Report”).

11th special session (May 2009): Praised Sri Lankan government (ignored killing of 20,000 civilians).

10th special session (February 2009): Financial crisis (blamed the West).

9th special session (January 2009): Condemned Israel for Gaza war (ignored Hamas terrorism).

8th special session (November 2008) DR Congo (failed to reinstate investigator eliminated by council earlier in the year).

7th special session (May 2008) Food crisis (blamed the West).

6th special session (January 2008): Condemned Israel for actions in Gaza (ignored Hamas terrorism).

5th special session (October 2007): Myanmar.

4th special session (December 2006) Darfur (praised Sudan for its “cooperation”).

3rd special session (November 2006): Condemned Israel for errant shell in Beit Hanoun (ignored Hamas terrorism).

2nd special session (August 2006): Condemned Israel for Lebanon war (ignored Hezbollah terrorism).

1st special session (July 2006): Condemned Israel for responding to Gilad Shalit capture (ignored Hamas terrorism).

The post Group: U.N. rights council’s Haiti parley is “harmful diversion” appeared first on UN Watch.

• First Time: Israel Allowed into UN Human Rights Caucus

• UN Rights Council’s Haiti Parley Deflects From Violations in Iran, China
   

• Plus: Chart of all previous emergency sessions

First Time: Israel Admitted to UN Human Rights Caucus in Geneva

January 27, 2010

GENEVA – After decades of exclusion, Israel was granted membership in a United Nations caucus in Geneva, the world body’s European headquarters.

Israel’s admission to the Human Rights Council’s JUSCANZ consultation group — an acronym (pronounced “juicecans”) for the non-EU democracies of Japan, the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand — was approved last Friday by consensus, and signifies they regard the Jewish state as “like-minded.” The group has expanded over time to include Norway, Switzerland and other Western countries.

For this to happen in Geneva, and especially at the Arab-dominated Human Rights Council, is an historic accomplishment for Israel and for the principle of equality.

It’s a significant achievement in an arena where regression is the norm, one that will allow Israel for the first time to participate in a UN consultative group on human rights issues.

This is particularly important during a time when countries are planning for the 2011 reform of the council, a body that has repeatedly turned a blind eye to the world’s victims of human rights violations.

The diplomatic victory followed years of diplomatic efforts, which were supported by UN Watch as a necessary implementation of the UN Charter’s equality guarantee for all nations, large and small. The United States is one of several countries that deserve particular credit for finally making it happen.

The change does not apply to JUSCANZ consultations in New York, nor to the Asian regional group’s continued exclusion of Israel. UN Watch appealed to the United Nations to remove remaining discriminatory barriers to Israel’s full and equal participation in UN voting and consultation blocs.

In particular, UN Watch calls on the Human Rights Council to remove its permanent agenda item targeting Israel; to eliminate its post of a permanent investigator on alleged Israeli violations (currently held by 9/11 conspiracy theorist Richard Falk), where guilt is presumed in advance; and to end the policy whereby three-quarters of all council resolutions have been devoted to the one-sided censure of Israel, and Israel made the object of more special sessions than the total amount for the rest of the world combined. For a chart of all special sessions, see at bottom.

U.N. rights council’s Haiti parley is harmful diversion

January 27, 2010

GENEVA — Today’s 13th emergency session of the UN Human Rights Council, on Haiti, was a harmful waste of the organization’s precious time, resources, and moral capital.

Haiti is certainly a dire emergency, but the council, which is supposed to address human rights violations, has no budget, authority or expertise on humanitarian aid, and is simply the wrong forum.

According to one UN estimate, a day of conference and translation services can cost up to $200,000. Instead of being used for today’s questionable exercise, that money should have gone to Haiti’s needy victims.

Unlike other UN bodies, the Human Rights Council has neither the power of the purse nor of the sword, only the power to turn a spotlight on the worst abusers.

Tragically, however, the council has refused to hold special sessions to try and stop Iran from massacring student protesters, terrorists from killing civilians in Baghdad and Kabul, or China and Cuba from arresting bloggers, journalists and dissidents. Yet today it convened — to do what, exactly? Condemn the earth for quaking? It’s nonsensical.

Brazil, whose military has commanded the UN forces in Haiti for the past several years, was the one who requested today’s session. The leading power in South America, Brazil is determined to preserve its regional influence, with its rule over Haiti becoming a way to flex its muscles, as well as to gain UN credibility and one day win a seat on the Security Council.

The sudden, post-earthquake arrival of US forces and other actors challenges Brazil’s position. Hence today’s meeting, with Brazilian Foreign Minister Celso Amorim given an outsized role at the session. (Click here for summary of speeches.)

Also today, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva blamed wealthy nations for Haiti’s poverty and misery, saying he hoped the quake would shame world leaders into doing what they should have done decades ago.

Beyond Brazil’s use of the special session to jockey for international influence, the larger question is why the session won such wide and easy support, when requests for urgent meetings on massive abuses elsewhere are routinely ignored by the council members.

Dominated by repressive regimes like Saudi Arabia, Russia and China, the council majority prefers to waste time on an issue that involves no violation or perpetrator. It’s a public relations exercise that diverts attention from examining genuine human rights abuses, and aids member states that want the world to believe the council is nevertheless doing something.

The council was similarly misused last year with an urgent meeting on the financial crisis, and the year before that on the rise in food prices. Because it’s inherently the wrong forum, both meetings amounted to futile political exercises that produced nothing but paper.

The United States and the European Union should not have lent their names as co-sponsors to this equally futile exercise. It only takes the council further away from its stated mission of protecting individual human rights, and sends the wrong message.

Interestingly, the EU and other Western countries had previously demanded that all special sessions include a specific description of the human rights violations at issue (see par. 64 at p. 17 here). However, many of the same countries who took that position co-sponsored today’s session, despite the absence of any such description or violations.

The UN titled the meeting a “Special Session on Support to Recovery Process in Haiti: A Human Rights approach.”

For more information on previous special sessions, see below.

* * *

Background:  Chart of All Previous UN Human Rights Council Special Sessions

From its inception in June 2006, the UN Human Rights Council has held 10 special sessions on countries, of which six were sponsored by Arab states and devoted to the one-sided condemnation of Israel, and four on the rest of the world combined. An additional two sessions were held on food and financial crises, both of which pointed an accusing finger at the West. Following is a summary.

• 12th special session (October 2009): Condemned Israel for alleged violations (but failed to condemn Hamas), and adopted report of UN Human Rights Council Fact-Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict (“Goldstone Report”).
• 11th special session (May 2009): Praised Sri Lankan government (ignored killing of 20,000 civilians).
• 10th special session (February 2009): Financial crisis (blamed the West).
• 9th special session (January 2009): Condemned Israel for Gaza war (ignored Hamas terrorism).
• 8th special session (November 2008) DR Congo (failed to reinstate investigator eliminated by council earlier in the year).
• 7th special session (May 2008) Food crisis (blamed the West).
• 6th special session (January 2008):  Condemned Israel for actions in Gaza (ignored Hamas terrorism).
• 5th special session (October 2007): Myanmar.
• 4th special session (December 2006) Darfur (praised Sudan for its “cooperation”).
• 3rd special session (November 2006): Condemned Israel for errant shell in Beit Hanoun (ignored Hamas terrorism).
• 2nd special session (August 2006): Condemned Israel for Lebanon war (ignored Hezbollah terrorism).
• 1st special session (July 2006): Condemned Israel for responding to Gilad Shalit capture (ignored Hamas terrorism).

The post Issue 215: U.N. Haiti Meeting Slammed; Israel Admitted to UN Rights Caucus appeared first on UN Watch.

GENEVA, January 25, 2010 — Today’s decision by the UN’s 47-nation Human Rights Council to convene a special session on Haiti this Wednesday is “a harmful waste of the organization’s precious time, resources, and moral capital,” said a human rights watchdog group.

“Haiti is a dire emergency for which this council has the capacity to do absolutely nothing,” said Hillel Neuer, executive director of UN Watch, a Geneva-based monitoring organization. The UNHRC is mandated to protect and promote human rights, but has no budget or authority concerning humanitarian aid.

“Unlike other UN bodies, the Human Rights Council has neither the power of the purse or the sword, only the power to turn a spotlight on the worst abusers,” said Neuer. “Yet instead of answering pleas for special sessions to try and stop Iran from massacring student protesters, China from arresting bloggers, or Cuba from beating dissidents, it will now convene to condemn the earth for quaking.”

“The session will neither feed nor heal a single Haitian victim. On the contrary, it will waste up to $200,000 in conference and translation costs that could have been used for vital aid.”

“The council is wasting its time on an issue that involves no violation, perpetrator or victim. It’s a political exercise by countries seeking to divert attention from the world’s worst abusers and to dilute the human rights agenda, supported by other diplomats who want to pretend the council is doing something.”

“The Council conducted an identical exercise last year, with an emergency session on the finanical crisis, and the year before that on the food crisis. Both were futile.”

“I regret that the United States and the European Union conceded to lend their names as co-sponsors to this equally futile exercise. They may have thought it harmless, but it only encourages further diversions and sends the wrong message.”

For more information on previous special sessions, see below.

* * *

About Previous 12 UN Human Rights Council Special Sessions

Since its inception in June 2006, the UN Human Rights Council has held 10 special sessions dealing with countries, of which 6 have been devoted to condemning Israel, and 4 on the rest of the world combined. An additional two sessions were held on the world food and financial crises, both of which pointed an accusing finger at the West.

12th special session (October 2009): Condemned Israel for alleged violations (but failed to condemn Hamas), and adopted report of UN Human Rights Council Fact-Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict (“Goldstone Report”).

11th special session (May 2009): Praised Sri Lankan government (ignored killing of 20,000 civilians).

10th special session (February 2009): Financial crisis (blamed the West).

9th special session (January 2009): Condemned Israel for Gaza war (ignored Hamas terrorism).

8th special session (November 2008) DR Congo (failed to reinstate investigator eliminated by council earlier in the year).

7th special session (May 2008) Food crisis (blamed the West).

6th special session (January 2008):  Condemned Israel for actions in Gaza (ignored Hamas terrorism).

5th special session (October 2007): Myanmar.

4th special session (December 2006) Darfur (praised Sudan for its “cooperation”).

3rd special session (November 2006): Condemned Israel for errant shell in Beit Hanoun (ignored Hamas terrorism).

2nd special session (August 2006): Condemned Israel for Lebanon war (ignored Hezbollah terrorism).

1st special session (July 2006): Condemned Israel for responding to Gilad Shalit capture (ignored Hamas terrorism).

The post Group: U.N. rights council’s Haiti parley is “harmful diversion” appeared first on UN Watch.