Following the very limited reforms achieved at last year’s Commission on Human Rights, this week in Geneva, country representatives are again trying to reform the UN’s human rights mechanisms.
Analysis: In the world today, the language, the issues, and the moral legitimacy of human rights provide the field on which many political battles are waged. No state – be it democratic, communist, or authoritarian – takes lightly the charge that it is a human rights abuser. Thus states go to great lengths to defend themselves on this score. And, conversely, to paint their adversaries as violators of human rights.
That this behavior cheapens the discourse of human rights is certain. But just because some would abuse the language of human rights does not mean that human rights abuses do not occur. Sadly, in some parts of the world they are all too regular.
Last spring, at the UN Commission on Human Rights, a comprehensive package of reforms of the UN’s human rights mechanisms was presented. Some suggestions were positive, others needed further refinement. But as an effort to examine and improve the existing system, they were welcome.
Then came the concerted efforts of several states to derail serious reform. Why? Because an effective set of mechanisms could very well highlight those states’ appalling records.
This week, a working group is again trying to hammer out a limited set of recommendations that would improve some aspects of the UN’s human rights mechanisms.
We hope they succeed. For the UN has been successful in articulating the values of human rights; certain key conventions have near-universal ratification. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was last year reaffirmed by a GA consensus. There are volumes of UN resolutions, decisions, and statements forming a comprehensive body of human rights standards.
But when it comes to enforcement, both political and institutional factors hinder the real protection of human rights. Now is the time to focus on enforcement mechanisms that will fairly, impartially, and in accordance with UN Charter principles, ensure that violators of human rights are called to account.
