Commentary and Newsletters

Anne Bayefsky

UN Human Rights Council Reaches New Low

Friday, September 28, 2007

September 28, 2007

UN Human Rights Council Reaches New Low

Another two anti-Israel resolutions: Adopted

Resolutions criticizing any other state: None

New Total: 74% of all the country-specific criticism made by the "Human Rights" Council has been directed at Israel

This is not legitimate critique of states with equal or worse human rights records.

It is aimed at the demonization and defeat of the Jewish state.
THE UN "HUMAN RIGHTS" COUNCIL

On September 28, 2007 the UN "Human Rights" Council wrapped up another of its 3-week sessions by adopting two resolutions against Israel and none critical of the human rights record of any of the 191 other UN member states. One decision was taken to hold a special session of the Council next week on Myanmar. This brings the total of anti-Israel resolutions and decisions adopted by the "Human Rights" Council, in only the first 15 months of its operation, to 14. Another 4 very weak decisions and resolutions have been applied to Sudan - though nothing since last June despite ongoing genocide in Darfur.

Today, 74% of Council moves against individual states have been directed at Israel, 21% at Sudan, 5% at Myanmar, and the rest of the world has been given a free pass.

* * * *

Human Rights Council Resolutions and Decisions Critical of the Human Rights Records of Specific States

TOTAL: Israel -- 14 (74%). Sudan -- 4 (21%). Myanmar – 1 (5%) Rest of the world -- 0

Israel:   10 resolutions, 4 decisions, in addition to holding 3 special sessions
Sudan:   1 resolutions, 3 decisions, in addition to holding 1 special session
Myanmar:   1 decision, to hold a special session (October 2, 2007)

Explanatory Note
The word "criticism" is taken to mean any suggestion, however weak, that a specific country is responsible for human rights violations. It does not imply an equally negative condemnation of the states listed. The resolutions and decisions on Sudan do not contain the same direct condemnation leveled in the resolutions and decisions on Israel. More background. Decisions to hold a special session of the Council are included since they imply a negative assessment of human rights protection by that state, although they are procedural resolutions. Decisions to provide technical assistance to specific states concerning human rights problems are not included.

State Date Adopted Title of Resolution Decision Voting Record UN Symbol Number
Israel September 25, 2007 Religious and cultural rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem Adopted 31 for, 1 against, 15 abstentions

Against: Canada

Abstaining: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cameroon, France, Germany, Guatemala, Italy, Japan, Madagascar, Netherlands, Republic of Korea, Romania, Slovenia, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Kingdom
(A/HRC)6/L.4
Israel September 25, 2007 Resolution on the human rights situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory: follow-up to Human Rights Council Resolutions S-1/1 and S-3/1 Adopted without a vote (A/HRC)6/L.2
Israel March 27, 2007 Resolution on the human rights situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory: follow-up to Human Rights Council Resolutions S-1/1 and S-3/1 Adopted without a vote (A/HRC)Resolution 4/2
Israel December 8, 2006 Resolution on the Report of the Commission of Inquiry on Lebanon Adopted without a vote (A/HRC)Resolution 3/3
Israel December 8, 2006 Resolution on the human rights situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory: follow-up to Human Rights Council S-1/1 Adopted 34 for, 1 against, 12 abstentions

Against: Canada

Abstaining: Cameroon, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Japan, Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
(A/HRC)Resolution 3/1
Israel November 27, 2006 Resolution on the human rights in the occupied Syrian Golan Adopted 32 for, 1 against, 14 abstentions

Against: Canada

Abstaining: Cameroon, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Guatemala, Japan, Netherlands, Poland, Republic of Korea, Romania, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
(A/HRC)Resolution 2/3
Israel November 27, 2006 Resolution on Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem and in the Occupied Golan Adopted 45 for, 1 against, 1 abstention

Against: Canada

Abstaining: Cameroon
(A/HRC)Resolution 2/4
Israel November 15, 2006 Resolution on the human rights violations emanating from Israeli military incursions in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including the recent one in northern Gaza and the assault on Beit Hanoun Adopted 32 for, 8 against, 6 abstentions

Against: Canada, Czech Republic, Finland, Germany, Netherlands, Poland, Romania, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Abstaining: France, Guatemala, Japan, Republic of Korea, Switzerland, Ukraine
(A/HRC)Resolution S-3/1
Israel November 10, 2006 Decision to hold a special session on November 15 Request of 24 states  
Israel August 11, 2006 Resolution on the grave situation of human rights in Lebanon caused by Israeli military operations Adopted 27 for, 11 against, 8 abstentions

Against: Canada, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Japan, Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Abstaining: Cameroon, Gabon, Ghana, Guatemala, Nigeria, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Switzerland
(A/HRC)Resolution S-2/1
Israel August 7, 2006 Decision to hold a special session on August 11 Request of 23 states  
Israel July 6, 2006 Resolution on the human rights situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory Adopted 29 for, 11 against, 5 abstentions

Abstaining: Cameroon, Mexico, Nigeria, Republic of Korea, Switzerland

Against: Canada, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Japan, Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
(A/HRC)Resolution S-1/Res.1
Israel June 30, 2006 Decision to hold a special session on July 5-6 Request of 21 states  
Israel June 30, 2006 Decision on the Human rights situation in Palestine and other occupied Arab territories Adopted 29 for, 12 against, 5 abstentions

Against: Canada, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Japan, Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Abstaining: Cameroon, Ghana, Guatemala, Nigeria, Republic of Korea
(A/HRC)Decision 2006/106
Sudan March 30, 2007 Resolution on Follow-up to Decision S-4/101 Adopted without a vote (A/HRC)Resolution 4/8
Sudan December 13, 2006 Decision on the Situation of human rights in Darfur Adopted without a vote (A/HRC)Decision S-4/101
Sudan November 30, 2006 Decision to hold a special session Request of 33 states  
Sudan November 28, 2006 Decision on Darfur Adopted 25 for, 11 against, 10 abstentions

Against: Canada, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Abstaining: Argentina, Ecuador, Ghana, Guatemala, Japan, Mauritius, Peru, Republic of Korea, Uruguay, Zambia
(A/HRC)Decision 2/115
Myanmar September 28, 2007 Decision to hold a special session Request of 17 states