The following comes from the Department of State Web Site:
U.N. Must Not Shrink from Naming Human-Rights Abusers, U.S. Says
Boschwitz addresses human rights concerns at U.N. Human Rights Commission
Former Senator Rudy Boschwitz, head of the U.S. delegation to the U.N. Commission on Human Rights (UNCHR), expressed the Bush administration’s concern with human rights abuse throughout the world in a March 24 statement to that body’s 61st session.
Boschwitz said that reinforcing positive developments in human rights is integral to the committee and added, “though some of you would prefer to dispense with Item 9, it is not sufficient for this body to condemn the abuses but shy away from naming the abusers.”
The commission consists of 53 member states and meets for six weeks in March and April each year in Geneva to review observance and violations of human rights worldwide, to consider new ways to promote and protect human rights, and to encourage countries to respect the basic rights and freedoms outlined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. One of the commission's most noted achievements was the preparation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted in 1948.
The 61st session of the commission is meeting in Geneva from March 14 through April 22. Over 3,000 delegates representing observer nations and nongovernmental organization, in addition to the 53 members of the commission, are participating in the session.
Discussion of agenda Item 9, the question of the violation of human rights and fundamental freedoms in any part of the world, began on March 23 and was scheduled to continue throughout March 24.
In his prepared statement, Boschwitz praised human rights and democracy progress in Afghanistan and the January 30 elections in Iraq, noting the courage demonstrated by voters in both those countries.
He also cited other examples of progress throughout the Middle East including: successful presidential elections for the Palestinian Authority, improved rights for women in Morocco, decentralization initiatives in Jordan, and introduction of penal codes for sexual harassment and the completion of a contested presidential election in Algeria.
But the senator said that many other parts of the world have taken “perceptible movements” away from freedom and democracy, while, in other portions of the globe, freedom remains elusive.
Regarding the former Soviet republics, Boschwitz praised recent democratic progress in Ukraine but expressed concerns about violations of international human rights and humanitarian law in Chechnya and condemned the September 2004 terrorist assault on a school in Beslan. Additionally, he urged the commission to “send a powerful signal” to Belarus to “halt its assault on its own citizens’ rights and to take swift steps to uphold its international human rights commitments.”
In Asia, the United States remains “concerned about the Chinese government’s lack of commitment to improve its poor human rights record, despite the willingness of my and other countries to help,” Boschwitz said.
He also said that human rights will continue to be an integral part of the U.S. agenda with North Korea and noted that the United States will soon name a special envoy on human rights in North Korea, as mandated by the North Korea Human Rights Act (2004).
In addition, Boschwitz cited the poor human rights situation in Burma with the continued house arrest of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, detainment of political prisoners, and abuse of ethnic minorities.
The senator expressed U.S. concern with the continued violence by Jinjaweed militias in Sudan's Darfur region saying, “We have made it clear to Khartoum that we will not normalize relations or re-examine bilateral sanctions until the government keeps its promise in implementing the Comprehensive Peace Agreement and until violence has ended in Darfur.”
In the Western Hemisphere, he noted the rejection of democratic processes and continued harassment and intimidation of pro-democracy activists in Cuba and the “steady deterioration of democracy” in Venezuela.
“Cuba has repeatedly been censured by this Commission, and has brazenly ignored [commission] resolutions requiring it to take action,” Boschwitz said.
Other countries whose human-rights records are of concern to the United States include Egypt, Iran, Nepal, Saudi Arabia, Syria and Zimbabwe, according to Boschwitz’s statement.
“As the primary institution for the protection of human rights in the UN system, our message to these true patriots of their nations must be that you are not ignored and you are not forgotten, and we will not excuse those who are responsible for your oppression,” Senator Boschwitz said.
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