Obama administration to join UN human rights council
President Obama's administration will seek membership of the UN human rights council
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Wednesday, 01, Apr 2009 12:58
The Obama administration has announced they will put themselves forward for membership of the UN Human Rights Council – an organisation George Bush's government shunned for being ineffective and anti-Israel.
Secretary of state Hilary Clinton and US ambassador to the UN Susan Rice said the US would be running for one of three places available in the 47-member council when elections take place in May.
In a statement, Mrs Clinton said the administration intended to try and reform the council from within, by ensuring the Geneva-based body did not ignore human rights abuses across the globe by focussing too much on states such as Israel.
Mrs Clinton said: "We believe every nation must live by and help shape global rules that ensure people enjoy the right to live freely and participate fully in their societies."
The council was set up to replace the Human Rights Commission in 2006 following complaints about the membership of oppressive regimes such as Sudan and Zimbabwe, but was shunned by the United States because they believed the new body would be no better.
Despite the body being endorsed by 170 countries world-wide, the US joined Israel, the Marshall Islands and Palau in opposing it.
But as part of the Obama administration's philosophy of active engagement, the government said it was now willing to work with the international body to protect its own interests and advance the human rights interests of others.
Gordon Duguid, a spokesman for Mrs Clinton's department, said: "The decision is in keeping with the Obama Administration's 'new era of engagement' with other nations to advance American security interests and meet the global challenges of the 21st century."
UN general secretary Ban Ki-Moon welcomed the move, saying the presence of the United States could help impact on some of the more oppressive states on the council.
He said: "The Human Rights Council has a critical role to play in the protection and promotion of all human rights for all people, and the US has an important contribution to make to this end.
"Full US engagement on human rights issues is an important step toward realizing the goal of an inclusive and vibrant intergovernmental process to protect human rights around the globe."
Kenneth Roth, executive director of Human Rights Watch, was also pleased by Mrs Clinton's decision.
Mr Roth said: "Active involvement by the US will bring new energy and focus to the Human Rights Council's deliberations and actions, helping it become a more credible force for human rights promotion. We hope this marks the start of a new era of US engagement and leadership on behalf of human rights."
The elections will take place on May 15th at the UN General Assembly in New York, where three seats will be elected.
Other western countries competing for a place include Belgium and Norway, while New Zealand has offered to abandon its campaign for a seat following the announcement of America’s interest.