How politics subsumes the human rights agenda at the UN

Source: Mandeep Tiwana, CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation
The 61st anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on 10 December provides occasion to reflect on the attitude of various UN member states in supporting one of the most important human rights institutions in the world – the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC). The UNHRC was created by the UN General Assembly on 15 March 2006 to replace the UN Commission on Human Rights which was largely viewed by many as a forum for selective finger pointing by countries seeking to advance their political interests. The then UN Secretary General Kofi Annan hoped that the new body would help in devolving politics from the human rights agenda at the UN. Although, the UNHRC has made some substantial gains, human rights concerns are being increasing subsumed by politics in this important forum. For details, click here.