Commissioner Arbour started off with a bang, saying that member states must denounce “the use of harmful stereotypes and the perpetuation of myths that demonize, ridicule or insult deep-rooted religious feelings” as vigorously as they protect “the right to champion unpopular ideas”.
The comments underlined a trend noticed by diplomats and human rights advocate groups that reveals a growing rift between countries who consider freedom of speech a paramount human rights issue and those who say religious and cultural sensitivities must take precedence.
Vincent Brossel of Reporters without Borders in Paris called this a dangerous trend. “Some are trying to kidnap UN bodies for their own agenda just as they did with the previous Commission (on Human Rights).
Human rights are universal
“They have this idea that whenever you discuss human rights issues you must take into consideration the religious or cultural values of each country,” he said. “But human rights are universal and what they are advocating goes against the UN charter.”
Asked about the manner in which Commissioner Arbour outlined the issue, Brossel said, “in the case of Louise Arbour, unlike most of the countries she represents, her actions are often better than her words.”
Arbour also had strong words for governments that have ignored international law in the fight against terrorism. The use of mechanisms such as rendition of people to countries where they may face torture or ill-treatment “cannot be seen as a mere legal nicety”, she said. As for the use of reported secret detention centers to detain suspects, she said such practices create “an environment ripe for other abusive conduct”.
An environment ripe for abusive conduct
But the biggest surprise in Arbour’s speech for those sitting in the Council chamber was that she failed to name the United States while naming other countries - a principle many members had fought hard to prevent.
Despite their overall record for human rights violations, Arbour praised the progress made by “many national courts” in several countries, including Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia and South Africa.
She then singled out seven countries where the she has grave concerns about human rights violations: Uzbekistan, North Korea, Iraq, Myanmar, Occupied Palestine, Sudan and Somalia but made no mention of others such as China and Cuba.
The Peruvian delegation was the first to respond, praising Arbour’s comments about the protocol on torture but questioning why the Commissioner made no mention of the plight of indigenous peoples.
A courageous and balanced speech
Outside the chamber, a delegate who asked not to be named said Arbour’s speech was simply more of the same because she made no specific demands on member states about what they must to redress human rights violations
Mariette Grange of Human Rights Watch, however, called Arbour’s speech “courageous and balanced speech and a very good start for the Council.” Grange said she considers “it a very good sign that Madame Arbour was able to make the point that she will give the Council periodic updates”.