Editor’s Note: With the election of new members to the U.N. Human Rights Council on May 13, Ted Piccone writes that the U.S. needs to do more on human rights than just block Iran’s membership to the Council. Piccone argues that the United States must lead by example, focusing first on its counter-terrorism policies, ratifying human rights treaties, and providing ample resources to support a robust U.N. human rights system.
Today, the United Nations General Assembly will elect 14 new members to its Human Rights Council.
The good news is that Iran, despite waging an animated campaign, has withdrawn its bid for a seat and therefore will not be elected to the council.
The bad news is that, for the first time since the council was created in 2006, there will be no competition for seats, giving states like Libya a pass. The naysayers are already at work saying this is yet another reason to walk away from the council, but that easy approach misses the bigger story unfolding in U.N. corridors and in capitals around the world.
Commentary
Op-edThe United States Must Lead By Example In Human Rights
May 13, 2010