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Sun, Feb 27, 2011 | Israel National News [2] | By Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu
US President Barack Obama, right, and Libyan leader Muammar Qaddafi pictured during the G8/G5 summit in L'Aquila, Italy Thursday July 9, 2009. (AP Photo/ Michael Gottschalk/Pool)
UNHRC: World Praise for Libya 4 Months Ago
This is how our world, the UN (and the Arab world) works. Just a bunch of hypocrites! (CP)
Libya is a member of the UN’s top Human Rights Body – the Human Rights Council. The majority of members of the UN General Assembly elected Libya as a member of this Council last May 2010, and on November 9, its members discussed a Universal Periodic Review (UPR) that is to be adopted March 18, 2011.
So less than four months (Nov 9, 2010) before Qaddafi’s forces massacred protesters, the United Nations Human Rights Council members praised him for promoting human rights. Can you believe it?
The Palestinian Authority and several countries, including Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Egypt and Syria – some of which are leaders on the American list of human rights violators – lauded the Libyan dictator for “democracy” and promoting and protection of human rights.
Here’s a video which documents the discussion (provided by EyeontheUN.org [3]):
Libya and the UN
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZgNH6AHh6RE
Read the text below:
“Qatar: We appreciate what has been done in Libyan Arab Republic, our brother country, and we’ve seen the achievements made…”
“Syria: The Libyan Arab Jamahiriya has a unique experience in democracy… this has allowed for the growth and development in promotion of human rights.”
“DPRK (North Korea): We commend the efforts of Libya in the area of Human Rights.”
“Palestinian Authority observer: We highly commend the national report. This proves the Jamahiriya’s keen interest in improving and promoting human rights.”
“Saudi Arabia: The interest shown by the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya in its constitutional and legislative and institutional framework shows very clearly the important it attaches to human rights and its concern with promoting and protecting human rights.”
“Cuba: We can see that there are significant achievements in the country in terms of human rights.”
“Iran: The Libyan Jamahiriya has achieved significant progress in the promotion and protection of human rights.”
“Egypt: We would like to salute Jamahiriya for its achievements in the building of human rights integrated national system.”
“Pakistan: The steps taken by the government of Libya, both in legislation as well as in practice, demonstrate its strong commitment to the promotion and protection of human rights.”
After the performance, a UN Human Council Working Group collected “recommendations” that had been made to Libya during the dialogue. Among these recommendations were:
— Prohibit discrimination
— Ensure equality of women
— Investigate allegations of torture
— Ensure the independence of the judiciary
Libya responded by saying none of these recommendations “enjoyed its support.” No resolution or condemnation followed.
Libya is still a member of the UN Human Rights Council (along with Saudi Arabia, Cuba, China, Russia…). Update: As of March 01, 2011 the United Nations General Assembly decided unanimously (by consensus of all members states of the U.N. with the exception of Libya) to suspend Libya’s membership on the Human Rights Council. The decision did not expel Libya from the body, which means the nation could potentially return if there is a change of government.
Source: U.S. Department of State, Press statement [4], Hillary Clinton, March 01, 2011.
The Council’s previous censures of countries have focused solely on Israel.