US Refuses to Join UN Human Rights Council Over Lack of Credibility

The United States has said a resounding no to joining the United Nations Human Rights Council on Tuesday. The surprising decision to not join the Human Rights Council also sees the United States's refusal to seek a seat on the newly formed U.N. Human Rights Council. The unprecedented move by the United States is said to be a decision based on the firm belief that the new U.N. Human Rights Council was not a "credible body."

Sean McCormack, a State Department spokesperson, said the United States would maintain its spectator position on the 47-member council. The new United Nations Council was formed last year after opposition from the United States believing that the regulations were not strong enough to prevent rights violators from getting a seat. "We believe that the Human Rights Council has thus far not proved itself to be a credible body in the mission that it has been charged with," McCormack said.

He went onto tell reporters. "Our decision is that we do not plan to run (for a seat)." The United States decision against joining the U.N. Council was confirmed on the very day that the State Department issued its 2006 report on human rights worldwide. McCormack said Washington supported the endorsement of human rights globally and would "remain a forceful advocate in the promotion of human rights."

He concluded that there had been a "nearly singular focus" by the council on issues pertaining to Israel while neglecting the other issues like the human rights abuses in Myanmar or North Korea. "We hope over time this body will expand its focus and become a more credible institution," said McCormack. He was not the only one to criticize the U.N Human Rights Council. The retiring U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan has also had harsh commitments regarding the council focusing moreover on Israel and ignoring other as important issues in the world like the Sudan's war-torn Darfur region. He described the atrocities in Dafur as a "graver" crisis.