21 Sep “Plus ça change”: UN Watch Calls the UN Human Rights Council Out, Again
21.09.07
|
2 Comments
Just as he did at the spring meeting, Hillel Neuer of UN Watch yesterday called out the UN Human Rights Council for falling back into the bad patterns of the old UN Human Rights Commission — including adopting nearly identically worded agenda items against Israel, a practice the UN Department of Public Affairs and senior UN human rights officials have earlier criticized. Whether you agree or disagree with UN Watch, it’s an excellent demonstration of how to leverage the voice of an NGO through speaking rights at an international organization and the power of Youtube.
The full UN Watch report on the opening session of year two of the HR Council is here. The Council’s weblink is here.
I appreciate the post. I am a huge critic of the UN HRC. And I do think that too many countries, in their fetishistic condemnations of Israel, have wacky priorities and morals.
What I do not like is the French title. When American academics want to call the UN out, they often use a French turn of phrase to do it, which is in line with a general disparagement of all-things-French in this country. Even if you did not intend the connotation, I think it has the effect nevertheless.
So, I take your point, but I would have gone with plain old “Nothing changes.” Good post, otherwise.
Thanks, X. I used the quote because, if you watch the clip, Mr. Neuer used it to describe succinctly and aptly the proceedings: “Plus ca change, plus c’est la meme chose.” Mr. Neuer is Canadian — and bilingual. I also speak French, but I suppose that is beside your point.