The Obama Administration, and the Republican dominated Congress, love to use data from the United Nations to justify attacking other countries, like Libya, and soon Syria. But, what about when the UN points the finger at the United States for Human Rights violations? Will our leaders attack themselves?
Recently the UN’s Human Rights Council began its 19th session in Switzerland. Of course Syria is topping their list of concerns, but guess who else is making their list (again)? The United States!
“Over the past year, I have also expressed concerns about the rights of detainees held at Guantanamo Bay, and my deep disappointment at the failure to close this detention facility.”-Navi Pillay, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights
One of the big upsets is President Barack Obama’s reneging on his promise to close Guantanamo Bay prison. The UN documented that in March 2011, Obama stated to the international community that the United States would close down the torture facility known as GITMO.
Sri Lanka even pointed out that they’ve closed all but one of their military run prisons, since 2011.
Some UN member countries accused the United States of violating the Human Rights of immigrants. Ecuador even demanded action: “…time to end impunity for those who continuously violated the human rights of migrants.”
Others demanded that the United States be investigated for Human Rights violations.
“The United States was not a guardian of human rights and should reflect on its own record in committing human rights violations inside and outside the country before pointing at other countries.”-Right of Reply from North Korea
“China was gravely concerned about the failure of the United States to close down Guantanamo Bay and urged the United States to review its own human rights record before criticizing others.”-Right of Reply from China
Russia said that the so called interventions by the United States and Europe violated Human Rights: “…acts intended to protect human rights did themselves sometimes lead to mass violations, including deaths of civilian populations.”
Cuba pointed out that the United States was violating the Right to Express yourself, by controlling the internet. They claim that only 30% of the World’s population has access to the internet, and that internet governance is directly controlled from the U.S.
Norway said the U.S. dominated internet is being used by governments to violate Human Rights.
Others pointed out an increasing desire to criminalize the use of the internet, the United States being one of those countries doing so!
William Echikson, a representative from Google, admitted that his company routinely “takes down content” and “discloses information” when ordered to by U.S. courts.
UN officials are also watching the U.S. Supreme Court case, in which people are demanding they be allowed to sue corporations under a 223 year old U.S. law (Alien Tort Statute), that’s apparently been ignored. The law allows people to sue international corporations for Human Rights violations, among other things.
The latest reports indicated that the pro-Corporate America judges would deny such cases!