[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 60 (Friday, May 4, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Page S4398]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   REMOVAL OF THE UNITED STATES FROM THE U.N. HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION

  Mr. LIEBERMAN. I rise to express my dismay at the Economic and Social 
Council's vote yesterday removing the United States from membership on 
the United Nations Human Rights Commission for the first time since its 
inception in 1946.
  The United States was a founding member of this distinguished body 
and has been an active member since its establishment. Under the 
chairmanship of Eleanor Roosevelt, the U.S. was instrumental in helping 
to draft the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the very first work 
of the Commission and one that deeply reflects longstanding and 
treasured American values. For over 50 years, the United States has 
worked within the Commission to codify fundamental human rights and 
practices. Through the Commission we have also fought for vigorous 
investigations of grave breaches of human rights wherever they occurred 
and have raised our voice in defense of freedom on behalf of those 
whose own voices were silenced.
  The Commission's membership has grown along with the membership in 
the United Nations as newly independent nations have joined the world 
bodies. However, the inclusion of countries with extremely poor human 
rights records, such as Sudan and Cuba, on the Commission is troubling. 
And it means that we will have to work even harder to promote universal 
standards so that one day all people can enjoy the freedom, liberty and 
equality we too often take for granted here at home.
  We may never know why so many countries voted against us in the 
secret balloting. I am afraid, however, that it may reflect widespread 
dissatisfaction with what is perceived to be a go-it-alone attitude in 
foreign affairs by the new administration. Our friends and allies have 
reacted negatively to a number of President Bush's pronouncements and 
policies, including rejection of the Kyoto Climate Change Treaty, his 
opposition to the International Criminal Court, and his willingness to 
abandon the ABM Treaty before we have a workable missile defense plan 
in place. This vote clearly demonstrates that there can be 
unanticipated and damaging consequences to our actions on the world 
stage. The U.S. cannot take our friends for granted and must remain 
vigilant against the anti-U.S. efforts of our enemies.
  The United States now becomes an observer on the U.N. Human Rights 
Commission but we can, indeed we must, remain actively engaged in 
defending human rights throughout the world. We have lost our vote but 
not our voice. The Commission will be weaker without our membership and 
our leadership. But the real losers in yesterday's election were the 
oppressed, people in many parts of the world who desperately need the 
support of the United States and the United Nations to stop abuses of 
their basic rights and to bring the light of freedom into their lives.
  I am terribly disappointed by the vote against U.S. membership on the 
Commission. However, we must not allow this vote to deter our efforts 
to promote and defend human rights around the world. Our commitment and 
leadership in advancing freedom, equality and justice for all people 
derives from the principles on which our Nation was founded and which 
continue to guide us today.

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