The Uniting of Nations Gone Sour

Illustration by Joohee Yoon via New York Times

It is no secret that the United Nations includes non-democratic members. In fact, out of the current 193 member nations, less than half are led by  democratic governments. The point of the UN is to promote international cooperation including issues on human rights and social justice. Yet, many of the member nations that head or are members of the Human Rights Council or the Commission on the Status of Women are known violators of the very statutes on which the United Nations stands.

For example Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Venezuela are all members of the UN Human Rights Council. Ironically, all three of these countries have histories of suppressing the rights of their citizens. Saudi Arabia with it's strict congruence with Sharia Law and spotty claims to citizens right to due process, has repeatedly been listed for the ongoing and most severe human rights violations. Qatar, which also has a history of suppressing protesters or anyone that would speak against social principles, while also violating the rights of migrant workers. Venezuela, where the socialist and militaristic regime is known for it's harsh responses to protesters.

Another example being the fact that Iran and Sudan are both members of the Commission on the Status of Women. While Iran continues to sanction the stoning of women for the crime of adultery and other such "honor killings". In Sudan, young girls are subject to genital mutilation. All of these instances are recognized as gender specific violence and therefore human rights violations. Yet both countries are represented on this commission and allowed to pass judgement on other nations.

Specifically noted by Israel's Ambassador to the UN, Ron Prosor, is that Israel in particular is targeted far more than others as a result of these loose committee membership legitimacy situations. For example, the Non-Aligned Movement, consisting of 120 member countries, is a bloc and has been chaired by Iran since 2012. This gives Iran the ability to raise 120 votes against Israel, it's enemy. Also, going back to the Human Rights Council, in it's agenda there is Item 4 which brings up issues that require the councils attention. There is also an Item 7, which is specifically for human rights situations in Palestine and other occupied Arab territories. This means that there is an entire council agenda item that can almost exclusively target Israel, as Pakistan and Saudi Arabia serve to judge. Ambassador Prosor repeatedly states how Israel faces multiple condemnations from these committees and commissions while there are violators sitting on them as members.

While I am a supporter of the UN and what it stands for, I feel that the strength of it's original standings has dwindled. As an organization that is meant to serve the world justice, it lets an awful lot slip through the cracks. The fact that some countries serve on these committees and commissions (that are meant to uphold rights and justices) while openly violating these very ideals, I feel should be an embarrassment to the UN leadership. Continuing to allow the UN's democratic forum to be taken advantage of, and to be manipulated in order to hide and overlook the discrepancies of some countries is a mistake. All nations need to be held accountable for their actions, and they should not be allowed to abuse a system that is meant for the benefit of the international community.

Sources:

• http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/01/opinion/united-in-ignominy.html?src=me&module=Ribbon&version=context&region=Header&action=click&contentCollection=Most%20Emailed&pgtype=Multimedia
• http://www.hrw.org/world-report/2014/country-chapters/qatar?page=1
• http://www.unfpa.org/

Human Rights Council Agenda Link:
http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/hrcouncil/docs/10session/ProvAgenda10session.pdf
H.R.C Member List:
http://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/HRC/Pages/CurrentMembers.aspx