U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley boldly announced that the U.S. is withdrawing from the United Nations Human Rights Council.
Haley pulled no punches, blasting the 47-member council as “a protector of human rights abusers, and a cesspool of political bias,” in a statement Tuesday.
The Trump administration has threatened the move for months and the announcement came just one day after the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights slammed the administration for separating migrant children from their parents at the U.S. border.
Haley spoke from the State Department following a statement by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, saying the U.S. decision came after a year where “we did not see any progress” in calls for reform from the body based in Geneva.
At State Dept., @SecPompeo and @nikkihaley announce US withdrawal from UN Human Rights Council, calling it “a protector of human right abusers and cesspool of political bias.” pic.twitter.com/biZvXFGRwu
— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) June 19, 2018
“For too long, the Human Rights Council has been a protector of human rights abusers and a cesspool of political bias,” Haley said in her scathing remarks. “Regrettably, it is now clear that our call for reform was not heeded. Human rights abusers continue to serve on and be elected to the council. The world’s most inhumane regimes continue to escape scrutiny, and the council continues politicizing and scapegoating of countries with positive human rights records in an attempt to distract from the abusers in their ranks.”
Haley explained the U.S. could not remain part of an organization “that makes a mockery of human rights.”
“I want to make it crystal clear that this step is not a retreat from our human rights commitments. On the contrary. We take this step because our commitment does not allow us to remain a part of a hypocritical and self-serving organization that makes a mockery of human rights,” Haley said. “We did not make this decision lightly. When this administration began 17 months ago, we were well aware of the enormous flaws in the Human Rights Council. We could have withdrawn immediately. We did not do that. Instead, we made a good faith effort to resolve the problems.”
Today the U.S. took a stand against some of the world’s worst human rights violators by withdrawing from the United Nations Human Rights Council. My full statement: pic.twitter.com/KyICyXh3XI
— Vice President Mike Pence (@VP) June 19, 2018
The U.N. was naturally disappointed with the U.S. decision.
“The Secretary-General would have much preferred for the United States to remain in the Human Rights Council,” Stéphane Dujarric, the spokesman for UN Secretary-General António Guterres, said. “The UN’s Human Rights architecture plays a very important role in the promotion and protection of human rights worldwide.”
“Disappointing, if not really surprising, news. Given the state of #HumanRights in today’s world, the US should be stepping up, not stepping back” — UN Human Rights Chief #Zeid following USA decision to withdraw from U.N. Human Rights Council.#StandUp4HumanRights
— UN Human Rights (@UNHumanRights) June 19, 2018
Haley condemned the council for its “chronic bias against Israel,” and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu thanked Haley and President Trump for their “courageous decision.”
Israel thanks President Trump, Secretary Pompeo and Ambassador Haley for their courageous decision against the hypocrisy and the lies of the so-called UN Human Rights Council.
— Benjamin Netanyahu (@netanyahu) June 19, 2018
For years, the UNHRC has proven to be a biased, hostile, anti-Israel organization that has betrayed its mission of protecting human rights.
— Benjamin Netanyahu (@netanyahu) June 19, 2018
The US decision to leave this prejudiced body is an unequivocal statement that enough is enough.
Israel welcomes the American announcement.
— Benjamin Netanyahu (@netanyahu) June 19, 2018
The Human Rights Council was given one year by the U.S. delegation to make reforms, but failed to do so.
“When a so-called Human Rights Council cannot bring itself to address the massive abuses in Venezuela and Iran, and it welcomes the Democratic Republic of Congo as a new member, the council ceases to be worthy of its name,” Haley said Tuesday. “Such a council, in fact, damages the cause of human rights.”
She also noted that the United States would continue to promote human rights outside of the council and if reforms are made in the future, “we would be happy to rejoin it.”
“Many of these countries argued that the United States should stay on the Human Rights Council because American participation is the last shred of credibility that the council has. But that is precisely why we must leave. If the Human Rights Council is going to attack countries that uphold human rights and shield countries that abuse human rights, then America should not provide it with any credibility. Instead, we will continue to lead on human rights outside the misnamed Human Rights Council,” Haley said.
“We have used America’s voice and vote to defend human rights at the UN every day, and we will continue to do so.”
The bold move was welcomed on social media where many applauded a U.S. under Trump that will no longer be pushed around.
The US withdrawal from the UN Human Rights Council by Trump administration calling it a “shameless” and “hypocrite” body is a right step towards the true promotion and protection of Human Rights around the world.
— Brahumdagh Bugti (@BBugti) June 20, 2018
Dear Nikki Haley: I am writing from #Cuba and it is to congratulate Mr. Trump for such a wise decision, the United States should not be sitting at the table with rapists, assassins and dictators unless it is to make them give up. Thank you
— Alejandro Hernández (@Alejand37228583) June 20, 2018
This is great stand taken By USA .. UN Human right Council has been manipulative and selective and has lost its real purpose. There is no credibility of their functioning and reports and are biased organisations
— Nitin Chaudhary (@nmchaudhary) June 19, 2018
Good. Long overdue. Hard to imagine a better UN ambassador than @nikkihaley
— Mayer Fertig (@MayerFertig) June 19, 2018
Thank God! That UN Rights Council is the BIGGEST joke..housing some of the worst H.Rts abusers around.
— Eugene McCarty (@EugeneMcCarty) June 19, 2018
Remember when Iran and Syria were leaders in this council. Talk about a bad joke. Glad we left.
— Tim Minehardt (@TMinehardt) June 19, 2018
Long overdue.
Obama disgraced this nation by joining an organization that placed Syria, Venezuela, Cuba and China as the judges of “Human Rights”.— mallen (@mallen2010) June 20, 2018
Good, that:”human rights council”, are a bunch of anti-semitic people who have treated the nation of Israel like crap and had taken a blind eye toward:Iran, Cuba, and Venezuela.!
— Jeff M.Ladd (@jeffladd1974) June 20, 2018
DONATE TO BIZPAC REVIEW
Please help us! If you are fed up with letting radical big tech execs, phony fact-checkers, tyrannical liberals and a lying mainstream media have unprecedented power over your news please consider making a donation to BPR to help us fight them. Now is the time. Truth has never been more critical!
Frieda@bizpacreview.com
Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida where she has been writing for the BizPacReview team since 2015.
- ‘Are we next?!’ Kilmeade breaks down shady FBI actions, concludes Trump justified in his outrage - August 30, 2022
- Grandfather throws down with aggressive kangaroo that attacked his dogs, but who really won? - June 4, 2022
- ‘My name is Dr. Robinson’: Proud abortionist snaps at Chip Roy calling her ‘Miss’ during hearing - May 19, 2022
Comment
We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. If a comment is spam, instead of replying to it please click the ∨ icon below and to the right of that comment. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.
