Just Back from the Human Rights Council

Constance de la Vega contributes to a panel discussion her personal experiences at the Human Rights Council. Her comments first recount the human rights successes of the former UN Commission on Human Rights. Second, she analyzes the reasons given for creating the Council to replace the Commission. Her comments conclude by assessing the pros and cons of the changes brought on by the establishment of the Human Rights Council. Changes discussed include the adoption of the Universal Periodic Review, term limits, suspension of human rights violators, a more flexible process for calling for emergency sessions, additional sessions, resolutions more frequently going to a vote instead of being passed by consensus, etc.