Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Cuba to face human rights review

Cuba will undergo its “Universal Periodic Review” in the UN Human Rights Council at 2:30 p.m. Geneva time on February 5. It promises to re-ignite the clash between two visions of human rights, one centered on things that government provides and one centered on the spheres of citizen activity where government may not interfere.

The Council is successor to the UN Human Rights Commission, which for years was the arena where the United States and Cuba faced off over resolutions condemning Cuba’s human rights record. Whereas the old Commission reviewed country human rights practices selectively, the Council has the Universal Periodic Review, which it describes as “a unique process which involves a review of the human rights records of all 192 UN Member States once every four years.”

Cuba’s review session, and a subsequent one where the report on Cuba will be adopted (February 9, 5:30 p.m. Geneva time) will be on a webcast.

Cuba’s report to the Council, described in this AP story, is found in English on the front page of the Cuban foreign ministry website. Here’s a view of the process from a Cuban foreign ministry official.

A summary of opinions on Cuba’s human rights situation submitted by non-government organizations, and provided last November to the UN General Assembly, is here (pdf). Radio Marti reports that organizations within Cuba have sent documents on prison conditions and other human rights issues.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

En la práctica del respeto a ambos "tipos" de derechos humanos: aquellos que debe garantizar el gobierno (esencialmente, el acceso universal a los servicios de educación y salud, como a otras prestaciones sociales) y los que debe propiciar ejerza libremente cada ciudadano (la libertad real y abierta de opinión, de afiliación política, religiosa, civil, entre otros del estilo), está probablemente el éxito más equilibrado. ¿Debe evaluarse a la totalidad de los países bajo el mismo prisma? Parece ser algo sensato...

Anonymous said...

only in a pathetic assemblage like the UN: a debate between "rights" provided by government and rights endowed to us by our Creator...

Anonymous said...

Yes, the Castro regime must be trembling at the prospect of a rigorous review of its record by a "human rights council" dominated by the likes of Zimbabwe and Myanmar. Evildoers of the world: Be afraid, be *very* afraid!

leftside said...

Actually Zimbabwe and Myanmar are not on the Human Rights Council. Cuba is. Perhaps folks should reflect on why the region voted Cuba in.

Anon 1:59, perhaps you can tell us how "rights endowned by the creator" are enforced here on earth, without governments providing for them? And I am pretty sure Jesus would consider things like food, water, health, education and housing basic human rights.

Anonymous said...

inalienable rights like to life and liberty are not "provided" by anyone but God; the role of government is to protect them. Housing, food, etc. completely distort and confuse the issue -- which is why criminal regimes like Cuba's insist on promoting them as such.

Anonymous said...

"Perhaps folks should reflect on why the region voted Cuba in. "

Because the United Nations is perhaps one of the most corrupt world bodies there is. Take it from someone who walked those hallowed halls for two years. I saw much that I will never forget.

Perhaps you are of the belief that a nation with human rights violations as egregious as those of Cuba deserves a seat on the council? That is absolutely incredible to say the least. We are a world of hypocrites, liars and narcissists. In short, we are a shameful race and the Cuban dictatorship's presence on that council is proof positive of that sentiment's strength.

Anonymous said...

Bringing god in debate illustrates how far fringe this right wing crowd has gotten.

If it were up to the Palins in this usa, we would be like Taliban.

Please , get an education.