The United States withdrew from the United Nations Human Rights Council on Tuesday, condemning the “hypocrisy” of its members and its alleged “unrelenting bias” against Israel vividly face-off US stance in favour of rights violation. National and international news outlets reported that the US ambassador to the UN, Nikki Haley, came to Washington to announce the decision alongside President Donald Trump’s top diplomat, Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo. Ironically, both insisted the US would remain a leading champion of human rights but, for many, the decision will reflect Trump’s general hostility to the world body and to multilateral diplomacy in general. The Geneva-based body was established in 2006 to promote and protect human rights worldwide, but its pronouncements and reports have often clashed with US priorities.
In particular, the council’s focus on Israeli behaviour towards Palestinians in the territory it occupies on the West Bank and in Gaza has infuriated Washington. Since its creation, the council has adopted more resolutions condemning Israel than against the rest of the world combined. Russia voiced surprise at the United States’ decision to withdraw from the UN Human Rights Council, accusing Washington of “gross cynicism” and “disregard” for the world body. The US has once again brought a powerful blow to its own human rights reputation by demonstrating its disregard for the UN and its bodies. Haley said the US took this step because the US commitment does not allow us to remain a part of a hypocritical and self-serving organization that makes a mockery of human rights. But the reality is the Trump administration openly shelters Israel which is showing hypocrisy to its motto.
Independent Human Rights Watch criticised the move, warning Washington’s absence at the council would make human rights violation in rogue countries easier knowing America does not care.
The Trump administration’s withdrawal is a sad reflection of its one-dimensional human rights policy: defending Israeli abuses from criticism takes precedence above everything else. This is for his hatred for the Muslims.
President Trump has come to power with Russia’s cooperation to destroy the core values of greatness of America. The US is not great for its military power but the values of democracy and human rights it defends all over the world to make it a better place for peace and security.
The US refused to join the body when it was created in 2006, when George W. Bush was in the White House. After Barack Obama came to power, Washington joined the council in 2009. But when Trump took office, he adopted a hostile approach to world governance, leading Washington to quit the UN cultural agency Unesco, cut UN funding and planning to leave the Paris climate agreement. The withdrawal will weaken the UN body and at the same time mountain more responsibility on rest of the world to assert rights for Palestinian. At the same time the credibility of the US and its vigour will be declined in the world.
We are surprised that President Trump is going ahead with his mean and narrow minded policies despite strong opposition from the mainstream opinion moulders. He has the temperament of a heartless and ruthless dictator.
