Defender of human rights takes a brief step sideways
By Susan Martinuk
Calgary Herald
February 1, 2008
The international community has long considered Canada to be a leader in promoting human rights at home and defending human rights around the world. So, in 2004, it came as no surprise that the United Nations appointed Canada's Louise Arbour, a Supreme Court of Canada justice and former chief prosecutor at international war crime tribunals, as its high commissioner for human rights.
Given the UN's well-established failure at policing human rights around the globe, there was considerable expectation that Arbour was the one who would lead the UN to stand up to the world's bullies.
She had already led a high-profile struggle to bring Bosnia's war criminals to justice on behalf of the thousands of victims of ethnic and religious cleansing, and a fictionalized account of her efforts had been made into a 2006 CTV movie.
She was a great defender of human rights, but now she has become more of the problem than the solution.
Earlier this week, Arbour announced her endorsement of the highly questionable Arab Charter of Rights. It has been developed by nations like Jordan, Syria and the Palestinian Authority to protect the human rights of their citizens, but through a framework that ensures core Arab beliefs are maintained.
One such belief is the rejection and "elimination" of Zionism (which asserts Israel's internationally recognized right to exist) because it is a "violation of human rights" and "a threat to international peace and security." In short, the charter is blatantly anti-Semitic, equates Zionism with racism and essentially calls for the destruction of Israel.
So why did Arbour initially call it "an important step forward"?
When the UN's high commissioner for human rights endorses the destruction of any nation, it's time to hold her to account.
But just as Canadian columnists were getting out the skewers, Arbour "clarified" her position by saying she was indeed troubled by several of the "rights" enshrined in the charter, such as the death penalty for children, and the diminished rights of women and non-citizens.
As for the destruction of Israel, she merely stated that the rejection of Zionism is contrary to a 1991 UN resolution. Not exactly reassuring.
She shouldn't get off the hook so easily. This isn't the only instance in which Arbour has shown bad judgment and supported questionable documents.
Click here for the full story.
Senator Tom Coburn
Subcommittee on Federal Financial Management, Government Information, and International Security
340 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510
Phone: 202-224-2254 Fax: 202-228-3796
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