Since 2008, the New Zealand government has been campaigning for a seat on the UN Human Rights Council. We would have been the first country from the Pacific to stand, and our long history of human rights advocacy would have put us in a strong position to help improve the HRC. But not any more. Foreign Minister Murray McCully has dumped the plan. Why? Because the United States wants to stand:
Mr McCully said the decision had been made to avoid four nations contesting three positions, following the United States’ indication that it would seek a Council seat.It's a perfect example of National's cultural cringe and crawling subservience to foreign powers. The US wants to stand? Well, we better not stand in their way, then. No, we should make way our "betters" and step aside. The idea of having our own voice on the international stage, rather than relying on others to speak for us, seems completely foreign to him.[...]
“The decision by the US to seek a Council seat places many of those supporters in a difficult position, as there are only three seats on the Council for Western States.
“New Zealand’s decision to withdraw will enable our many supporters to vote in substantial numbers for a US candidature in May.
I'm also bemused by UN members' abhorrence of democracy. Four candidates for three positions? How about we stand on our record, and Norway, Belgium, and the US stand on theirs, and we'll see who the world thinks will be the better voice for human rights? But I guess that's just too uncertain - the US might not win, and a secret ballot means they won't be able to punish those who didn't support them. So instead our government conspires to fix an election for the hegemon. Some democracy we are.
(I should add that I'm very pleased that the US has decided to show an interest in the HRC, and has decided to try and improve it rather than remain on the sidelines. yet another way in which Obama is making a difference...)
