Trump’s USA quits United Nations Human Rights Council

Translated from Dutch NOS TV today:

The United States is quitting the United Nations Human Rights Council. That has been announced by UN ambassador Haley.

Donald Trump‘s mouthpiece Haley earlier made a laughing-stock of herself with a press conference similar to the 2003 infamous speech at the UN by General Colin Powell, then George W. Bush’s Secretary of State. Powell then promoted war on Iraq with forged evidence, while covering up the replica of Picasso’s famous anti-war painting Guernica hanging there. Ms Haley’s press conference promoted the Trump-Saudi royal family genocidal war on the people of Yemen with forged evidence; as part of promoting Trump’s plans for war on Iran. At least, Colin Powell has apologized for the lies he told then. Ms Haley so far has not done so; I doubt whether she ever will.

“Human rights abusers continue to serve on, and be elected to, the council”, said Haley.

On that, Ms Haley is correct. But she forgot to mention two prominent examples of that. The absolute monarchy Saudi Arabia, elected to the council thanks to support by the United States government and its NATO ally, British Conservative Prime Minister David Cameron. Saudi Arabia, where women activists campaigning for the right of women to drive cars, were recently arrested and may get the death penalty. Saudi Arabia, the land of flogging for blogging. Saudi Arabia, with more and more public beheadings. Saudi Arabia, where the regime kills its own people, immigrant workers, and the people of Bahrain and of Yemen.

The other prominent example is Donald Trump‘s and Ms Haley’s USA.

The NOS article continues:

The news about the withdrawal from the council comes at a time when the human rights policy of President Trump is under fire. It concerns the zero tolerance policy for migrants at the Mexican border.

Families who cross the border to the US are now systematically separated. The parents are detained and prosecuted and the children are incarcerated in large reception centers. The UN yesterday called that policy unscrupulous.

CNN writes on this, on 20 June 2018:

The move was immediately condemned by a dozen charitable groups, who wrote to [Trump’s Secretary of State] Pompeo to say they were “deeply disappointed with the Administration‘s decision to withdraw the United States from the United Nations Human Rights Council, the premier intergovernmental human rights body at the global level.”

“This decision is counterproductive to American national security and foreign policy interests and will make it more difficult to advance human rights priorities and aid victims of abuse around the world”, they added.

Salil Shetty, Amnesty International’s secretary-general, said: “Once again President Trump is showing his complete disregard for the fundamental rights and freedoms the US claims to uphold. While the Human Rights Council is by no means perfect and its membership is frequently under scrutiny, it remains an important force for accountability and justice.”

"Disappointing, if not really surprising, news. Given the state of #HumanRights in today's world, the US should be stepping up, not stepping back" — UN Human Rights Chief #Zeid following USA decision to withdraw from U.N. Human Rights Council.#StandUp4HumanRights

— UN Human Rights (@UNHumanRights) June 19, 2018

Trump causes international outrage after pulling out of UN Human Rights Council: here.

Why has the US withdrawn from the UN council for human rights – and what is its significance? Here.

USA: The Anti-Defamation League has issued a statement on behalf of a group of hidden children of the Holocaust, who felt compelled to respond to the Trump Administration’s policy of separating children from their parents. Read more here.

The Ugly Nazi History Of Trump’s ‘Infest’ Slur Against Immigrants: here.

Yes, You Should Be Comparing Trump to Hitler, by Adam Roy.