Reuters reports (US Seen Strengthening U.N. Rights Council) that the Obama administration will be seeking a seat on the three-year-old international human rights body in May. The State Department released a confirmation statement on Tuesday which described the US goal as one of “working to make it a more effective body to promote and protect human rights."
Currently, the council members include Azerbaijan, China, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Cuba, Djibouti, India, Mexico, Russia and Egypt. According to Human Rights Watch (HRW), these countries have actively worked to limit human rights worldwide in the vacuum left by the Bush administration’s boycott of the council. Human Rights Watch had called upon Obama to guide America "...to regain its global credibility by turning the page on the abusive policies of the Bush administration."
During President Obama’s Inaugural speech, he promised that “…America is a friend of each nation and every man, woman, and child who seeks a future of peace and dignity, and that we are ready to lead once more.”
This news answers my original letter to then President-Elect Obama in which I quoted Thomas Paine: “We have it in our power to begin the world over again”.
Photo credit: Muhammad from Flkr Commons
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Comments
This was one that surprised me. I had called for this, then HRW did, then he hinted at it Jan 20th and now--it is finally true!
Heron,
Thanks. Always love having you and your baby stop by.
You are right--Obama is bold and unafraid of change. Eight years, it's looking like he will be a winner all the way.
Rated
Now, we all need to start quoting (and acting) on Thomas Paine.
I used to joke with my students that as soon as I was 35, I'd run for president. Finally (even though it was a joke) I don't feel like I'd need to, because there is a man in office who is saying and doing the things I always thought needed to be said.
Thanks for this post.
Kinda Blue,
"Inhuman WRONGS"--great phrase and it fits so well with bushies' take on life. "Culture of Life"--what double-speak. Scoundrels.
David-you-Love!
Yeah, I'm getting whiplash here. Obama had a pretty detailed list of what needed to be fixed and appears to be moving on all of it. Have to laugh at the conservatives who complain at the pace of change--just not comfortable with it at all. Codgers. Mossbacks, as we call them here in Oregon.
Tim4Change,
Yeah! I think that Thomas Paine might really like all of this.
Noahvose,
You'd have made a grand president. So glad that you have endorsed Obama. He does appear to be just what we need. President Carter called him the best man for the times that we could possibly have. Having intelligence and integrity in the White House is a true blessing.
Monte
Dickens,
Thanks for always stopping by on these posts. Know we share a love of social justice and human rights. I too am not surprised that Obama is keeping his promises. Really amazing and wonderful!
Yes, just imagine...