Tag Archives: UN

13Feb/10

A Moment of Truth in Geneva?

Europe and the Middle East, Iran, ,

Tomorrow, February 15 2010, and for the first time since the 1979 revolution, the UN  will review the human rights record of the Islamic Republic of Iran.  The UPR (Universal Periodic Review) is a process which involves a review of the human rights records of all 192 UN Member States. This recent UN tradition started in 2006 following the growing criticism of the lack of attention given to human rights at the UN. In response, the Human Rights Council was established. And now comes its first moment of truth.

Iran has been oppressed by the rule of tyranny since its birth in 1979 as an Islamic republic. Since then and despite countless attempts to condemn Iran for its gross violations of human rights and its persistent failure to amend its laws and actions, the human rights record in Iran remains deplorable and abysmal.  Iran is in constant breach of international treaties and conventions that its government has ratified, such as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, 1966 (ICCPR); Convention on the Rights of the Child, 1989 (CRC); and the customary binding declaration, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 1948 (UDHR).
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02Jun/08

Arab Rulers and Promises

Middle East,

published in THE WASHINGTON TIMES

By Nir Boms and Erick Stakelbeck
May 2, 2005

A year ago last month, in Egypt, a group of more than 100 Arab scholars, ambassadors and political leaders signed the “Alexandria Declaration,” an ambitious agenda for political, economic, legislative and institutional change designed to help Arab societies move “towards building concrete and genuine democratic systems.” In the 13 months since the declaration was signed, the world has witnessed successful elections in Iraq, widespread pro-democracy demonstrations in Lebanon, municipal elections in Saudi Arabia and constitutional reform in Egypt. (The latter two are widely viewed as transparent attempts to alleviate U.S. criticism.) 

Add to these developments last October’s free elections in Afghanistan and the continued democratic rumblings among the young people of Iran, and it appears that the Alexandria statement — combined with the Bush administration’s unwavering commitment to a democratic Middle East — may have started a trend. Until, that is, you talk to the signatories.  Continue reading →

28May/08

The Occupation of the Palestinian Mind

Palestinian Authority, ,

by Nir Boms and Asaf Romirowsky
FrontPageMagazine.com
October 12, 2005

In May of 2000, the Lebanese-based Hezbollah terrorist group faced an unexpected challenge. Israel’s unilateral withdrawal from Lebanon has threatened to pull the raison d’etre for its existence out from under its feet. After all, what can an organization that dedicated its life to fighting the “Israeli occupation of Lebanon” do after the last Israeli solider shut the border gate and the UN announced that Israel is in full compliance with Security Council resolution 425, recognizing the Israeli-Lebanese permanent border in the north? How about fighting for Jerusalem?

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22May/08

Rights for Some Humans

Human Rights, UN,

The UN established the HRC, an institution that promised to respect human rights and fundamental freedoms. Outrageously, instead of focusing on human rights violators such as Iran, Uzbekistan and China it adopted nine condemnatory resolutions against Israel.

Nir Boms (5/17/2007)

About a year ago, in March 2006, the UN adopted Resolution 60/251 to establish the Human Rights Council (HRC), an institution that promised to “respect human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, without distinction of any kind as to race, color, sex, language or religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.” According to its own mandate, the work of the council should be “guided by the principles of universality, impartiality, objectivity and non-selectivity.”

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