Human Rights Council Vote a Sham: Daily Brief
Countries with abysmal human rights records virtually guaranteed seats on UN Human Rights Council; crisis in Lebanon; vaccine equity should be a priority as Australia reopens; comment on Guinea's post-coup prospects; conviction against transgender woman should be quashed in Kuwait; International Olympics Committee official parrots official Chinese talking points; and Human Rights Watch and Amnesty join forces in campaign to end immigration detention in Canada.
What do Cameroon, Eritrea and the United Arab Emirates have in common? They all have abysmal human rights records, yet are virtually guaranteed seats on the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva. Today, UN member states will elect 18 members to the 47-country Council for three-year terms, beginning in January 2022. Human Rights Watch calls on member states to refrain from voting for candidates that do not meet the qualifications for membership on the UN’s top rights body.
The ongoing crisis in Lebanon has sparked violence in the streets of Beirut today. At least one person died and 8 others were wounded during a rally organized by Hezbollah and Amal, according to Agence France Press. The wire service also reported shelling and heavy gunfire near the Tayyouneh area of Lebanon's capital.
This week, millions of residents across New South Wales emerged from more than 100 days of lockdown after the Australian state met its target of full vaccination for 70 percent of its population over age 16. Across Sydney, people queued for haircuts and drinks at the pub, activities previously prohibited to prevent the spread of Covid-19. But as parts of Australia reopen and people navigate public life with the virus, it is critical that vaccine equity remains a top priority.
Guinea’s September coup sent shock waves through West Africa and the global commodities markets. Guinea is the world’s second largest producer of bauxite, the ore needed to produce aluminum, and has rich iron ore, gold, and diamond reserves. The coup raises three fundamental questions about the future of Guinea’s mining sector and whether Guineans will benefit from the country’s mineral wealth or continue to pay the price for its exploitation.
A court in Kuwait has sentenced a transgender woman to prison for “imitating the opposite sex” online. Such laws violate the rights to free expression, privacy, and nondiscrimination under Kuwait’s constitution and international law. The authorities should immediately release her and quash the conviction.
With the Winter Olympics in Beijing coming up, top officials of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) seem to have forgotten about their own human rights principles, set out in the Host City Contract to try and help prevent major abuses by future Olympic hosts. The IOC has clearly dropped the ball when it comes to human rights.
And lastly: Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have joined forces in Welcome to Canada: a new campaign to end immigration detention in Canada. It’s time for Canada to truly welcome people seeking safety or a better life.