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US quits 'biased' UN human rights council | |
(about 2 hours later) | |
The US has pulled out of the United Nations Human Rights Council. | |
The body is "hypocritical and self-serving", said Nikki Haley, the US envoy to the UN, at a news conference with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo | |
Ms Haley last year accused the council of "chronic anti-Israel bias" and said the US was reviewing its membership. | Ms Haley last year accused the council of "chronic anti-Israel bias" and said the US was reviewing its membership. |
Formed in 2006, the council has been criticised for allowing countries with questionable human rights records to be members. | Formed in 2006, the council has been criticised for allowing countries with questionable human rights records to be members. |
UN officials have not yet commented on the US announcement. | |
The move comes amid intense criticism over the Trump administration's policy of separating child migrants from their parents at the US-Mexico border. | |
UN human rights chief Zeid Ra'ad has called the policy "unconscionable". | |
Meanwhile the campaign group Human Rights Watch criticised President Trump's human rights policy as "one-dimensional". | Meanwhile the campaign group Human Rights Watch criticised President Trump's human rights policy as "one-dimensional". |
"The UN Human Rights Council has played an important role in such countries as North Korea, Syria, Myanmar and South Sudan, but all Trump seems to care about is defending Israel," said HRW executive director Kenneth Roth. | "The UN Human Rights Council has played an important role in such countries as North Korea, Syria, Myanmar and South Sudan, but all Trump seems to care about is defending Israel," said HRW executive director Kenneth Roth. |
What is the UN Human Rights Council? | What is the UN Human Rights Council? |
In her first address to the council a year ago, Ms Haley said it was "hard to accept" that resolutions had been passed against Israel yet none had been considered for Venezuela, which at the time saw dozens of protesters killed during political turmoil. | In her first address to the council a year ago, Ms Haley said it was "hard to accept" that resolutions had been passed against Israel yet none had been considered for Venezuela, which at the time saw dozens of protesters killed during political turmoil. |
"It is essential that this council address its chronic anti-Israel bias if it is to have any credibility," she said. | "It is essential that this council address its chronic anti-Israel bias if it is to have any credibility," she said. |
Israel is the only country that is subject to a permanent standing agenda item, meaning its treatment of the Palestinians is regularly scrutinised. | Israel is the only country that is subject to a permanent standing agenda item, meaning its treatment of the Palestinians is regularly scrutinised. |
Leaving the council would would be the latest rejection by the US of multilateral efforts, including the Paris climate agreement and the Iran nuclear deal. | Leaving the council would would be the latest rejection by the US of multilateral efforts, including the Paris climate agreement and the Iran nuclear deal. |