UN creates new Human Rights Council

UNITED NATIONS – In outlining a plan for reform of the United Nations a year ago, Secretary General Kofi Annan made human rights a central component of his proposal.

“No security agenda and no drive for development will be successful unless they are based on the sure foundation of respect for human dignity,” said Mr. Annan in his March 2005 “In Larger Freedom” report.

So it was viewed by many as an historic step when the UN General Assembly approved on 15 March 2006 the creation of a new Human Rights Council.

“The decision of the General Assembly to create the Council is momentous,” said Louise Arbour, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. “It responds to the hope that the global community could co