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Alright, some UN #HumanRights background.
NK's review is part of Australia's Universal Periodic Review (UPR). What's that? Great Q! Here's a thread...
The UPR is a state-driven process where ALL UN members have regular reviews of their HR practices (1/?) https://ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/UPR/Pages/BasicFacts.aspx https://twitter.com/UNWatch/status/1352034266679533568
NK's review is part of Australia's Universal Periodic Review (UPR). What's that? Great Q! Here's a thread...
The UPR is a state-driven process where ALL UN members have regular reviews of their HR practices (1/?) https://ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/UPR/Pages/BasicFacts.aspx https://twitter.com/UNWatch/status/1352034266679533568
So, why is North Korea - rightly noted for its many & flagrant #HumanRights abuses - speaking in the UPR?
Because, as a state driven process, any UN member state may participate in the dialogue portion of the review. Including, yes, North Korea. (2/?)
Because, as a state driven process, any UN member state may participate in the dialogue portion of the review. Including, yes, North Korea. (2/?)
Now you might be thinking - what's the point of a human rights review where flagrant rights violators are involved?
Well - what are the alternatives? How else do we review and hold states accountable for HR violations in the UN? Lets look! (3/?) https://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/Pages/HumanRightsBodies.aspx
Well - what are the alternatives? How else do we review and hold states accountable for HR violations in the UN? Lets look! (3/?) https://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/Pages/HumanRightsBodies.aspx
Well, there are all the human rights treaties that UN members may join. These have treaty bodies - expert panels that monitor implementation.
Great!
BUT - states have to CHOOSE to join the treaty. They don't join, they're not covered.
https://ijrcenter.org/un-treaty-bodies/#:~:text=The%20United%20Nations%20Human%20Rights%20Treaty%20Bodies%20are,oversees%20or%20in%20a%20protocol%20to%20that%20treaty. (4/?)
Great!
BUT - states have to CHOOSE to join the treaty. They don't join, they're not covered.
https://ijrcenter.org/un-treaty-bodies/#:~:text=The%20United%20Nations%20Human%20Rights%20Treaty%20Bodies%20are,oversees%20or%20in%20a%20protocol%20to%20that%20treaty. (4/?)
Wait, what if states doing ratify those treaties? Ahh, you're getting it.
Well, there's always the UN Human Rights Council ( #UNHRC)! This is an intergovernmental (read: political) body with 47 elected members elected from regional groups.
https://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/HRC/Pages/AboutCouncil.aspx (5/?)
Well, there's always the UN Human Rights Council ( #UNHRC)! This is an intergovernmental (read: political) body with 47 elected members elected from regional groups.
https://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/HRC/Pages/AboutCouncil.aspx (5/?)
The #UNHRC provides an important forum for rights discussions in the UN, including appointing Special Rapporteurs and conducing country & theme specific investigations.
(6/?)
(6/?)
But, it isn't without controversy. A political forum with elected members, its membership often isn't what one might expect for a #HumanRights panel.
For example, the PRC was reelected this last year - despite ongoing rights violations in Xinjiang.
https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/china-sees-affirmation-election-human-rights-council-73602557 (7/?)
For example, the PRC was reelected this last year - despite ongoing rights violations in Xinjiang.
https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/china-sees-affirmation-election-human-rights-council-73602557 (7/?)
So you're probably starting to see some gaps in the system.
States don't ratify HR treaties -> they're outside the treaty bodies.
#UNHRC gets politicized -> limits what/where it can investigate.
Which brings us back to the UPR... (8/?)
States don't ratify HR treaties -> they're outside the treaty bodies.
#UNHRC gets politicized -> limits what/where it can investigate.
Which brings us back to the UPR... (8/?)
As mentioned - the UPR covers ALL UN member states. No matter what human rights treaties they've ratified. No matter if they're on the UN Security Council, or allied with key members of the UNHRC.
Starting to see the value? (9/?)
Starting to see the value? (9/?)
Yes, this means NK can criticize Australia on human rights.
It also means that Australia can return the favor. And that matters, since NK is party to very few UN HR treaties & rarely cooperates with UN investigations.
So the UPR provides a forum for states to engage. (10/?)
It also means that Australia can return the favor. And that matters, since NK is party to very few UN HR treaties & rarely cooperates with UN investigations.
So the UPR provides a forum for states to engage. (10/?)
Is the UPR a perfect system?
No, of course not! Who decides to speak and when can be very political. It can't force a state to change behavior. It's time limited (11/?)
No, of course not! Who decides to speak and when can be very political. It can't force a state to change behavior. It's time limited (11/?)
But the UPR is a forum. Where each state engages on human rights. Where states (& NGOs) can exert pressure. And that matters.
Is it perfect? No. Does it add some value to the broader UN #HumanRights system? I'd argue yes.
Anyways, rant over, back to work... (12/fin)
Is it perfect? No. Does it add some value to the broader UN #HumanRights system? I'd argue yes.
Anyways, rant over, back to work... (12/fin)
