Swiss welcome Annan plans to reform UN

Annan is hoping to push through his reforms this year Keystone

Switzerland has welcomed plans unveiled by United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan to reform the world body.

Annan’s proposals include the enlargement of the Security Council and the replacement of the Human Rights Commission, which he believes is undermining the UN’s credibility.

Speaking at the UN’s European headquarters in the Swiss city of Geneva on Thursday, Annan said the human-rights body was “casting a shadow on the reputation of the UN system”.

“Unless we remake our human-rights machinery, we may be unable to renew public confidence in the UN itself,” he said.

The Human Rights Commission was launched 60 years ago and is the UN’s main mechanism for monitoring respect for human rights around the world.

But critics say infighting and its inability to act firmly in the face of clear cases of abuse have eroded its authority.

Annan envisages the replacement of the commission with a smaller council, whose members would be elected by the UN General Assembly.

Praise for reform

Addressing a separate meeting in New York, the Swiss ambassador to the UN welcomed Annan’s plans as an important step towards long-term reform of the global organisation.

“Switzerland particularly welcomes the importance afforded by the Secretary-General to the respect for the rule of law and human rights, and his innovative proposal to establish a Human Rights Council,” said Peter Maurer during a speech to the General Assembly.

He added that the Swiss government supported moves to ensure that human rights are not undermined by the global war on terror.

“We support the proposal… to appoint a special rapporteur to examine the conformity of anti-terrorism measures with international norms for the protection of human rights.”

Regular meetings

Members of the proposed Human Rights Council – which would hold regular sessions throughout the year rather than a single, six-week conference – would need a two-thirds majority to be elected, as well as a “solid record of commitment” to human rights.

The aim is to put an end to a situation in which many current members, including Sudan, Saudi Arabia and Zimbabwe, are themselves accused of widespread human-rights abuse.

Changes to the commission form part of proposed sweeping reforms to the workings of the UN, including an enlargement of the Security Council and a programme to combat poverty.

Annan has made it clear he would like the new Human Rights Council to be based in Geneva. He wants UN members to approve the changes by September.

swissinfo with agencies

Key facts

The Human Rights Commission was established in 1946 and is currently made up of representatives from 53 countries nominated by regional groupings.
Annan has proposed replacing the commission with a smaller Human Rights Council.
The members of the council would be elected by the UN General Assembly.