UN Human Rights Council acts on Israel, Darfur but not Tibet 28/03/2008 00:00

No action by the council on human rights violations in Tibet as it ends its 4-week session on Friday

28 March 2008

GENEVA - The UN Human Rights Council was due to end its session on Friday, failing to take action on Tibet.

The council widely regarded as a toothless institution, faced heavy criticism for not recommending any special action over human rights violations in Tibet.

Violence erupted in the Chinese-occupied province on 10 March when Chinese authorities moved in to break up pro-independence demonstrations as the 47 member states of the Human Rights Council were holding their session in Geneva.

European countries, supported by Australia, Switzerland and the United States, raised the topic but the debate was abandoned amid Chinese protests.

Several non-governmental organisations pushed the council to hold a special session on Tibet but failed to secure the necessary support of one third of the council's member states.

During its four-week session the council passed a resolution put forward by the Organisation of Islamic States over recent Israeli action in the Gaza Strip, censuring Israel for the fourth time since it was set up two years ago.

The European states abstained saying a more balanced resolution was needed taking into account Palestinian actions.

The UN body also expressed its "deep concern" at the ongoing violations of human rights in parts of Darfur, planning a review at its next regular session in September.

It narrowly adopted a resolution, backed by Europe, deploring the "grave" human rights situation in North Korea. China and Russia voted against the resolution.

[Copyright dpa 2008]