The United Nations General Assembly voted overwhelmingly last night to create a new UN human rights council, despite opposition from the United States.
Of the four opposing the resolution, Israel, the Marshall Islands and Palau joined the United States. Belarus, Iran and Venezuela abstained.
As the preeminent international rights watchdog, the new United Nations Human Rights Council is to expose human rights abusers and help nations draw up rights legislation. It would replace the Geneva-based UN Human Rights Commission, which has included some notorious rights violators.
US Ambassador John Bolton told the assembly that despite a list of objections, the Bush administration would cooperate with the new rights body. But he later told reporters it was undecided whether Washington would seek a seat on the council when elections are held on May 9.
The Republican-led House International Relations Committee has threatened to withhold part of US payments to the United Nations if the human rights commission was not reformed.
Asked if he would tell the committee that reforms had taken place, Bolton said, "No, that's why we voted against it."
However, he said the Bush administration was against withholding funds. "But we have a system of separated powers and Congress will do what it wants to do."
Many nations, including Canada, New Zealand and European Union members, as well as major rights groups, shared U.S. misgivings. But they voted in favor, fearing that new negotiations would result in a weaker resolution.
Typical of major human rights groups was Kenneth Roth, executive director of Human Rights Watch, who said, "We can celebrate the birth of the council, but whether it walks or crawls will depend on the commitment of governments."
He said, "It would be utterly childish if the Congress were to mobilize against the council when it is vastly better than the commission the United States has worked with for years."