The Vice President of the United States, Mike Pence, spoke today at the United Nations Security Council where he called for “fundamental reforms” at the United Nations and slammed the Human Rights Council as a “forum for anti-Semitism”, saying the UNHRC’s anti-Israel bias is “massive source of embarrassment” to the United Nations.
Here is a snippet of what Vice President Pence said (with highlights of some of the best bits) and below is the video of the full speech he made:
“The United Nations is bound by its charter to foster international cooperation in promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms for all. That was the purpose under which the UN Human Rights Council was formed. But the truth is the Human Rights Council doesn’t deserve its name.
As we look at the membership of the council today, we see nations that have betrayed these timeless principles on which this institution was founded. Today the United Nations Human Rights Council actually attracts and welcomes many of the worst human rights violators in the world. A clear majority of the Human Rights Council members fail to meet even the most basic human rights standards.
This body must reform the Human Rights Council’s membership and its operation. As to its operation I think of what John F Kennedy warned more than 50 years ago that the United Nations must not become in his words, “a forum for invective”. Unfortunately today, the Human Rights Council has become exactly that. And particularly the Human Rights Council has become a forum for anti-Semitism and invective against Israel.
The council’s agenda item 7 actually singles out Israel for discussion at every single meeting. Something no other country must endure. As evidence the Human Rights Council has passed more than 70 resolutions condemning Israel while largely ignoring the world’s worst human rights abusers.
It is as President Trump said yesterday, “a massive source of embarrassment”. And we call upon the Security Council and this entire body to immediately embrace reforms of the membership and practices of the Human Rights Council. And end the Human Rights Council’s blatant bias against our cherished ally Israel.
Under President Trump the United States of America is firmly committed to the cause of human rights.”
Note: The above wording is from around 7 minutes into the video below, but he also says good things before that.