STATEMENT OF THE UNITED STATES

on the Report of the Sub-Commission

Delivered by Rachel M. Leatham
Adviser, U.S. Delegation, Human Rights Council

Wednesday, September 27, 2006

Thank you, Mr. President.

The United States would like to thank Chairman Bossuyt for his work during the Sub-Commission’s final session.

As the High Commissioner for Human Rights has recommended, the new Council should focus on human rights implementation and not on norm creation. We believe that the focus of the Sub-Commission was out of sync with pressing global human rights situations and that any expert advice provided to the Council must focus on providing relevant and practical technical advice to interested countries.

In June, the Human Rights Council mandated that the Sub-Commission hold one final session in August to conclude its work. However, at that meeting, the Sub-Commission proceeded to adopt a series of resolutions that attempt to create new mandates, extend existing ones, or undertake new financial commitments.

We commend some individual members of the Sub-Commission for their fine work, especially during its early years. Unfortunately, over time, the Sub-Commission became a highly politicized and thus outlived its mandate. Regrettably, both the Sub-Commission’s report, and a second recent report, offering the Sub-Commission’s views on a new body of experts confirm the Sub-Commission’s determination to stay in business.

The Sub-Commission’s annual budget in its final years exceeded that of its parent body, the Commission on Human Rights, nearly four-fold. This, combined with the focus of the Sub-Commission causes the United States to conclude that outside expert advice, if any is needed, must be provided to the new Human Rights Council in a different manner.

We hope that the mandate review working group will give serious consideration to our comments. We look forward to working constructively with our colleagues under the able guidance of Ambassador Burayzat to help ensure that any expert advice will be supplied to the Human Rights Council in a substantially more cost effective and less politicized manner.

Thank you, Mr. President.