Responding to an intervention by United Nations Watch in the General Debate on the Universal Periodic Review Process in Geneva today, Secretary to the Ministry of Disaster Management and Human Rights Prof Rajiva Wijesinha commented on the dangers of allowing unaccountable organisations to denigrate the work of the Human Rights Council.  His remarks are carried below.

****

Mr President, the intervention of United Nations Watch raises some issues which this Council would do well to address.  In a rather sad effort at sarcasm, it was endeavouring to denigrate the UPR process, and suggested that countries it loathes are incapable of making judgments except on the grounds of self interest.

Mr President, the structure of the United Nations recognises that countries do work in terms of self interest, but we endeavour to seek ways of promoting our common ideals.  We all understand where different countries are coming from, and if we see some of our friends not being as principled as we would like, and employing what we see as double standards, there may be good reasons for this that have to do with
political compulsions.

Unfortunately,  Mr President, we do not know where some NGOs come from, where they get their funds, and what their particular predilections are.  It is therefore sad that they should be allowed to denigrate countries and the work of this Council, without the accountability and transparency that can alone justify such interventions.  I would urge Mr President that you look into this matter carefully, and take suitable action to ensure that the work of this Council can move forward with dignity.