• "The African Group expresses its hope that this session of the Council will mark the continuation of the cooperative spirit, which has reigned so far in the Council on Sudan..." -- Egypt on behalf of the African Group, March 17, 2008
  


• "We believe that this is a reflection of the openness of the government of Sudan and its commitment to cooperate with this Council for the promotion and protection of human rights." -- Egypt on behalf of the African Group, March 17, 2008
  


• "The African group expresses its appreciation to the government of Sudan for the efforts undertaken thus far in the implementation of peace agreements..." -- Egypt on behalf of the African Group, March 17, 2008
  


• "Sudan's efforts are noteworthy and must be encouraged." -- Pakistan, March 17, 2008
  


• "Sudan has completely cooperated with the former Commission on Human Rights as well as the current Council with the fact that both the Council and the Commission have admitted that." -- Palestine on behalf of the Arab Group, March 17, 2008
  


• "We appreciate the consistent efforts of the government of Sudan to remove obstacles to the implementation of all national, regional, and international agreements." -- Pakistan, March 17, 2008
  


• "The government of Sudan will also require international support and encouragement, which must be provided without political qualification." -- Pakistan, March 17, 2008
  


• "The Sudan has always cooperated with the Human Rights Council in order to implement its resolutions. President, we welcome Sudan's cooperation with the Council...."-- Syria, March 17, 2008
  


• "The Sudanese government is cooperating fully with all international, regional initiatives to put an end to the crisis...."-- League of Arab States representative, March 17, 2008
  


• "Malaysia welcomes the progress achieved by the government of the Sudan in improving the legislation, mechanism, and rule of law in the country...."-- Malaysia, March 17, 2008
  


• "We praise the positive steps taken by and taken in the past and which continue to be taken by the government of Sudan to deal with the situation in Darfur...."-- Saudi Arabia, March 17, 2008
  


• "The report of the Special Rapporteur reflects the cooperation of the Sudan government and the progress made in improving the situation in that region by the attempt of the Sudanese government to lift all the obstacles to carrying out all the provisions of regional and international agreements." -- Saudi Arabia, March 17, 2008
  


• "We also recognize the determination of the Sudanese government to try and solve the complex situation effecting Darfur. Cuba welcomes the manifest cooperation of the Sudanese authorities with the work of this Council and its decisions." -- Cuba, March 17, 2008
  


• "Thanks to the considerable efforts of the UN, the African Union, the Sudanese government and other interested parties we have seen positive developments in the search for a solution to the Darfur issue." -- China, March 17, 2008
  


• "We are confident that the government of Sudan will continue its cooperation with the Council and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights...." -- Indonesia, March 17, 2008
  


• "Sudan has fully cooperated with the UN peacekeeping forces. This has shown the good intentions of the Sudanese government's determination to restore peace and security." -- United Arab Emirates, March 17, 2008
  


• "The Sudanese government has demonstrated its determination to positively work toward satisfactory solutions...." -- Jordan, March 17, 2008
  


• "We are satisfied to note the high level of cooperation between the Sudanese government and the Special Rapporteur, and the willingness of the government to pursue a dialogue...." -- Russian Federation, March 17, 2008
  


• "My country's delegation praises the efforts of the Sudanese government to improve the human rights situation..." -- Bahrain, March 17, 2008
  


• "The government of Sudan is cooperating positively...." -- Bahrain, March 17, 2008
  


• "We appreciate the cooperation of the government of Sudan to facilitate the work of the Special Rapporteur and to follow closely matters in the field." -- Yemen, March 17, 2008
  


• "We are particularly heartened by the openness and the cooperative spirit with which the government of Sudan has welcomed the SR and facilitated her mission." -- Djibouti, March 17, 2008
  


• "The delegation also notes the cooperation afforded to the Special Rapporteur by the government of Sudan, which is reflective of an attempt to unravel the complex situation and resolve it." -- Zimbabwe, March 17, 2008
  


• "We particularly welcome the cooperation extended by the government of the Sudan to the Special Rapporteur as well as to the group of experts on Darfur. We also appreciate the government of Sudan's willingness to remain engaged with the international community." -- Pakistan on behalf of the Islamic Group, March 27, 2008
  


• "There has been an acknowledgment of the improvements of the situation of human rights in Darfur and of the steps taken by the government of the Sudan...." -- Sudan, March 27, 2008

++++++++++++++++++++++

The U.N.'s Human-Rights Sham
By RONAN FARROW
January 29, 2008; Page A16

Last week the U.N. Human Rights Council held an emergency session, organized by Arab and Muslim nations, to condemn Israel for its military actions in the Gaza strip. That the council is capable of swift and decisive action is a welcome surprise; that Israel remains the only nation to provoke such action is not. In the 17 months since its inception, the body has passed 13 condemnations, 12 of them against Israel.

The council replaced what was widely viewed as a cancer on the United Nations -- an ineffectual "Commission on Human Rights" that also had a single-minded focus on Israel. According to former Secretary-General Kofi Annan, "the selectivity and politicizing of its activities [were] in danger of bringing the entire U.N. system into disrepute."

The removal of the diseased commission two years ago was heralded by U.N. officials as "the dawn of a new era." Its replacement was designed to have stricter standards for membership, and rules to prevent politicized voting. But such safeguards were neutered by the time the new Human Rights Council was approved, and the results are agonizingly apparent. The council is no better than its predecessor.

The problems begin with the council's composition. Only 25 of its 47 members are classified as "free democracies," according to Freedom House's ranking of civil liberties. Nine are classified as "not free." Four -- China, Cuba, Russia and Saudi Arabia -- are ranked as the "worst of the worst." These nations are responsible for repeated violations of the U.N.'s own Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Yet it is they who dominate the council, leading a powerful bloc of predominantly Arab and African nations that consistently vote as a unit.

These regimes have repeatedly used the council as a powerful tool for shielding themselves from scrutiny and meting out criticism along stark political lines. According to Human Rights Watch, the council has turned a blind eye to at least 26 countries -- the sites of some of the world's worst human-rights crises.

In some cases, the council has actively eroded the level of monitoring. Last year, when Cuba drew fire for persecuting journalists, and Belarus for political imprisonments and rigged elections, the council responded by removing monitors from both countries.

As fresh waves of violence convulsed Darfur in December, the council responded by dismissing the team of experts tasked with monitoring atrocities in that region. Sudan's closest allies, Egypt and China, have led the council in shielding the Sudanese regime.

Even mild resolutions, like a Canadian proposal requesting the prosecution of those responsible for abuses in Darfur, have been rejected. Reports from U.N. fact-finding missions implicating Sudan's government in torture, rape and mass murder -- including one led by Nobel Peace laureate Jody Williams earlier this year -- have been discarded. And while world leaders labeled the Sudanese regime's actions as genocide, the council continued to commend Sudan's conduct and assign blame to "all parties" involved. In the face of the world's worst human-rights crisis, it has refused to issue a single condemnation.

The council's defenders point out nominal improvements over the old commission. More of its seats are held by free democracies. However, these nations have performed anemically, remaining too quiet and acquiescing too frequently. Democratic members such as Canada, France, Germany and Britain must do more to make their presence felt, and work harder to prevent abusive regimes from commandeering the council.

Powerful democracies not on the council -- including the United States -- should press those who are to use their positions within the body to the fullest extent. But given their track record thus far, the chances of democracies finding their voice seem slim.

The best hope for recovery lies in a system of "universal periodical review" slated to begin in April. This would compel the council to review the human rights records of all U.N. states, not just a narrow selection of their choosing. Council members should work to ensure that the system is implemented with impartiality and rigor. But if the council's reviews of Sudan are any indicator of the quality of assessments to come, then even periodical reviews may make little difference.

Another cancer has grown in the old commission's place, and it is just as malignant. U.N. member states should be prepared to call for a fresh start. A new body should be built, with the safeguards initially proposed for this one -- such as the required approval of two-thirds of the U.N. to attain membership -- left intact. A forum that serves as a real tool in service of human rights is worth fighting for.

Mr. Farrow, a student at Yale Law School, is a UNICEF spokesperson and has worked on human-rights issues at the House Foreign Affairs Committee.