UN Human Rights Council Council

NEW--website for UN Human Rights Council.


The UN Human Rights Council must mark a "clean break", UN Secretary General Kofi Annan told the opening session.

He called on the 47 member states not to become "caught up in political point-scoring or petty manoeuvre".

The council replaces the discredited Human Rights Commission, which had been widely accused of protecting countries with poor human rights records.

Members now have to be elected by the UN General Assembly and can be suspended if they commit violations.

"This council represents a great new chance for the United Nations and for humanity, to renew the struggle for human rights," Mr Annan said.