Speaking with One Voice but Having Little Impact: The EU at the UN’s Human Rights Council Karen E Smith LSE

EU and the HRC Role in formation of Human Rights Council Role in HRC sessions thus far Influence limited – why

HRC To replace discredited Commission on Human Rights (‘captured’ by human rights violators; politicised) 4 groupings involved in initial discussions: Africa Group, Group of Arab States, OIC, and EU New HRC agreed at World Summit 2005, but details worked out in UNGA; agreement in March 2006

HRC Resolution, March 2006 subsidiary organ of the General Assembly, based in Geneva; responsible for promoting universal respect for the protection of all human rights and fundamental freedoms, and should address situations of violations of human rights; to meet at least three times a year, for at least ten weeks, and can hold special sessions, at the request of an HRC member with the support of one-third of the HRC membership; to undertake a universal periodic review of the fulfilment by each UN member state of its human rights obligations and commitments; composed of 47 member states, elected by a majority of the UNGA members; states found guilty of gross violations of human rights could be suspended from HRC membership by a two-thirds vote of the General Assembly [EU wanted HRC members to be elected by 2/3 of UNGA]

EU at HRC Research question: US has absented itself from HRC (refused to vote for it; refuses to be elected to it); therefore: Without the US (hegemon) can the EU lead in the HRC?

Representation on CHR vs HRC UN regional group CHR No. of states/% HRC No. of states/% Africa Group15 (28)13 (28) Asia Group12 (23)13 (28) Latin America11 (21)8 (17) Eastern Europe5 (9)6 (13) WEOG10 (19)7 (15) TOTAL53 (100)47 (100) EU2005: 8 (15)2006: 8 (17) 2007: 7 (15) OIC2005: 13 (24.5)2006: 17 (36) 2007: 15 (32)

HRC sessions 6 regular sessions so far: 1) June 2006; 2) 18 September-6 October and November 2006; 3) 29 November-8 December 2006; 4) March 2007; 5) June 2007 (‘institution- building process’ finished); 6) September and December special sessions so far: 1) July 2006: human rights in occupied Palestinian territory; 2) August 2006: human rights violations in Lebanon caused by Israel; 3) November 2006: human rights violations in occupied Palestinian territory caused by Israeli military incursions; 4) December 2006: human rights situation in Darfur; 5) October 2007: human rights situation in Myanmar; 6) January 2008: human rights violations in occupied Palestinian territory caused by Israeli military incursions

EU ‘output’ Regular sessions 1-6 Special sessions 1-6 Resolutions sponsored 91 Statements/ participation in debates 1246 Explanations of vote 346 Voting cohesion100% (0 split votes out of 24 roll-call votes) 80% (1 split vote out of 5 roll-call votes)

EU output compared with other groupings EUOICAfrica Group Group of Arab States Asia Group NAMGRU- LAC LMGWEOGNordic Group Reg. sessions 1-6 State- ments EoVs Reso- lutions Special sesions 1-6 State- ments EoVs411 Reso- lutions 141

Limited influence of EU Limited influence on institution-bldg process (agenda item 7; mandates for Belarus and Cuba; country resolutions) Limited influence on HRC debates: OIC setting agenda on Israeli violations; racism, Islamophobia and defamation of religions Seeks consensus, waters down own positions Often isolated: in 28 roll-call votes in total, EU member states in minority on all but 3 of them; + joined only by other ‘Northern’ states

Why? (work in progress…) Coordination process time-consuming anyway, little time for outreach; worse with enlargement? HRC more intensive process and EU ms haven’t boosted Geneva missions Influence impossible anyway, due to: 1) North-South split is deep 2) clashes over values, and double standards of North 3) Israeli violations of human rights