Thomas Cliff Tighe

Human rights are not the privileged patrimony of selected nations. They are universal, and the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, which is in the midst of its annual six-week session in Geneva, has a mandate to ensure that these rights are respected around the world. The 52 nations elected to serve on this body each year have a direct responsibility for the work of the Commission on Human Rights, but every country that values human rights and democracy has an obligation to help the commission fulfil its mandate.

The commitment of the United States to human rights is tangible and targeted. This commitment is documented in the recently released Department of State report, Supporting Human Rights and Democracy: The US Record 2004-2005.
The report outlines our support of individuals and organisations in 98 countries working to promote democracy and to protect the human rights of their fellow citizens. This report can be found at http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/shrd/2004/index.htm.

A key element of the Commission on Human Rights' mandate is promoting compliance with internationally recognised human rights standards. To accomplish this objective, it is critical that the Commission on Human Rights examine the human rights records of specific nations, highlighting cases of gross violations and speak out about the most repressive governments in the world. Failure to perform this role would be an abdication of an essential Commission on Human Rights responsibility.

The international community cannot evade this responsibility because some governments feel uncomfortable taking a stand critical of another country simply because it is a neighbour. Cordial diplomatic relations are important, but they must not come at the price of ignoring injustice.

Neither should the Commission on Human Rights shirk its responsibility in response to allegations that developing countries are being singled out unfairly. Any country may seek membership in the Commission on Human Rights, and any member may introduce a resolution examining the human rights situation in any other country.

As a Commission on Human Rights member, the United States government supports resolutions focused on countries where international attention may have the most impact.
Such resolutions encourage people struggling under repressive regimes and, at times, spur governments to make modest improvements. We believe the case of Cuba in particular deserves the attention of the Commission on Human Rights.

It was two years ago that the Cuban government began the most blatant act of repression against peaceful democracy and human rights activists in the history of Cuba. More than 100 activists were arrested; of those, 75 were summarily tried and sentenced to prison terms averaging 20 years each.

In recent weeks, a quiet protest - recalling similar important symbolic gestures under military regimes in Argentina and Chile - has been carried out by the Damas de Blanco, the wives of Cuban political prisoners. They meet outside of a church each Sunday to walk quietly for a few blocks. Several weeks ago, a government-organised mob confronted them with insults and threats.This is the reality of life in Cuba if you speak out in favour of human rights.

The United States is committed this year to a resolution renewing the mandate of the Personal Representative of the High Commissioner for Human Rights on Cuba, who has been tasked with monitoring the human rights situation in the country. Once again, we are urging our democratic allies in Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean to stand behind the Cuban people on this resolution.

We recognise that no country has a perfect human rights record, including the United States. But countries responsible for gross human rights violations need to be held accountable for their actions. Cuba regularly flouts the resolutions of the UN Human Rights Commission.

The international community also has a responsibility to recognise and express solidarity with those brave men and women who continue to resist tyranny, strive for democracy, and demand respect for their most basic human rights.
In the coming days, governments around the world will have another important opportunity to reaffirm that commitment.

Thomas "Cliff" Tighe is chargé d'affaires at the US embassy in Kingston.

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