The United Nations Economic and Social Council today adopted a resolution which, after approval by next fall’s General Assembly, would establish a new world organization office, a United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.
The adoption of that resolution culminated a five-year fight for the creation of such an office. The Soviet Union, which has fought against the proposal since it was first made, voted with the minority of four delegations that cast negative ballots on a roll call. The others voting against it were Czechoslovakia, India and Rumania. But the majority garnered 15 votes in favor of the measure. Israel, the United States and Britain had supported the move vigorously.
At the same time, the ECOSOC reelected Israel to membership in the Human Rights Commission, one of the organ’s principal subsidiaries. Israel has been on the Commission for the last three years, being represented by Supreme Court Justice Haim Cohn. In arguments behind the scenes, the Soviet and Arab blocs insisted that one three-year term for Israel was enough, while others pointed out that Israel, as a Jewish state, has a special interest in human rights.
On the final vote, against the opposition of seven other candidates, Israel was reelected and Ambassador Shabtai Rosenne was declared holder of a seat on the Human Rights Commission for the next three-year term. Dr. Rosenne is Israel’s deputy permanent representative here, and is also a member of the International Law Commission, another U.N. body.
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
