(New York) The United States is set to defy its allies on another critical human rights treaty, warned Human Rights Watch as the United Nations debates a new treaty to prevent torture.The U.N. Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), the organization's governing body for human rights, will next week debate a draft Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture.
The new treaty would establish an international system of inspection visits to places of detention, but would only apply to those countries that ratify it.
The current text has been put forward by Costa Rica and enjoys wide support from ECOSOC members, including members of the European Union and many Latin American, Caribbean and African states. But the United States has signaled its opposition and wants negotiations on the text re-opened.
“Yet again the Bush Administration is on a collision course with its allies over an important new mechanism to protect human rights,” said Rory Mungoven, Global Advocacy director for Human Rights Watch. “Last week, it was the International Criminal Court, this week, it's the prevention of torture.”
The new treaty would establish an international system of inspection visits to places of detention, but would only apply to those countries that ratify it.
The current text has been put forward by Costa Rica and enjoys wide support from ECOSOC members, including members of the European Union and many Latin American, Caribbean and African states. But the United States has signaled its opposition and wants negotiations on the text re-opened.
“Yet again the Bush Administration is on a collision course with its allies over an important new mechanism to protect human rights,” said Rory Mungoven, Global Advocacy director for Human Rights Watch. “Last week, it was the International Criminal Court, this week, it's the prevention of torture.”