[JURIST] The UN Human Rights Commission [official website] passed a resolution Thursday condemning Israel's settlements on Palestinian territories by 39-2, with 12 abstentions. The resolution called for the Israeli government to reverse the policy and to take measures meant to guarentee the safety of Palestinian civilians. The group is later expected to vote on resolutions condemning abuses in Belarus, Cuba, Sudan, Myanmar and North Korea. The Sudan resolution may be quite contentious, as some African countries may introduces a "no-action" motion. The commission did not issue a formal condemnation to Sudan over the Darfur conflict [BBC in-depth] last year. As reported Wednesday in JURIST's Paper Chase, the Commission will also consider a US-sponsored resolution condemning Cuba's human rights record and also requests that the country's human rights record be kept under observation. If the resolution passes, Cuba may counter by introducing a resolution condemning the US treatment of prisoners at Guantanamo Bay [Wikipedia profile]. AP has more.

1:30 PM ET - The United Nations Commission on Human Rights censured North Korea for widespread and grave violations including torture, executions and forced abortions. The commission voted 30-9, with 14 abstentions, including South Korea, in favor of the resolution and urged the government to cooperate with its special investigator, Vitit Muntarbhorn. The North Korean delegation offered a sharp rebuke at the commission accusing the forum of "politicisation, selectivity and double standards." Reuters has more.