UN member states seeking seats on new Human Rights Council News
UN member states seeking seats on new Human Rights Council

[JURIST] United Nations member states have begun announcing their candidacies for membership on the newly-formed Human Rights Council [official website; UN materials; FAQ] in preparations for elections scheduled May 9. The UN General Assembly [official website] approved the creation of the new rights body last month to replace the widely criticized Commission on Human Rights [official website]. According to the list of candidates [official website] available from the General Assembly Wednesday morning, 32 member states have so far announced their candidacies, including Iran [CNS report]. In opposing [JURIST report] the resolution [JURIST document] creating the Human Rights Council, the United States expressed concern that there were inadequate checks to ensure that countries, such as Iran, that have not demonstrated a commitment to human rights would be able to win seats on the Council.

US officials have not decided whether to seek a spot on the 47-member rights body, though US Sen. Majority Leader Bill Frist [official website] has introduced a resolution [PDF text; press release] opposing US participation on the panel and other US support of the Council. UPI has more.

THIS DAY @ LAW

UN Security Council called for Israeli withdrawal from territories occupied in Six Days' War

On November 22, 1967, the UN Security Council called for Israeli withdrawal from territories occupied during the Six Days' War, and for respect of the right of all States in the area to "live in peace within secure and recognized boundaries." Read Resolution 242, which remains a cornerstone of efforts to achieve peace in the Middle East.

President Kennedy assassinated, VP Lyndon Johnson sworn inin

On November 22, 1963, President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, Texas. Later that day, Vice-President Lyndon Johnson was sworn in as the 36th President of the United States. Earl Warren, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, was later tasked with leading a commission to investigate the assassination. President Johnson received the final report of the Warren Commission on September 24, 1964. Read the Warren Commission Report.