U.N. Human Rights Post Created
The General Assembly on Monday formally created the post of high commissioner for human rights, a post under discussion for the past 45 years, to respond quickly to major rights crises.
President Clinton had made the post a cornerstone of his U.N. policy, and U.S. Ambassador Madeleine Albright has called the resolution “a major milestone for world human rights.”
The wording of the text is purposely vague to allow supporters and opponents to interpret it--with the United States saying the commissioner can intervene whenever basic freedoms are being suppressed and others arguing that the post has definite limitations on calling attention to abuses.
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