Robinson in parting shot at US over human rights

OUTGOING UN human rights chief Mary Robinson last night fired a parting shot at the United States on the eve of the September 11 anniversary.

The former Irish president said many countries had used the suicide plane hijackings that killed more than 3,000 people as a pretext for new security laws which violated international human rights norms.

She added the US had a duty to set high standards because others used its lapses as an excuse for abuse.

She said the appalling crime against humanity on September 11 shaped her work very much in the past year.

But she defended her frequently outspoken criticism of the United States for violating rights and civil liberties in the aftermath of the terror attacks.

"It was necessary to criticise first of all the United States ... because when I criticise some (other) countries, people say look at what is happening in the United States," Robinson said.

"The norms (post September 11) have changed. I say with a lot of force that the norms and standards cannot change. This cannot happen."

Robinson will head up a new global human rights venture in New York when she steps down as UN Human Rights Commissioner today.

The Ethical Globalisation Initiative will monitor the adherence to human rights conventions of countries all over the world.

And it will also raise funds to strengthen the human rights of poorer nations particularly in Africa.

Mrs Robinson will be supported in her initiative by a partnership of three organisations with a proven track record in challenging global inequalities. The partners are The Aspen Institute (US) , State of the World Forum (US) and the International Council on Human Rights Policy (Switzerland).

Mrs Robinson steps down as UN Human Rights Commissioner on the first anniversary of the attacks on the United States on September 11.

She said this appalling crime against humanity has shaped her work very much in the past year.

She added the attacks helped influence her future focus.

But Mrs Robinson defended her frequently outspoken criticism of the United States for violating rights and civil liberties after the September 11 atrocity.

Mrs Robinson told journalists in Geneva that many countries had used the suicide plane hijackings that killed more than 3,000 people as a pretext for new security laws that violated international human rights norms.

She said it was necessary to criticise the United States because when she criticised some countries, people say look at what is happening in the United States.

"The norms have changed I say with a lot of force that the norms and standards cannot change, this cannot happen," Mrs Robinson added.

Mrs Robinson said she was encouraged by signs of growing dissent in the US and in other countries over actions being taken by governments.

"I hope that after the September 11 anniversary there will be a change that will reinforce the importance of human rights norms in the United States," she said.

Mrs Robinson said her new job would focus on strengthening human rights commitments globally.

She added her job would concentrate on ensuring developing countries particularly in Africa get adequate resources to build human rights protections.

She will be as succeeded as UN High Commissioner for Human Rights by Brazilian UN veteran Sergio Vieira de Mello.