Originally published on the CGS blog on August 29, 2007.
It has been an interesting couple of days here at the WFM. I have been part of some wide ranging discussions on human rights, the rule of law and the growth of new international organizations like the Human Rights Council and the Peace Building Commission. At a session at the Palace of Nations yesterday we were given an opportunity to dialogue with influential UN actors including the director-general and senior figures from the HRC and the office of the Human Rights Commissioner. It is clear that these are challenging times for those responsible for driving the human rights agenda at the UN – from the issue of terrorism (and the impact of counter terror policy) to a range of refugee and IDP (internally displaced people) situations, the organs with primary responsibility in the international arena are feeling overwhelmed and under fire. While I am sympathetic, it is important that civil society both be supportive and push for these organs to redouble their efforts – there is no time to rest…much more on this later but for now I wanted to sure to convey this troubling feeling.
