UN chief criticized as soft on human rights

[WestVirginiaRebel]

My Way News:

UNITED NATIONS (AP) - Human Rights Watch singled out U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon for especially harsh criticism Monday as it took world leaders to task for what it called their failure to be tougher on rights offenders.

Ban's office rejected the criticism, insisting that the U.N. chief employs both quiet diplomacy and public condemnation with abusive governments after determining which method will prove most effective in each case.

Human Rights Watch's executive director Kenneth Roth also lambasted the European Union; the E.U.'s first high representative for foreign affairs and security policy, Catherine Ashton; President Obama, British Prime Minister David Cameron, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, and French President Nicolas Sarkozy.

"The use of dialogue and cooperation in lieu of public pressure has emerged with a vengeance at the U.N., from Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to many members of the Human Rights Council," Roth wrote in the introduction of the group's annual report.

Ban "has been notably reluctant to put pressure on abusive governments," Roth wrote.

"To deserve a second term he will need to be more outspoken and consistent," Philippe Bolopion, U.N. advocacy director for Human Rights Watch said Monday, referring to Ban's likely bid for a second four-year term later this year. Candidates for U.N. chief are nominated by the powerful 15-member Security Council and must be approved by the 192-member General Assembly of member states.
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In Ban's defense, wrist-slapping and angry letter writing is hard work...