An interview with Hillel Neuer

UN Watch have a transcript of an interview with their Hillel Neuer by his old college magazine. Absolutely fascinating insight into the mind and life of a very brave man and doughty campaigner. Here are a few extracts: 'At the last session of the Human Rights Council in March 2010, there were five resolutions on Israel and only four on the rest of the world combined. That’s ridiculous! It’s harmful for millions of human rights victims around the world whose situations never see the light of day. There’s a very limited amount of time and resources that diplomats will devote to a Council session. Every one-sided resolution on Israel is time, resources and resolutions not devoted to victims suffering in Tibet, Zimbabwe or Chechnya. Those who introduce or support these resolutions are, themselves, the worst violators of human rights. It’s a deliberate strategy to deflect attention from their own abuses.

...

In March, Canada was criticized for its treatment of minorities by the UN’s Independent Expert on Minority Issues, American Gay McDougall. What are your thoughts on that? The expert, who is appointed by the UN Human Rights Council, selects a few places each year to visit and report on minority rights issues. One place she chose this year was Canada. Canada should be held accountable but it’s a question of priorities. Canada is one of the best countries for minorities. Sure, it’s flawed. I grew up in Quebec and I’m aware of real issues and concerns. That said, from a global perspective, when the UN has scarce time and resources, the natural priority would be to address countries perpetrating genocide or ethnic cleansing and where there’s no one-no free press, no judiciary, no human rights group-to speak out for the minorities. These are the victims who really need help from an international voice like the UN. To divert this attention to Canada, I think, shows a profoundly flawed sense of priorities.