U.S. human rights put in the limelight during UN session

The United States' human rights record was reviewed on Monday by the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) with a view to implement all fundamental freedoms in the country.

The main issues raised by state delegations included the use of racial profiling and excessive police force, capital punishment, the Guantanamo detention center, digital surveillance, and the ratification of key international conventions.

Many states urged the United States to ratify the conventions on the rights of persons with disabilities, the rights of children, the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women, as well as the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.

A number of delegations also expressed their desire for the United States to create a national human rights institution in accordance with Paris Principles adopted by the intergovernmental organization in 1992.

In tune with these recommendations, the Chinese delegation urged the United States to address the root causes of racial discrimination, disclose torture allegations to ensure accountability, and called on the country to halt international surveillance activities until they had ratified core human rights treaties.

The Universal Periodic Review working group was scheduled to adopt the recommendations made to the United States on May 15.

The UPR is a unique process which involves a review of the human rights records of all UN member states. Endit