NEW YORK — The U.N. Human Rights Commission yesterday unanimously agreed to appoint an overseer to monitor civil rights abuses by governments fighting the war on terror.
The resolution, written by Mexico and co-sponsored by the European Union, reflects growing concerns by some human rights activists that governments have overreacted to the terrorist threat after the September 11, 2001, attacks.
The resolution, adopted by consensus yesterday afternoon, noted that counterterrorism measures must “conform to international treaties on human rights, fundamental freedoms and the rule of law.” Although it makes no mention of the U.S. facility at Cuba’s Guantanamo Bay for detainees in the global terror war, the site has been a chief source of criticism by human rights activists. Many nations have also complained about the Bush administration’s treatment of illegal immigrants or those who have overstayed their visas.
The United States has been joined by Britain, Spain and other European nations in cracking down on suspected terrorists and sympathizers since the September 11 attacks and more recent strikes, such as last month’s train bombings in Madrid.
Cuba has introduced a separate human rights resolution protesting the treatment of detainees at the Guantanamo site. The detention of foreigners and U.S. citizens without formal charges or access to counsel has generated three Supreme Court cases, the first of which was argued earlier this week.
Other nations on the Geneva-based human rights panel, including Indonesia, Russia and China, have also been criticized by observers for their treatment of separatist groups.
The United States is a member of the 53-nation body, the top human rights watchdog in the U.N. system. U.S. officials had no comment on the resolution yesterday.
The measure was approved at the commission session in Geneva, just hours after lethal terrorist attacks in Iraq and Saudi Arabia.
Commission Chairman Michael Smith, an Australian diplomat, will appoint the new rights monitor, who is to report back to the commission next year. Human rights groups hailed the move.
“This is an important step forward. We’re really happy that it was by consensus,” said Joanna Weschler, the U.N. representative for Human Rights Watch. “I think there are a lot of countries which will require the new independent expert.”
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