HDI’s “U.N. To D.C.” Program: Craig Mokhiber Discusses Human Rights, September 9, 2008

September 10, 2008

Craig Mokhiber, Deputy Director of the New York Office for the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights briefed U.S. House staffers and Senate staffers from the Senate Foreign relations Committee on the U.N.’s commitment to human rights on September 9, 2008. Offices represented included those of Senators Lugar, Obama, and Biden. Mr. Mokhiber was the seventh participant of the Humpty Dumpty Institute’s U.N. to D.C. program in 2008.

Mr. Mokhiber explained how the recently created U.N. Human Rights Commission differs from the previous U.N. Human Rights Council. He also explained the difference between the Office of the Commissioner for Human Rights, which is part of the U.N. Secretariat and the actual Commission which is composed of U.N member states elected for fixed periods. He stressed the importance of NGOs in advancing the human rights agenda, and strongly stated the importance of robust U.S. engagement in the Human Rights Commission.

To learn more about this program and HDI, please contact: jonathan.landesman@thehdi.org.

HDI’s “U.N. to D.C.” program is partially supported by the United Nations Foundation.