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Congressman Joseph Crowley Applauds UN Panel Criticism of Human Rights Commission

Press Release

Date: Dec. 1, 2004
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Civil Liberties and Civil Rights Foreign Affairs

Congressman Joseph Crowley Applauds UN Panel Criticism of Human Rights Commission
12/1/2004

Washington, DC-Today, Congressman Joseph Crowley applauded a UN panel, which criticized the controversial Human Rights Commission.

"It is about time that the UN criticized the duplicitous Human Rights Commission," said Congressman Crowley. "For too long, the Human Rights Commission has gotten away with including Cuba, Libya and Sudan, some of the worst rights violators in the world, as members. The commission has time and again penalized Israel unfairly and basely, while at the same time not condemning nations whose records on human rights are deplorable. They have never condemned the murder of thousands of innocent Israelis at the hands of homicide bombers nor the anti-Semitic fire bombings of synagogues in Europe. This commission needs to be fixed and I hope criticism from this panel will serve as a much needed start."

The panel said that the commission "suffers from a credibility deficit that casts doubt on the overall reputation of the United Nations."

Congressman Crowley has consistently been critical of the Human Rights Commission's treatment of Israel. In July 2004, he signed a letter to UN Secretary General Kofi Annan urging him to send a message to the Human Rights Commission on the hypocrisy of a human rights agenda that fails to address anti-Semitism.

As a key member of the House International Relations Committee, a member of the Subcommittee on the Middle East and Central Asia and the second highest ranking member and only Democrat from the tri-state area on the Subcommittee on International Terrorism, Nonproliferation and Human Rights, Congressman Crowley has been active in Congress on issues affecting Israel. Congressman Crowley is proud to be a staunch supporter and close friend of the State of Israel and its people. He has continued to actively pursue legislation and diplomacy to promote peace, prosperity and reconciliation in the Middle East.


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