WESTERN HUMAN RIGHTS GROUP PREPARES FOR THIRD

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 GENEVA 002657 SIPDIS SIPDIS IO/RHS, DRL/MLGA E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/18/2017 TAGS: PHUM UNHRC SUBJECT: WESTERN HUMAN RIGHTS GROUP PREPARES FOR THIRD SESSION OF HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL Summary -------------- ¶1. (SBU) The Western Human Rights Group (WHRG) met October 18 to strategize how best to prioritize its efforts to ensure better results for the November 27-December 8 Council session. The WHRG's efficacy risks being undermined by divisions between the EU- and non-EU members of the group, with Turkey's representative privately approaching PolCouns to float Turkey's interest in possibly joining JUSCANZ, given its great dissatisfaction with poor EU information-sharing. More broadly, frustration was widespread that President de Alba's preference for an "organic approach" to organizing the Council's work, over having clear and transparent rules of procedure that all delegations would be forced to respect, had resulted in a situation where the OIC and NAM could dominate and effectively prevent real action to address human rights situations. All agreed that delegations would need more certainty on working methods prior to the next Council session. Proposed steps to rectify the situation included organized cross-regional outreach by WHRG and JUSCANZ members, prioritization or possible withdrawal of the outstanding 44 resolutions that are scheduled to be addressed November 27-28, and outreach to President de Alba encouraging him to adopt a more structured approach to organizing the Council's work. End Summary. Western Group Divided -------------- ¶2. (SBU) A clear difference of views has emerged within the WHRG between some EU members, led by Germany and France, who insist that the group may be used only as a forum for information-sharing, not for substance, and those who would like to see it used more openly for policy coordination. The latter group believes that becoming more action-oriented is the only way for the WHRG to serve as an effective counterweight to the OIC and NAM, which have so far dominated both regular sessions of the Human Rights Council. Although the differences in views are politely and obliquely addressed in WHRG sessions, they have real consequences; on the margins of the meeting, the Turkish human rights officer approached PolCouns to discuss Turkish interest in joining JUSCANZ in Geneva. PolCouns advised her to write a letter expressing Turkish interest, as previous JUSCANZ candidate San Marino had done. ; ¶3. (U) Most delegations at the WHRG recognized that the second HRC session had accomplished some useful things, including holding a full interactive dialogue in which NGOS were allowed to participate. But all acknowledged that delegations had demonstrated a limited ability to work together to achieve positive results on pressing human rights issues. While virtually all speakers attributed some of the problem to President de Alba's refusal to implement and abide by transparent working methods, some noted that delegations were also at fault for not tabling resolutions early enough and not holding open consultations on their texts. U.S. del expressed the USG's disappointment in the HRC's failure to address even urgent issues such as Sudan/Darfur, and the tabling of 44 resolutions, some of which were clearly not needed. PolCouns emphasized that while we did not want to see a return to the CHR agenda, the Council clearly needed more structure, and suggested that WHRG members, either in coordination with other groups or with delegations from other groups, should raise the issue with de Alba. Furthermore, PolCouns added, the WHRG would need to share information more closely if it hoped to be more effective during the next HRC session. GENEVA 00002657 002 OF 002 Pros and Cons of Seeking Clear Rules of Procedure -------------- -------------- ¶4. (U) Japan informed WHRG members that the Philippines delegation had drafted rules of procedure which the Asian group might propose to President de Alba. The Asian group is scheduled to meet the week of October 23 to discuss the Philippines draft. German Ambassador Steiner voiced his dismay that other groups are drafting rules of procedure, although he agreed that the HRC would need more structure if the WHRG were to be able to push for effective action. Citing the fact that the numbers are against the WHRG, both Steiner and others expressed concern that, in any full-blown negotiations on establishing new rules of procedure, the OIC and NAM would be able to use their strength to force through rules even worse than the currently reigning chaos. Steiner added that this did not mean the WHRG should embrace consensus at all costs. Even divisive votes could focus attention on urgent issues. ¶5. (SBU) Part of the problem, it was agreed, was that President de Alba deliberately chose to keep the Bureau weak, in order to enhance his own power. In the words of Ambassador Blaise Godet, the Swiss WHRG Bureau representative, "de Alba wants to be the President of the Human Rights Council, not the Chairman of the board of directors." Next Steps -------------- ¶6. (SBU) No clear call to action emerged from this meeting, although the basic contours of the problem, and tentative steps at a solution, were clear. Most delegations agreed that cross-regional cooperation would be helpful, although, given EU opposition to WHRG policy coordination, no discussions on how WHRG members intended to carry it out were held. Canada noted that 14 HRC members belong to the Francophonie and that it hoped to hold discussions with its Francophonie partners in the coming weeks. Mission Geneva will continue its outreach to moderate OIC, sub-Saharan African and GRULAC delegations. Comment -------------- ¶7. (C) The opposition by some EU members to coordinating "substance" in the WHRG is not universally shared. The Dutch PermRep, who is WHRG coordinator, as well as the Danish, Slovenian and Swedish Missions, have approached Mission seeking closer coordination. Mission will report separately on agreement by JUSCANZ members (non-EU Western Group countries plus South Korea)to find common issues and to reach out across regional groups to build support for agreed priorities. End Comment. TICHENOR