This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/20/world/un-human-rights-al-hussein.html
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Zeid Ra’ad al-Hussein, Top Human Rights Official, Won’t Seek a Second Term | Zeid Ra’ad al-Hussein, Top Human Rights Official, Won’t Seek a Second Term |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The United Nations high commissioner for human rights, who has openly criticized the Trump administration’s human rights record, has made the unusual decision to not seek a second four-year term, saying it “might involve bending a knee in supplication.” | The United Nations high commissioner for human rights, who has openly criticized the Trump administration’s human rights record, has made the unusual decision to not seek a second four-year term, saying it “might involve bending a knee in supplication.” |
| The decision by the official, Zeid Ra’ad al-Hussein, a Jordanian prince and former diplomat, was conveyed in a short statement that was emailed to his staff early Wednesday and shared with The New York Times. His four-year term expires next September. | The decision by the official, Zeid Ra’ad al-Hussein, a Jordanian prince and former diplomat, was conveyed in a short statement that was emailed to his staff early Wednesday and shared with The New York Times. His four-year term expires next September. |
| “After reflection, I have decided not to seek a second four-year term,” he wrote. “To do so, in the current geopolitical context, might involve bending a knee in supplication; muting a statement of advocacy; lessening the independence and integrity of my voice — which is your voice.” | |
| Most United Nations officials choose to stay in office for as long as their mandate allows, though it has been unclear for months whether Mr. Hussein’s boss, Secretary General António Guterres, would renew his term, or whether the five veto-wielding members of the Security Council would allow him to do so. | |
| Mr. al-Hussein has been critical of all of them. | Mr. al-Hussein has been critical of all of them. |
| He has been outspoken about the Russian-backed government of Syria. He has warned of the prospects of genocide by the Chinese-backed government of Myanmar. And he has called out the Trump administration several times, most pointedly on the travel ban against citizens of Muslim-majority countries and after the demonstrations by white supremacists in Charlottesville, Va. | He has been outspoken about the Russian-backed government of Syria. He has warned of the prospects of genocide by the Chinese-backed government of Myanmar. And he has called out the Trump administration several times, most pointedly on the travel ban against citizens of Muslim-majority countries and after the demonstrations by white supremacists in Charlottesville, Va. |
| In his email to this staff, he said, “There are many months ahead of us: months of struggle, perhaps, and even grief — because although the past year has been arduous for many of us, it has been appalling for many of the people we serve.” | In his email to this staff, he said, “There are many months ahead of us: months of struggle, perhaps, and even grief — because although the past year has been arduous for many of us, it has been appalling for many of the people we serve.” |
| Stéphane Dujarric, a spokesman for Mr. Guterres, confirmed Mr. Hussein’s plans to leave after his term expires. | |
| “The high commissioner informed the secretary general last week of his intention not to seek another term,” Mr. Dujarric said in an email. “The high commissioner has always enjoyed the full support of the secretary general.” |