UN Approves New Human Rights Body, Despite U.S. "No" Vote

U.S. Ambassador to the UN John Bolton voted against the creation of a new human rights body, protesting that the rules are not strong enough (file photo) (epa)

March 15, 2006 -- The UN General Assembly today overwhelmingly voted to establish a new human rights body, but the United States voted "no."

The new UN Human Rights Council was approved by a vote of 170 to 4, with three abstentions.

The new council will be the preeminent international human rights watchdog. It will aim to expose human rights abusers and help nations draw up rights legislation.

The 47-member Council will replace the 53-country, Geneva-based UN Human Rights Commission, which in recent years has included some countries notorious for human rights violations.

The United States opposed the vote because it says the new body's rules are not strong enough to prevent human rights violators from getting a seat.

(compiled from agency reports)