RI envoy to chair UN rights body

RI envoy to chair UN rights body

Indonesia's ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva, Makarim Wibisono, was appointed on Monday to chair the UN's top human rights body through 2005.

A meeting of diplomats from the 53 member states in the UN Commission on Human Rights elected Makarim by acclamation.

The different regional groups in the UN -- in this case Asia -- traditionally take their turn every year to chair the commission and nominate a candidate for the post.

The Indonesian envoy will notably head the commission's annual six-week assembly starting on March 14.

The commission is charged with reviewing respect for international human rights standards around the world and discussing reported violations in countries.

Makarim told the rights commission that cooperation between governments was the only way to tackle "difficult situations". -- AFP