During the week from March 19th to March 23rd, a BBE/BBI delegation attended the fourth session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva. The delegation included President of BB Europe Reinold Simon, BBI President of BB International Moishe Smith, Chairman of the BBI Executive Dennis Glick, Executive Vice-President Dan Mariaschin. The BBE Geneva Committee was led by Klaus Netter and included Armand Azoulai, Maurice Aboudaram, Azaria Asher and Karin Avigdor. Also in attendance was Martin Kudlick from BBUK’s London Bureau for International Affairs and members of B’nai B’rith from different countries in the world.

While at the session, David Matas, Honorary Council from BB in Canada delivered a speech on behalf of Moishe Smith and the Coordinating Board of Jewish Organizations calling for a change in Special Rapporteurs on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967.  The speech stated that:

The long record of one-sidedness demonstrated by the special rapporteur and often criticized by us in this chamber would be bad enough, but it is being compounded by the attempt of certain country groups to single out Mr. Dugard’s mandate for virtual perpetuity in contrast to all other mandates which were extended for only one year. The singling out of this mandate prejudges the review process to which all other mandates are being subjected by this Council. This is perhaps the most blatant violation of the principles of non-selectivity unanimously supported by all member and non-member countries at the very first session of this new Council.

He continued to recommend that the President of the Council reject this selective approach, balance the mandate, and permit another person with a fresh and more objective approach to assume the position of Special Rapporteur.