ABC Australia talks to HR Commisioner Mary Robinson about her deep frustration with the world body. “They appoint their own diplomats who aren’t experts at all except in keeping states protected from human rights allegations”. International human rights lawyer Geoffrey Robertson dismisses the Commission with contempt; “It is rife with politicking and has been a disastrous failure over the years because the worst human rights violators have got the numbers”. The governing body of the HRC includes well-known violators like China, Libya, Syria and Sudan. China routinely uses its political and economic clout to manipulate voting and deflect criticism. Rwanda managed to gain a Place on the Commission’s governing body shortly before the genocide commenced. In the most telling condemnation of all, Mary Robinson is switching from UN high commissioner to the non-government sector for the victim’s sake.

Produced by ABC Australia