Canadian tapped as new UN rights expert on Palestinian territories

The UN Human Rights Council chief nominates a Canadian law professor to a controversial post surveying the human rights situation in the Palestinian territories.

Council president Choi Kyonglim circulates a letter to member states proposing that Stanley Michael Lynk be appointed to the position of special rapporteur, and the council is expected to accept the appointment Thursday without a vote.

Lynk would replace Makarim Wibisono, who announced in January he would step down over Israel’s refusal to cooperate with his mandate and not allowing him access to the areas he was meant to monitor.

The mandate is controversial, since it is limited to investigating Israel’s violations.

Wibisono’s predecessor Richard Falk was also blocked from accessing the territories, and it remains unclear if Lynk will be able to do so.

Israel has a tense relationship with the Human Rights Council, which it accuses of having a built-in bias against it.

— AFP