Saturday, June 24, 2006

Swatch issues special Human Rights Council product

According to a report on UN News Centre, keeping up with the march of time, the Swiss watch maker Swatch has presented a special edition of its product to Secretary-General Kofi Annan to commemorate the inauguration of the new United Nations Human Rights Council.

The United Nations' reformed Human Rights Council started its first-ever session on June 19th, with hopes high that it will overcome the failings of its predecessor.

Addressing the two-week inaugural session of the 47-nation panel, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan said the world was watching - particularly the victims of human rights violations.

"The Council's work must mark a clean break from the past," he said in the presence of ministers and senior representatives from 100 countries.

The new Council replaces the former UN Commission on Human Rights which was widely regarded as discredited due to the dominant presence of countries with poor human rights records.

After accepting the Swatch, Mr. Annan said in a light-hearted manner. "We must use our new Swatch – to ensure that we’re all on time, on time for the 21st century as far as human rights are concerned. Our work in this field must be synchronized with the most active part of civil society, of which Human Rights Watch is a very good example.”

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