GENEVA - The UN's top human rights forum on Thursday for the first time appointed a monitor to ensure that counter-terrorism measures did not result in abuse or harm civil liberties, after overcoming years of wrangling and securing US and Russian support.
The UN Human Rights Commission adopted a resolution reaffirming that all countries must "uphold and protect the dignity of individuals and their fundamental freedoms, as well as democratic practices and the rule of law, while countering terrorism".
The motion brought by Mexico and backed by European countries was approved without a vote in the 53-member commission, signalling unanimous support.
It appointed a special rapporteur with a three-year mandate, who will be empowered to seek information on alleged violations due to anti-terror measures, including from "all individuals concerned", and to make visits to countries with their approval.
The move follows growing concern about allegations of torture, illicit detention, and lack of fair trial for detainees arrested on charges allegedly related to terrorism around the world.
The United States and Russia had staunchly opposed permanent scrutiny on the issue for years, but reversed their stance this week after negotiations on the wording of the text, diplomats said.
"We recognise that the protection of human rights while countering terrorism is not merely a slogan or a truism, but it's something that we... must at a fundamental level take into account and act upon," said US delegate Evelyn Mary Aswad.
Washington has also rebuffed requests from other UN human rights experts to visit detainees held at its military base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. But US officials said they were now holding talks on the issue.
Russia had feared closer scrutiny of its military in the conflict in Chechnya and had vehemently rejected similar attempts last year.
But on Thursday it welcomed a "balanced and comprehensive approach".
"We feel it necessary to deal with this threat, to protect everyone from terrorism, and to observe human rights standards in combating this evil," a Russian diplomat said.
Other countries including Australia, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia, had also opposed UN scrutiny of sweeping security powers in the past.
The advocacy group Human Rights Watch (HRW) welcomed the appointment after years of wrangling and local representative Loubna Freih dubbed it "the single most important step taken by the Commission on human rights this year".
Although the new rapporteur will be constrained by the need for permission and help from the country he is investigating, HRW also raised hopes that a monitor could unveil alleged secret detention centres.
"The only situation we know about is Guantanamo Bay, the rest is hush-hush. The rapporteur will be able to monitor other countries," said Loubna Freih, HRW's representative in Geneva.
A legal expert appointed by the Commission in 2004 had called for the appointment of a permanent monitor earlier this month, warning that "a broad range of human rights... are being violated" by countries engaged in "counter terrorism initiatives".
The expert, US lawyer Robert Goldman, was being lined up to take on the new monitoring role.
A separate Cuban attempt to secure an independent probe of the US detention centre in Guantanamo Bay was turned down by the Commission Thursday.
04/21/2005 16:57 GMT