I’ve often thought, during my time as a Geneva correspondent, that the most thankless task at the United Nations is that of UN Human Rights Commissioner. No handing out of food parcels like at the World Food Programme, no setting up schools in refugee camps like Unicef, no vaccination programmes like the World Health Organisation. Nothing, really, that UN member states might want, at first glance, to say thank you for. No, your job as human rights commissioner is to keep a close eye on how governments uphold, or abuse, human rights. To investigate alleged violations, including the worst atrocities, war crimes, and crimes against humanity. To tell the perpetrators you know what they’re doing and urge them to stop. You might also decide to go public, telling journalists and human rights defenders what your findings. No wonder then, that the UN human rights commissioners report feeling lonely, misunderstood, and unappreciated. But, on Inside Geneva, we hope to give them a voice away...
