Peace Programs

How was The Carter Center involved in the creation of the new U.N. Human Rights Council?

President Carter hosted a dinner in December 2005, bringing together ambassadors from 17 nations, to begin a high-level dialogue about the key obstacles to an agreement on the proposed new council. As a result of this discussion, the Center initiated meetings between delegations and Center staff, and President Carter intervened through telephone calls and letters to senior leaders. These ongoing efforts took place until the General Assembly adopted a resolution. President Carter also issued public statements and authored opinion articles, including a joint statement with other Nobel Peace Prize laureates published in The New York Times. Many government delegations cited the editorial as being especially influential in the debate, particularly as the position of the United States hardened against the proposed new council.