UNITED NATIONS, Oct 25: Pakistan on Tuesday stressed that “all civilizations and faiths need to be represented” in the new human rights council so it can be a real forum for dialogue.

“Human rights should not become a source for cultural imperialism. We strongly support adequate representation of all cultures, faiths and continents”, Pakistan’s ambassador to the United Nations declared during an intervention in the UN General Assembly’s consultations on the composition of the new human rights council

Mr Akram asserted “there should be no imposition of the views and perceptions of certain groups on rest of the membership.”

He observed that the current gaps and inadequacies in cultural and civilization representation in the council also need to be addressed. All civilizations and faiths need to be represented in the council so as it can be a real forum for dialogue”.

Saying that “Pakistan is not a ‘traditionalist’ delegation” Mr Akram said “but we would warn against fiddling with the current method of election. If regional groups can agree on a number of members, why nominate more? “

“We must keep the nomination by regional groups and the election by simple majority. If 2/3rds can be used to bloc some states from some groups, it can also work the other way round. The rationale to have only “good guys” who can agree with certain states, at the cost of rejecting others, might be very dangerous and divisive”, he noted.

Noting that “some delegations have talked about the quality of the members,” Mr Akram said: “Quality lies in the eyes of the beholder. Who decides the quality is the main question.”

“Elections are democratic device. Let elections decide, who should be in the council. No criteria should be introduced. If we go on that path, we have to apply the criteria in the election of the Ecosoc and introduce conditions such as fulfilment of the commitment to offer 0.7 of GNP as ODA, trade access etc.”, he said.

Underscoring that Pakistan strongly supports adequate representation of all cultures, faiths and continents” Mr Akram said: “The current gaps and inadequacies in cultural and civilizations representation in the Council also need to be addressed. All civilizations and faiths need to be represented in the Council so as it can be a real forum for dialogue”.

“There is no criteria in the elections of the Commission on Social Development and Commission on Sustainable Development”, he said.