Billera Blog 3

Simone Billera

March 23rd, 2022

Blog Post #3


The act of protesting is utilized by citizens in order to make their voices heard. It is an important feature of democracy, allowing regular inhabitants of a community to demonstrate their disapproval or objection to those who hold positions of influence and power. Just a few weeks ago, a situation quite similar to protesting occurred at the UN Human Rights Council, a body of the United Nations we discussed during Lecture #13. When Russia’s Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, began his speech, the majority of UNHRC delegates walked out in protest. When I heard about this situation, I appreciated and understood the sentiment behind such a movement; however, I found myself questioning it as well. I view protesting as a tool for those who lack influence and power, not those already elected into positions of authority to represent other citizens. 

Delegates of the UNHRC are elected for staggered three-year terms by a secret ballot cast by the General Assembly. The key word here is elected. When one is elected into a position, they are being selected as the representative for a group of people; moreover, they are the figures with the most influence and power within specific spheres of policy. Representatives are the mouthpieces of their respective citizens, utilized to implement the change that others cannot. In the case of the UNHRC, delegates are chosen to promote and protect human rights on behalf of inhabitants. My question is as follows: how is a walkout by elected officials in a government institution effective? Understandably, citizens are protesting globally to voice their public dissent of Russia’s government; however, why are government representatives using the same strategies? It is important to emphasize that I understand the sentiment of their actions. It is also important to highlight that I understand how emotional a time like this can be for those impacted by the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine. Although the scale of this protest was small in comparison to other movements, it still seemed both unprofessional and unproductive to walk out of a UNHRC meeting. Some may claim that the walkout was used to demonstrate a necessary united stance against the actions of Russia’s government, but weren’t such opinions already evident? How does exiting an institution created for discussion promote and implement beneficial, long-term results within public policy? Additionally, Russia’s Foregin Minister, Sergei Lavrov, attended the meeting remotely, which further diminishes the impact of a walkout. 

The world can be a devastating place. Government institutions were created to handle these complex global events in an executive and organized fashion; moreover, elected officials are chosen and trained to represent the public in an effective and professional manner. As a result, the walkout at the UNHRC in Geneva, Switzerland was not necessary, despite the present circumstances of the ongoing war in Eastern Europe. 


Sources

https://www.newsweek.com/un-members-walk-out-human-rights-council-russian-official-joins-1683794

Comments

  1. Brian CoteMarch 29, 2022 at 11:58 AM

    I completely agree with your stance on how this specific walkout was uncalled for. If I saw an elected official whose purpose is to represent a voice on the international stage, I would be reasonalty upset if he/she/they were to just dismiss an opinion and leave without doing anything on my or any other civilian’s behalf. Although I understand this particular walkout was in protest of Russia, these representatives are chosen to listen, debate, and politic on our behalf, and these representatives did none of that, thus ignoring their role of office. I believe that every voice is worth listening to, and I praise your view on how you saw this as unprofessional and unproductive, as those are two adjectives that I would describe this situation. In addition, I like the connection you made between the world’s problems and the government institutions that were made to manage these issues, as well as how a walkout annuls all of that, just leaving the problem unsolved. Such unresolved problems only prolong the suffering of so many who depend on government organizations to aid in their difficult situations, so such ineffectiveness needs to be kept to an absolute minimum.

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  2. Remi AdefioyeApril 1, 2022 at 9:48 AM

    You raise great questions in the post and I agree with all of it. Especially that protesting is a tool for people who don't have influence and or power, not people who have authority. These institutions were created to protect human rights and come up with solutions in drastic times but instead no progress has been made. Great post!

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