DATE=3/18/02

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=U-N HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION (L-O)

NUMBER=2-287691

BYLINE=DALE GAVLAK

DATELINE=GENEVA

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: Mary Robinson says she is stepping down as head of the U-N human rights agency when her term ends in September. V-O-A's Dale Gavlak reports from Geneva.

TEXT: Mrs. Robinson announced her intentions at the opening of the annual meeting of the 53-member U-N Human Rights Commission

It is believed that major powers like the United States and Russia opposed extending Mrs. Robinson's mandate. She has been a critic of Russia's military campaign against Muslim separatists in Chechnya and of U-S treatment of Afghanistan prisoners held at the U-S base at Guantanamo Bay Cuba.

/// OPT /// Mrs. Robinson had already extended her initial four-year term for a year in 2001. /// END OPT ///

In her speech to the opening meeting of the Human Rights Commission, Mrs. Robinson called for the group to defend human-rights standards now threatened by terrorism.

/// ROBINSON ACT ///

It is incredibly important that we recognize how valuable the work of 50-years has been in the building blocks of the international framework and the norms and standards, how those who are arrested and detained are treated, how the Covenant on Civil and Political Rights in particular is fully adhered to by those countries that have ratified the covenant, how the Geneva Conventions should be applied in times of stress.

/// END ACT ///

For the first time in the commission's 56-year history, the United States is attending only as an observer. It failed to win re-election to the commission last year.

Diplomats say that with the U-S absence, no other commission member is expected to seek action against China for what critics call its repression of groups like Buddhists in Tibet and the Falun Gong.

Members of the Free Tibet Movement protested outside the Human Rights Commission meeting, praying for their spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama.

/// ACT OF TIBETANS PRAYING, FADE UNDER ///

A spokesman for the group, Jampa Tsering, said he hopes the commission will scrutinize China's human rights record.

/// TSERING ACT ///

Sooner or later the situation of Tibet will change. The situation itself in China is also, we are thinking, it brings changes for the situation of Tibet. That is what we are expecting and what we are hoping and even we are looking to that point.

/// END ACT ///

During the next six weeks, the commission will examine the human-rights situation in the Mideast conflict, Chechnya, and Columbia, and it will consider a variety of other issues, including torture and disappearances. (SIGNED)

NEB/DG/JWH/RAE