The UN is so utterly rotten that its attempt to reform the human rights function does not even go so far as to change the initials. This is actually positive, since nothing else is likely to change either. The best Kofi Annan is able to do is have the General Assembly take up a proposal to abolish the UN Human Rights Commission and replace it with a UN Human Rights Council.

So what? The core problem will still exist, namely that the world's most repressive regimes will continue to have not only representation, but disproporationate representation on that body. So what's the difference between the UNHR Commission and the UNHR Council? Not much. Just ask Republican Newt Gingrich and Democrat George Mitchell.

But the plan offered by the General Assembly does not do enough to redress these weaknesses, and is inadequate for several reasons.

First, it does not provide enforceable standards for membership...

Second, the proposed council will be dominated by regional groupings...

Third, the plan provides that election to the council will be by a simple majority vote of the General Assembly through a secret ballot...

Finally, the plan requires a two-thirds vote for removal of members, making it impractical to remove human rights violators from the council.

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