Jean Ziegler

Jean Ziegler is a former Swiss Socialist lawmaker.

Career

Nomination to U.N. Human Rights Council

Jean Ziegler was nominated by the Swiss government to occupy one of 18 advisory positions on the U.N. Human Rights Council in March of 2008.

Reaction

The nomination for this position has been highly controversial due to his political background. As a result, U.N. Watch, a Geneva-based nongovernmental organization, and 14 other NGOs to write the Swiss government urging it to withdraw his candidacy.

Political Background

• In 2004, Venezuelan dictator [Hugo Chavez] nominated Ziegler for this same post.
• Ziegler has said the U.S. is committing "genocide" in Cuba
• Ziegler has also accused Israel of "state terror" and "war crimes" with the U.S.'s blessing.
• Earlier in March of 2008, Ziegler filed a report with the U.N. Human Rights Council blaming not a half-century of Communist rule, but America's "illegal blockade" of the island as Cuba's main obstacle to feeding its people.
• From 2000 to 2004, Ziegler remained silent on a number of food emergencies in Burundi, the Central African Republic, Sierra Leone, and elsewhere.
• In 1986, Ziegler served as adviser to Ethiopian dictator [Colonel Mengistu] on a constitution instituting one-party rule.
• In 2002, Ziegler praised Zimbabwe dictator [Robert Mugabe], saying, "Mugabe has history and morality with him."