UN Commission Votes Against Cuba

The United Nations Human Rights Commission yesterday approved a resolution against Cuba "to continue monitoring the island" for human rights abuses.

Based on the article, there doesn't appear to be a lot of meat behind the resolution, just a lot of "we're watching you" stuff. Maybe that's what the U.S. had to do - water down the resolution in order for other countries to approve it. Pretty sad if that's indeed the case.

From the Miami Herald, here's the list of countries and how they voted:

In favor:
Armenia, Australia, Canada, Costa Rica, Finland, France, Germany, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, Republic of (South) Korea, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States.

Against:
China, Congo, Cuba, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Guinea, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Malaysia, Nigeria, Qatar, Russia, South Africa, Sudan, Zimbabwe.

Abstained:
Argentina, Bhutan, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Gabon, Mauritania, Nepal, Pakistan, Paraguay, Peru, Sri Lanka, Swaziland, Togo.

To me, the abstaining countries have as much shame on them as the ones who voted against. Good to see Europe, Central America and Mexico back the resolution, but not good to see South America and Dominican Republic abstain. Next time you hear them blame the U.S. for their problems, remember how they voted (or not voted).

As far as Africa, China, and Russia are concerned, their records speak for itself.