U.S. joins to reform U.N. council

The United Nations Human Rights Council has proved a "flawed body," in the words of the Obama administration. Several of the 47 member states violate the rights of their own people.
The presence of countries such as Cuba, China, Saudi Arabia, Russia and Cameroon led the Bush administration to avoid joining the panel. While focusing on Israel's treatment of Palestinians, the group often turns a blind eye to human rights abuses of its own members.
The Obama administration, however, is taking a different approach, and will try to change the council from within.
"We have not been perfect ourselves," said Susan E. Rice, U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. "But we intend to lead based on the strong principled vision that the American people have about respecting human rights, supporting democracy