The new administration in the White House has decided to reverse one of the more controversial of George W. Bush’s policies: disengagement with the Human Rights Council. At the time of the HRC’s creation, the election of countries such as China, Cuba and Saudi Arabia to council seats was seen as a continuation of the problems of the old Human Rights Commission – namely, the voice it gave to states which routinely abused human rights. John Bolton was especially critical of the election of Cuba to a council seat, and it was decided that on principle the US would not…