New members elected in UN Human Rights Council
United Nations Human Rights Council simply known as The Human Rights council welcomed new members on 13th October. This time new membership caused an outcry among human Rights defenders as Saudi Arabia failed in its attempt to become a member of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) for the next three-year term starting on January 1, while China, Russia and Cuba were elected. China secured 139 votes , Pakistan 169 votes, Uzbekistan 164, Nepal 139 votes and Saudi Arabia 90 votes – ending Riyadh’s bid to again be a member of the UN’s top human rights body. Pakistan secured the highest number of votes among the five candidates from the Asia-Pacific region vying for four seats in elections in New York.
Human right violation issue and OHCHR election :
The Council is made up
Promotion and protection of Human Rights around the globe has been an indespensible requirement for ensuring global peace , stability and equality. In this perspective, The Human Rights watch on 8th October of this month recommended that United Nations member countries should not vote for China and Saudi Arabia, two of the world’s most abusive governments, for seats on the UN Human Rights Council. It also said that Russia’s numerous war crimes in Syria’s armed conflict makes it another highly problematic candidate. It is note worthy here that Saudi Arabia faced unprecedented international criticism in 2019 for its human rights record, including continuing repression of dissidents and activists and the failure to provide accountability for the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi by Saudi agents in October 2018.
In 2019, Saudi Arabia carried out 184 executions, 84 for non-violent drug crimes. Through 2019, the Saudi-led coalition continued a military campaign against the Houthi rebel group in Yemen that has included scores of unlawful airstrikes that have killed and wounded thousands of civilians.
On June 26, an unprecedented 50 UN experts called for “decisive measures to protect fundamental freedoms in China.” They warned about China’s mass human rights violations in Hong Kong, Tibet, and Xinjiang, the suppression of information at the outset of the Covid-19 pandemic, and attacks on rights defenders, journalists, lawyers, and critics of the government.
United Nations Human Rights Council structure :
The Human Rights Council is an inter-governmental body within the United Nations system made up of 47 States responsible for the promotion and protection of all human rights around the globe.
It has the ability to discuss all thematic human rights issues and situations that require its attention throughout the year. It meets at the UN Office at Geneva.
According to Resolution 60/251, which created the council, members are elected directly by secret ballot by the majority of the UN General Assembly. Membership has to be equally distributed geographically.
The resolution further states that nations elected to the council must uphold the highest standards in the promotion and protection of human rights. Members sit for three years for a maximum of two terms, and are not eligible for immediate re-election.
UN General Assembly Resolution 60/251, which created the Human Rights Council, urges states voting for members to “take into account the contribution of candidates to the promotion and protection of human rights.” Council members are required to “uphold the highest standards in the promotion and protection of human rights” at home and abroad and “fully cooperate with the Council.”
