United Nations – Russia failed Tuesday in its bid to reclaim its seat on the controversial U.N. Human Rights Council after it was suspended by the General Assembly in April 2022 following its invasion of Ukraine.
“U.N. member states sent a strong signal to Russia’s leadership that a government responsible for countless war crimes and crimes against humanity doesn’t belong on the Human Rights Council,” stated Louis Charbonneau, Human Rights Watch’s U.N. Director.
In a secret poll vote, Albania, Bulgaria and Russia competed for 2 accessible seats designated for his or her Eastern Europe regional group. A majority of 97 votes was wanted, Moscow achieved 83, whereas Bulgaria acquired 160 and Albania 123.
Members of the Albanian delegation rejoice because the UN General Assembly elects new members to the Human Rights Council, at UN headquarters in New York City, Oct. 10, 2023.
Ahead of the vote, rights advocates had warned that along with atrocities carried out in Ukraine, the Kremlin has tightened its restrictions on home rights and freedoms for the reason that invasion and didn’t should return to the Human Rights Council.
The General Assembly had 15 seats in whole to fill for three-year phrases on the 47-member Geneva-based rights physique.
FILE – The United Nations Human Rights Council assembly in Geneva for a particular session dedicated to Sudan, May 11, 2023.
China, which is at present a member, gained a second time period operating on what is named a “clean slate” – an equal variety of candidates for accessible seats.
In their Asian regional group, China, Japan, Kuwait and Indonesia sought to fill 4 accessible seats. The lack of actual competitors considerably raised the chances of their attaining the easy majority of votes wanted. However, China, got here final within the subject, with 154 votes. Indonesia achieved 186, Kuwait 183 and Japan 175.
“China came in last place in the Asia group. That suggests that if there had been competition in the Asian slate, China would have lost,” Charbonneau stated. “And that’s what should have happened. It highlights the vital importance of competitive slates in U.N. elections.”
Countries elected to the HRC are anticipated to “uphold the highest standards in the promotion and protection of human rights” each at house and overseas. Rights advocates warn that nations with poor rights data use their place on the council as a canopy for his or her abuses.
UN General Assembly delegates anticipate the election outcomes of recent members to the Human Rights Council, at UN headquarters in New York City, Oct. 10, 2023.
China’s human rights violations are well-known. At house, Beijing arbitrarily arrests and detains authorities critics and human rights defenders and has detained as many as a million ethnic Uyghur Muslims in “reeducation camps” in its Xinjiang province. It has additionally cracked down on freedoms in Hong Kong and Tibet.
In the Latin America and Caribbean group, Brazil, Cuba, the Dominican Republic and Peru competed for 3 accessible seats. Rights abuser Cuba gained the biggest majority, with 146 votes. Brazil acquired 144 and Dominican Republic 137. Peru failed in its bid, attaining the bottom majority, 108.
In the African group, one other clear slate noticed 4 candidates for 4 seats, with Burundi, Ghana, Ivory Coast and Malawi all succeeding of their bids. France and The Netherlands additionally achieved the majorities wanted to fill two accessible seats within the Western Europe and Others group.
HRW’s Charbonneau stated due to the shortage of competitors on a number of slates, China, Burundi and Cuba would now be on the council.
“Their abysmal rights records should have disqualified them,” he stated. “Other Human Rights Council members should work to counter the anti-human rights agenda of this trio of abusers and their allies as member countries have done successfully in the past.”
Winners will start their three-year phrases in January 2024.