UN General Assembly Elects 18 New Members to Human Rights Council

The UN General Assembly has elected 18 new members to the Human Rights Council (HRC), with Saudi Arabia notably failing to secure a seat, Anadolu Agency reported yesterday.

The elections, held on October 9, saw Benin, Congo, Ethiopia, Gambia, and Kenya represent the Africa group. From the Asia-Pacific region, South Korea, the Marshall Islands, Qatar, Thailand, and the Greek Cypriot administration were elected. The Eastern European group welcomed Czechia and North Macedonia, while Colombia, Mexico, and Bolivia were chosen from Latin America and the Caribbean. Iceland, Spain, and Switzerland filled the seats for the Western European and other states group.

Established in 2006, the 47-member HRC is responsible for promoting and protecting human rights globally. However, the Council has faced ongoing criticism for including member states with poor human rights records. Notably, Russia was suspended from the Council following its military actions in Ukraine in 2022. While the Council’s decisions are not legally binding, they carry significant political implications.