India Wins Elections to United Nations Human Rights Council with Largest Number of Voices | India News

UNITED NATIONS: India has been elected to the United Nations Human Rights First Instance for a period of three years from 1 January 2019, achieving 188 votes in the Asia-Pacific category. , the highest number of votes among all candidates.

The 193 members of the United Nations General Assembly have held elections here for new members of the UN Human Rights Council. The 18 new members were elected by absolute majority by secret ballot. Countries needed a minimum of 97 votes to be elected to the Council.

India was competing for a place in the Asia-Pacific category. In addition to India, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Fiji and the Philippines also claimed the same regional group. Given that five countries were competing for five seats in the Asia Pacific category, India's election to the Council was almost certain.

Syed Akbaruddin, Permanent Representative of India to the UN, told PTI that India's victory reflected the country's position in the international community.

After the elections, Akbaruddin tweeted "Vote for a happy result. With the support of all our friends @UN, India wins a seat on the Human Rights Council with the highest number of votes among all candidates. ????

The new members will have a three-year term beginning on January 1, 2019. India had already been elected to the Geneva-based Human Rights Council for the 2011-2014 terms of office. 2014-2017. His last term ended on December 31, 2017 and, according to the rules, he was not eligible for immediate re-election since he had already served two consecutive terms.

Created by the Assembly in March 2006 as the United Nations' main human rights body, the Human Rights Council has 47 elected member states. On the basis of equitable geographical distribution, the seats of the Council are divided among the following five regional groups: African States, 13 seats; Asian and Pacific States, 13 seats; States of Eastern Europe, 6 seats; States of Latin America and the Caribbean, 8 seats; and Western European and other States, 7 seats.

The five regional groups of the General Assembly submitted lists without competition, which meant that all candidates, regardless of their rights background, were virtually assured of serving on the board.

On the eve of the elections, Human Rights Watch's human rights group said that UN member countries should oppose the candidacies of the Philippines and Eritrea. to the Human Rights Council because of their "flagrant human rights record".

Serious violations of human rights in Bahrain and Cameroon are also of great concern, he added.

The former President of Chile, Michelle Bachelet, succeeded Jordanian diplomat Zeid Ra'ad al-Hussein as UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in September this year, who published last June a first report on Kashmir rejected by India. .

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