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The United States has been elected to the United Nations Human Rights Council for the first time since the Trump Government withdrawal The international agency cited what it called a “long-term prejudice” against Israel in 2018.
The US State Department announced on Tuesday that Washington won a seat on the board of directors for the next term beginning in 2022.
Secretary of State Anthony Brinken said in a statement: “We will work to ensure that the Council upholds its highest aspirations and better supports those who fight injustice and tyranny around the world.”
The Biden administration announces its intention to rejoin the Human Rights Council Earlier this year The United States withdrew from several international organizations when it clearly promoted the revocation of some of the “America First” policies of former President Donald Trump.
The Human Rights Council has faced bipartisan criticism in the U.S. Congress for its reports and statements on Israel’s abuse of Palestinians.
But the Biden administration argued that Washington’s help to shape internal debate at the negotiating table of UN agencies would better serve its interests.
“The council provides a forum where we can openly discuss ways we and our partners can improve,” Brinken said in a statement on Thursday. “At the same time, it also has serious shortcomings, including excessive attention to Israel and membership in several countries with poor human rights records.”
State Department spokesperson Ned Price reiterated Brinken’s message later in the day, saying that the United States would “strongly oppose” the Security Council’s focus on Israel. But he defended the decision to rejoin the UN agency.
“If we are to help shape institutions — to help them realize their highest aspirations, this is what we intend to do with the Human Rights Council to help them promote the values and interests shared by the United States and our partners — we need to be there ,” Price said.
The Human Rights Council has 47 member states from five geographic regions, elected by the United Nations General Assembly for a three-year term.
The Geneva-based agency was established by the United Nations in 2006 to promote and protect human rights.
Three years ago, the Trump administration left the committee, and the then UN special envoy Nicky Haley called it a “hypocritical and selfish organization.”
Previous government Also quit The United Nations Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the Paris Climate Agreement and World Health Organization, And other international institutions and treaties.
On Thursday, in the context of President Joe Biden’s efforts to restore Washington’s global participation, Brinken constructed the framework for his return to the Human Rights Council.
“Since the establishment of this administration, President Biden has made it clear that our foreign policy will be based on the most cherished democratic values in the United States: defend freedom, support opportunity, uphold human rights and fundamental freedoms, respect the rule of law and use dignity,” Brinken said.
However, some human rights defenders Criticized The U.S. government stated that it has not done enough to hold U.S. allies responsible for human rights violations.
There was no election for 13 new members and 5 members of the Human Rights Council on Thursday.
On Thursday, the General Assembly also elected Kazakhstan, Gambia, Benin, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Malaysia, Paraguay, Honduras, Luxembourg, Finland, Montenegro, and Lithuania. On Thursday, it re-elected Cameroon, Eritrea, Somalia, India and Argentina.
Earlier this week, Human Rights Watch condemned the lack of competition in the vote.
“There was no competition in the Human Rights Council vote this year. This is a mockery of the word’election’,” said United Nations Director Luis Chabono of Human Rights Watch in a statement.
“The election of serious human rights abusers such as Cameroon, Eritrea and the UAE sent a terrible signal that the UN member states are not serious about the basic mission of the Council to protect human rights.”
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