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Session of the UN Human Rights Council, file photo.
China, Pakistan and Cuba have been re-elected as members of the UN Human Rights Council, despite widespread accusations of persecution of minorities and human rights abuses in their respective countries. Despite strong opposition from human rights groups, they have not been detained. However, Saudi Arabia did not win in the end.
In this year’s election to the UN Human Rights Council, groups were formed separated by geographic area. Four countries in the Asia-Pacific group were to win. The competition was between five countries. Pakistan, China, Uzbekistan, Nepal, and Saudi Arabia. The vote was secret. The total number of votes was 193. Pakistan got 189 votes, Uzbekistan 164, Nepal 150 and China 139. Saudi Arabia lost by 90 votes. The term of the new members will start on January 1, 2021.
Human rights groups have strongly opposed Saudi Arabia and China. Referring to a series of recent incidents, ranging from the murder of journalist Khashoggi, they said that human rights, girls’ rights and the right to dispute are not protected in Saudi Arabia. China has been accused of persecuting the Uighur minority Muslim community.
Last week, an alliance of human rights groups in Europe, the United States and Canada said they could not be members of the UN Human Rights Council due to the track record of Pakistan, China, Russia, Saudi Arabia and Cuba. Membership means giving firefighters responsibility for putting out fires.
According to Human Rights Watch, Saudi Arabia’s rate suggests there must be more competition at the UN. If there were more candidates, China, Pakistan, Cuba and Russia would also lose. But even after these countries become members, the UN body will speak out against human rights abuses and speak on behalf of the oppressed.
Saudi Arabia won the previous elections with 152 votes. This time his vote has dropped a lot. Despite China’s victory, their vote fell 20 percent. China has recently come under fire for its treatment of Uighur Muslims and its crackdown on protests in Hong Kong.
The United States, however, withdrew from the UN Human Rights Council in 2016. They complained that the council was being used in a biased manner against Israel. The United States has said it was necessary to reform the council.
Source: Deutsche Welle.
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