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United Nations Member Countries Should Reject Russia and China’s Bid for Human Rights Council Seats
October 5, 2023
In an upcoming vote at the United Nations General Assembly on October 10, 2023, member countries have the opportunity to deny Russia and China seats on the UN Human Rights Council, according to a statement released by Human Rights Watch. Both countries have repeatedly violated human rights, committing crimes against humanity and other grave human rights violations. Cuba and Burundi, despite their own egregious human rights records, are also running for three-year terms on the council. As member countries prepare to cast their votes, it is imperative that they carefully consider the abysmal human rights records of all four countries.
Russia’s Unfitting Candidacy
Russia, seeking to return to the council after being suspended in April 2022 for its atrocities against Ukrainian civilians, remains unqualified for Human Rights Council membership. The ongoing conflict in Ukraine has seen Russian forces commit apparent war crimes, including unlawful attacks and mistreatment of prisoners, as well as crimes against humanity. Russian President Vladimir Putin and his children’s rights commissioner are even subject to International Criminal Court arrest warrants for the unlawful deportations of Ukrainian children. In addition to these blatant human rights abuses, Russia has also intensified its crackdown on civil society, closing human rights groups and prosecuting opposition leaders.
China’s Disturbing Rights Record
China, too, should be disqualified from the Human Rights Council. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has documented numerous violations committed by the Chinese government against Turkic Muslim communities in Xinjiang, including cultural and religious persecution, mass arbitrary arrests and detention, torture, and enforced disappearances. These abuses may constitute international crimes, particularly crimes against humanity. China’s candidacy should not be supported, as it would give an abusive government like China’s further opportunities to undermine UN human rights mechanisms and continue violating human rights.
Importance of Upholding Membership Standards
The United Nations General Assembly Resolution 60/251, which established the Human Rights Council in 2006, emphasizes the importance of considering candidates’ contribution to the promotion and protection of human rights. Council members are required to uphold the highest standards in promoting and protecting human rights both domestically and internationally, as well as fully cooperate with the council. It is crucial for member countries to recognize these membership standards and reject candidates like Russia and China, who have shown a disregard for human rights.
Regional Slates and Competitive Elections
The upcoming elections for the Human Rights Council involve various regional slates. In the Asian, African, and Western groups, the slates are non-competitive, meaning that all candidates from those regions are likely to win seats. However, it is important for member countries not to vote for China, even though the Asian slate is non-competitive. Rather than giving China the opportunity to use membership on the Human Rights Council to further undermine human rights mechanisms, it would be preferable to leave a seat empty and find a suitable candidate later.
Human Rights Watch emphasizes that all UN regional groups should offer competitive slates for Human Rights Council elections. This would enable member states to reject governments with poor human rights records and prevent non-competitive votes, which make a mockery of the word “election.” By signaling that the worst human rights violators do not belong on the UN’s top rights body, member states can demonstrate the importance of upholding human rights and safeguarding the integrity of the Human Rights Council.
Editorial: Upholding Human Rights Values in Global Governance
The upcoming vote at the United Nations General Assembly presents a crucial opportunity for member countries to display their commitment to human rights values. Russia, China, Cuba, and Burundi are all seeking seats on the UN Human Rights Council, despite their abysmal human rights records. Denying these countries membership on the council would be a powerful statement in favor of upholding human rights standards and ensuring that those who commit grave human rights violations cannot undermine the vital work of international human rights mechanisms.
The United Nations was founded on the principles of human rights, and the Human Rights Council is meant to be a body that upholds and promotes these principles. For the council to be effective and credible, it is imperative that member countries who vote in the upcoming election take into account the contribution of candidates to human rights promotion and protection. Furthermore, member countries should carefully consider each candidate’s own record on human rights and assess their commitment to upholding the highest standards in promoting and protecting human rights.
A Practical Dilemma: Non-Competitive Slates and Empty Seats
One practical dilemma that arises in this context relates to the non-competitive slates in certain regional groups. While it is important for member countries not to vote for candidates like China, leaving seats empty may also be seen as problematic, as it undermines the idea of an inclusive and representative Human Rights Council. It is imperative to find a balance between upholding human rights standards and ensuring the legitimacy and representativeness of the council.
One possible solution would be for member countries to actively encourage competitive slates in all regional groups. This would allow for a more robust vetting process and ensure that only candidates with a proven commitment to human rights are considered for the council. Competitive elections would help prevent non-competitive votes, which undermine the integrity of the election process and weaken the effectiveness of the Human Rights Council.
Advice for Member Countries
To member countries participating in the upcoming vote at the United Nations General Assembly, we offer the following advice:
1. Prioritize Human Rights
When casting your vote, prioritize human rights values and the promotion and protection of these values. Consider each candidate’s human rights record, taking into account their commitment to upholding the highest standards in promoting and protecting human rights both domestically and internationally.
2. Consider Candidates’ Contributions to Human Rights
As called for in the United Nations General Assembly Resolution 60/251, consider the candidates’ contributions to the promotion and protection of human rights. Look for candidates who have demonstrated a genuine commitment to human rights and have worked to advance human rights causes within their own countries and internationally.
3. Support Competitive Slates
Encourage the establishment of competitive slates in all regional groups for Human Rights Council elections. Competitive elections will ensure a more thorough vetting process and help prevent the selection of candidates with poor human rights records. By supporting competitive slates, member countries can contribute to the integrity and effectiveness of the Human Rights Council.
By adhering to these principles and making informed and careful decisions in the upcoming vote, member countries can send a powerful message that human rights violations will not be tolerated in the international community. Upholding human rights values in global governance is essential for creating a world where the dignity and rights of all individuals are respected and protected.
<< photo by Татьяна Доломан >>
The image is for illustrative purposes only and does not depict the actual situation.