"The following 14 states have thus been elected member of the Human Rights Council for a three-year term of office beginning 1st January 2017: Brazil, China, Croatia, Cuba, Egypt, Hungary, Iraq, Japan, Rouanda, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Tunisia, The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Island, the United States of America," General Assembly President Peter Thomson said in concluding the meeting.
On Monday, Human Rights Watch and about 80 other non-governmental organizations issued a letter urging countries not to vote for Russia onto the Human Rights Council due to the country’s policy on Syria.
The letter also urged countries against supporting Saudi Arabia because of grave human rights violations, however, members of the General Assembly supported Riyadh’s candidacy.
UN Human Rights Council is an inter-governmental body responsible for protecting human rights and addressing human rights violations. The council consists of 47 members that are elected by majority of members of the General Assembly through a direct ballot.
