Key Points
Russia was defeated in its bid to regain a seat in the U.N.s premiere human rights body by a significant majority in Tuesdays election in the General Assembly, which voted last year to suspend Moscow after its invasion of Ukraine.P)..
General Assembly President Dennis Francis, who announced the results, congratulated the 15 winners, who will join the Human Rights Council on Jan. 1. . Louis Charbonneau, Human Rights Watchs U.N. director, said: U.N. member states sent a strong signal to Russias leadership that a government responsible for countless war crimes and crimes against humanity doesnt belong on the Human Rights Council.".
U.S. deputy ambassador, Robert Wood told the Security Council that Russias re-election to the Human Rights Council while it openly continues to commit war crimes and other atrocities would be an ugly stain that would undermine the credibility of the institution and the United Nations..
In April 2022, less than two months after Russias invasion of Ukraine, the General Assembly voted 93-24 with 58 abstentions on a U.S.-initiated resolution to suspend Russia from the Human Rights Council over allegations that its soldiers in Ukraine engaged in rights violations that the U.S. and Ukraine called war crimes..
Human Rights Watch last week urged U.N. members to deny a seat on the rights council to Russia, saying its forces in Ukraine continue to commit apparent war crimes, including unlawful attacks, and crimes against humanity such as torture and summary executions..
