Saudi Arabia was defeated in its bid for a seat on the United Nations Human Rights Council, losing to other candidates in a vote by the 193-member General Assembly. The Human Rights Council, consisting of 47 nations, plays a crucial role in reviewing human rights records globally and appointing independent investigators to address issues such as torture and rights violations in countries like North Korea, Iran, and Myanmar.
Established in 2006 to replace a discredited human rights commission, the council has faced criticism for allowing countries with poor rights records to seek membership. This year, the Asia-Pacific group had a contested election, with Thailand, Cyprus, Qatar, South Korea, and the Marshall Islands securing seats, while Saudi Arabia fell short with 117 votes.
Rights groups, including Human Rights Watch, had raised concerns about Saudi Arabia's human rights practices, citing incidents such as the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi and the alleged shooting of Ethiopian migrants at the Yemen-Saudi border. Despite Saudi Arabia's denial of systematic killings, the country faced opposition in its bid for a council seat.
Other countries elected to the Human Rights Council include Benin, Congo, Ethiopia, Gambia, and Kenya from the Africa group, as well as Bolivia, Colombia, and Mexico from the Latin America and Caribbean group. The Central and Eastern Europe group saw the Czech Republic and North Macedonia securing seats, while Iceland, Spain, and Switzerland were elected from the Western and others group.
The newly elected members will serve three-year terms starting on January 1, 2025, and will be tasked with addressing human rights violations and promoting accountability on a global scale. The rejection of Saudi Arabia's bid reflects the international community's commitment to upholding human rights standards and holding countries accountable for their actions.
