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India’s re-election to United Nations Human Right Council
Why is it in news?
- India has been elected to the United Nation’s top human rights body, UNHRC for a period of three years beginning January 1, 2019, by getting 188 votes in the Asia-Pacific category, the highest number of votes among all candidates.
Key highlights of the election
The 193-member United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) held an election for new members to the United Nations Human Rights Council.
The seats are allocated based on “equitable regional distribution” giving the Asia-Pacific region a total of 13 seats, with some coming up for election every year, where Pakistan and China are already members in the group.
Bahrain, Bangladesh, Fiji and India and the Philippines stake claim to 5 seats for Asia-Pacific region at UNHRC.
In the Asia Pacific category, India got 188 votes followed by Fiji with 187 votes, Bangladesh 178, Bahrain and Philippines 165 each.
India got the highest number of votes amongst all the 18 countries in the five regional categories.
The new members will serve a term of three years beginning January 1st, 2019.
The 18 new members were elected by the absolute majority through a secret ballot.United Nations Human Right Council
- The Human Rights Council was established by the UN General Assembly in 2006 to replace the UN Commission on Human Rights.
- The United States, which withdrew from the Council earlier this year, received a symbolic one write-in vote.
- HOW ELECTIONS ARE CONDUCTED-
- The Human Rights Commission has 47 members, selected each year by the UN General Assembly for staggered 3-year terms on a regional group basis.
- No member country may occupy a seat for more than two consecutive 3-year terms.
- To get elected to the Council, countries needed a minimum of 97 votes.
- The seats are distributed among the United Nation’s regional groups as follows:
- African States: 13 seats
- Asia-Pacific States: 13 seats
- Latin American and Caribbean States: 8 seats
- Western European and other States: 7 seats
- Eastern European States: 6 seats