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: JURIST - The Paper Chase

US elected to UN rights council seat for first time

By Bernard Hibbitts (editor) and University of Pittsburgh School of Law students.

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[JURIST] The US was elected to a seat on the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) for the first time Tuesday. The US received 90 percent of the votes from the UN General Assembly. In total, 18 countries were elected to the 47-member council responsible for the global promotion of human rights. Countries with questionable human rights records such as China, Cuba, Russia, and Saudi Arabia were re-elected under criticism from human rights groups. Former Czech president Vaclav Havel on Sunday called the elections a "farce", saying the lack of competition - only 20 countries running for 18 seats - "ensur there is no opportunity to choose the best proponents of human rights each region has to offer." In April, the US State Department released its commitments and pledges to human rights in anticipation of Tuesday's election. The US announced its intent to seek a seat on the council in early April, hoping to affect more change by working from inside the council than by boycotting the effort. The UNHRC was created in 2006, at which time the Bush administration declined to seek a Council seat or participate in its proceedings due to a perceived anti-Israeli sentiment by the UNHRC.

Full post as published by JURIST - The Paper Chase on May 12, 2009 (boomark / email).