Noting that the Council will be required to conduct a regular review of the
human rights record of all countries beginning with those serving on it, Mr.
Annan said through a spokesman: “This will give its members the chance to show
the depth of their commitment to promote human rights both at home and abroad.”
With all countries taking part in the voting, Mr. Annan said that the high
rate of participation reflected “a widely shared commitment to replace the
previous Commission on Human Rights with a body that can work more effectively,
and can embody human rights ideals with more credibility; and that the Council
elected today offers the United Nations a unique opportunity to make a fresh
start in its vital work of upholding the highest standards of human rights.”
All regions – Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, and Western
Europe and Other states – obtained or exceeded the required 96-vote majority
needed to fill their allocated number of members, except the Eastern European
States, where only the Russian Federation, Poland and the Czech Republic won
seats on the first ballot, while Ukraine, Azerbaijan and Romania were elected in
a second round.
Speaking to reporters after the vote, General Assembly President Jan Eliasson
described it as a “truly historic occasion” reflecting the will of all 191
Member States of the world body.
He also echoed Mr. Annan’s point about self-scrutiny on the Council. “I find
it very important that all Member States have made pledges and commitments to
human rights which they are expected to live up to, and also that they have
accepted, by their membership in the Human Rights Council, to be reviewed, that
their human rights record is to be reviewed,” he said.
Ghana topped the voting for the 13 African seats, which also included South
Africa and Algeria, while India received the most votes for the 13 Asian seats,
which also included China, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.
Brazil received the most votes for the 8 Latin American and Caribbean seats,
which also included Cuba and Uruguay, while Germany received the most votes for
the 7 Western European and Other States region, which included France and the
United Kingdom.
Mr. Eliasson said he would not comment on any individual country’s
performance relating to its human rights record, instead stressing the principle
that all members of the Council will have their human rights record reviewed.
“Let us remember that the three pillars of the United Nations are security,
development and human rights. Without security, no development; without
development, no security; but without respect for human rights, no lasting
security, no lasting development.”
The United States was among only four countries that voted against setting up
the Human Rights Council in a resolution in March that passed with 170 countries
in favour and three abstentions, with the US saying that the new body does not
go far enough in its reforms.
Despite its ‘no’ vote however, US Ambassador John Bolton has pledged that
Washington will work cooperatively with other Member States to make the Council
as effective as possible.
The Council will hold its first meeting in Geneva on 19 June. ___________________________________________________________________
9 May 2006
– The United Nations General Assembly today elected 47 members of the recently
established UN Human Rights Council – a move immediately welcomed by
Secretary-General Kofi Annan as an opportunity for a fresh start as the new body
replaces the much criticized and now defunct Human Rights Commission.
Member States cast their votes in
Council elections