'Arsonist as Firefighter'... "Middle East, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Human Rights Backward Countries, Possible UN Human Rights Council Members"

15 Vacancies in Human Rights Council Filled by Applications from China, Russia, and Others
Human Rights Groups Protest... Requesting Countries to Cast Negative Votes

[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] According to the British daily The Guardian on the 12th (local time), five countries?China, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Cuba?long regarded as backward in human rights issues, are expected to be elected as members of the United Nations Human Rights Council.

The UN Human Rights Council has 47 member states serving three-year terms. Currently, 15 seats are vacant, and the Council is filling these vacancies based on five regional groups. Considering the candidates who have applied, the election of China, Russia, Saudi Arabia, and others as council members is almost certain.

United Nations Human Rights Council Meeting Room (Source: Wikipedia)

In the Asia-Pacific region, five countries?China, Saudi Arabia, Nepal, Pakistan, and Uzbekistan?have been nominated for four vacant seats. In the Eastern European region, two seats are vacant, with Russia and Ukraine as candidates. In South America, three seats are vacant, with Cuba, Mexico, and Bolivia as candidates. In Africa, where four seats are vacant, C?te d'Ivoire, Senegal, Malawi, and Gabon have applied. In Western Europe, two seats are vacant, with France and the United Kingdom as candidates.

Candidate countries will be eliminated if they fail to secure support from more than 97 countries at the UN General Assembly held on the 13th. Human rights organizations worldwide criticize this situation, saying it is no different from "hiring arsonists as firefighters." For example, China has been criticized for forcibly implementing the Hong Kong National Security Law, and Russia for ongoing human rights violations such as the poisoning of opposition activist Alexei Navalny.

Human rights organizations from the European Union (EU) and others have requested that support for these countries be withheld at the UN General Assembly and other forums.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.