US "Hopes to Return to UN Human Rights Council After 3 Years... Urges Support for North Korea Human Rights Resolution"

Withdrawal During Former President Trump’s Term
Participation as a Non-Voting Observer

President Joe Biden [Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Hyun-joo] The United States announced on the 24th (local time) that it has returned to the United Nations Human Rights Council as an observer after three years and hopes to be elected as a council member. It also urged countries to support the resolution on North Korean human rights.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken participated via a pre-recorded video at the 46th regular high-level session of the council on the same day, saying, "I am pleased to announce that the United States will seek election as a member of the Human Rights Council for the 2022?2024 term," and added, "We humbly ask for the support of all UN member states for our return to this body."

However, Secretary Blinken pointed out that the Human Rights Council still shows a "disproportionate perspective on Israel" and is an organization in need of reform regarding membership and other issues.

He said, "Institutions are not perfect," and raised his voice urging, "We call on the Human Rights Council to review how it conducts its work." He continued, "Countries with the worst human rights records should not be members of this council," emphasizing, "We will focus on ensuring that high standards of human rights advocacy are reflected among the council’s participating countries." Currently, among the 47 Human Rights Council member states are Russia, China, Venezuela, Cuba, Cameroon, Eritrea, and the Philippines.

Regarding China in particular, he pressured, saying, "When atrocities are committed in Xinjiang or basic freedoms are undermined in Hong Kong, we will raise our voices for universal values."

Additionally, Secretary Blinken called for attention to the North Korean human rights resolution. Since being elected as a Human Rights Council member in 2009 during former President Barack Obama's administration, the United States has participated as a co-sponsor of the North Korean human rights resolution from the 13th council in 2010 through the 37th council in 2018.

He stated, "We urge the Human Rights Council to support resolutions at this session addressing global concerns, including ongoing human rights violations in Syria and North Korea, lack of accountability for past atrocities in Sri Lanka, and the need for further investigation into the situation in South Sudan."

Previously, the United States withdrew from the Human Rights Council in June 2018 during former President Donald Trump's administration, citing bias and hostility toward Israel and the council’s disregard for reforms demanded by the U.S. However, after President Joe Biden took office, the U.S. has reversed policies implemented during the Trump administration and declared on the 8th that it would return to the Human Rights Council.

For now, the United States is participating as an observer without voting rights. The UN elects Human Rights Council member states annually at the General Assembly in October.

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