‘We Need Competitive Elections So Only Truly Committed Countries Are Elected to the UN Human Rights Council’ — Global Issues
September 26 (IPS) –
CIVICUS discusses the upcoming election of new members of the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council with Madeleine Sinclair, Director of the New York Office and Legal Counsel at the International Service for Human Rights (ISHR).
The Human Rights Council plays an important role in addressing human rights issues around the world and serves as a forum for activists and victims of human rights violations. Its 47 members represent different regional groups. In October, 19 regions will represent 18 seats, with the Asia-Pacific region the only group with more candidates than seats. Most of the candidates have poor human rights records, with one – Saudi Arabia – standing out as the worst human rights abuser. The civil society calls on UN member states to reject the nomination of Saudi Arabia and respect human rights standards when electing members of the UN’s top human rights body.
As happens every year, the Human Rights Council will soon renew one-third of its membership by secret ballot. On October 9, all 193 members of the UN General Assembly will vote for 18 members who will sit in the UN’s main human rights chamber from 2025 to 2027.
Elections should provide an opportunity to elect candidates with a strong human rights record. In terms of Council membership, candidate countries must demonstrate a genuine commitment to the promotion and protection of human rights through domestic and international action. They must also demonstrate a willingness to face challenges and issues that arise to ensure the effective functioning of the Council.
How competitive will this year’s election be?
Unfortunately, this election will not be as competitive as it should be, as only 19 countries represent 18 seats. These seats are divided into five UN official regional groups, each of which presents its own list of candidates. But only the Asia-Pacific slate is competitive, with six running for five seats, while the other four slates are closed, meaning they have as many votes as seats are available. Africa has five candidates for five seats, Latin America and the Caribbean have three out of three, Eastern Europe has two and Western Europe has two out of two.
This election is more competitive than last year, when 17 candidates contested 15 seats. Only Latin America and the Caribbean and Eastern Europe had more candidates than seats, leading to Russia’s defeat. In 2021, all 18 candidates for the 18 seats were elected, receiving between 144 and 189 of the 193 possible votes, despite some having more problematic human rights records.
Unfortunately, uncontested elections are common, with fully closed slates presented four times since 2008. Some elections have seen one or two competing slates. The problem with uncontested races is that it deprives voting states of the opportunity to carefully vet and select candidates based on their record and commitment, which can compromise the quality of the Assembly.
But even in closed documents it is still possible for candidates to fail if they do not get at least 97 out of 193 votes. In 2023, for example, Burundi and China received the lowest number of votes in their regional parties, sending a message that their candidacy is not fully supported. ISHR encourages voting states to vet all candidates carefully and withhold votes from problematic candidates, even in closed ballots.
Who are running for election in October?
The contestants in this year’s elections include Benin, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Gambia and Kenya in the African group. In the Asia and Pacific group, Cyprus, South Korea, Marshall Islands, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Thailand are running. Latin America and the Caribbean are represented by Bolivia, Colombia and Mexico. Iceland, Spain and Switzerland are the candidates from Western Europe and others, while the Czech Republic and North Macedonia are running for Central and Eastern Europe.
This year, one candidate has a poor human rights record: Saudi Arabia. It has shut down public space and has been repeatedly included in the UN Secretary-General’s report on reprisals and accused by UN experts of committing war crimes in Yemen. Because of this serious concern, we are continuously campaigning against its election to the Asia-Pacific group.
What is the role of civil society in this process?
The public, including ISHR, has an important role to play in advocating for an effective and accountable Human Rights Council. One of the most important areas where modification is required is closed slates. Competitive elections are important to ensure that only truly committed countries are selected.
ISHR created scorecards to evaluate and compare candidates based on their history of cooperation with human rights mechanisms such as the Universal Periodic Review and their engagement with civil society, UN treaty bodies and special processes. These criteria provide a solid understanding and clear overview of a country’s human rights record and therefore its eligibility to sit in the Council. While we understand that no country has a perfect record, these criteria aim to provide important information on each state’s commitment to promoting human rights and its potential role in the Council.
In addition to our cards, our annual pledge event with Amnesty International provides a platform for states to present their applications, make strong, public commitments as potential members and receive direct feedback and critical questions from the public. If all candidates participate in this event, it will increase the political costs of refusing to participate or failing to deliver on promises and official commitments. Such negotiations would make it difficult for states with poor human rights records to seek a seat without facing scrutiny.
What are the priorities for the Council?
The Human Rights Council is instrumental in amplifying the voices of rights holders, victims and human rights defenders, giving them a platform to expose violations and demand accountability. In order to fulfill this role properly, its priorities must focus on reliability, efficiency and accessibility. It should continue to focus on supporting international law around the world, supporting remote and inclusive public participation and ensuring that accountability demands are addressed promptly.
A credible and effective Council can only function if its members fully cooperate with its methods and follow the principles of human rights. In a time of growing unrest, often fueled by repression and human rights violations, the Council’s role in promoting accountability and justice is more important than ever. States should support the work of human rights defenders, their efforts to prevent violations, abuse of documents and to provide essential services that are important in solving problems.
To deal with these conflicts, states must apply human rights standards consistently. Selective or inconsistent application of standards undermines the international framework and the credibility of those involved. International human rights law, when applied consistently and objectively, remains the best guide to achieving a just, peaceful and inclusive world.
Contact ISHR through its website or Facebook page, and follow @ishrglobal on Instagram and @ISHRglobal and @Madeleine_ISHR on Twitter.
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