PANAPRESS
Panafrican News Agency
4 African countries elected UN Human Rights Council members
New York, US (PANA) - The UN General Assembly on Tuesday elected Algeria, Morocco, Namibia and South Africa and 10 other countries to serve on the UN Human Rights Council, the body responsible for the promotion and protection of all human rights around the globe.
The other elected members are China, Cuba, France, Maldives, Mexico, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, United Kingdom and Vietnam.
All the 14 elected members would serve three-year terms beginning on 1 January 2014.
The 14 outgoing members are Angola, Ecuador, Guatemala, Libya, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritania, Poland, Qatar, Republic of Moldova, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand and Uganda.
In accordance with Assembly resolution 60/251, those member states were eligible for immediate re-election except those who had served two consecutive terms, namely, Angola and Qatar.
The 14 members were elected according to the following pattern: four seats for African States, four seats for Asia-Pacific States, two seats for Eastern European States, two seats for
Latin American and Caribbean States, and two seats for Western European and other States.
Namibia, Macedonia and Vietnam would be sitting on the Geneva-based panel for the first time.
Maldives was re-elected for an additional term while Algeria, China, Cuba, France, Mexico, Morocco, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and United Kingdom had served
previous non-consecutive terms.
UN General Assembly President John Ashe from Antigua and Barbuda, announced that the following States would also continue as members of the Council.
They are Argentina, Austria, Benin, Botswana, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Chile, Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Czech Republic, Estonia, Ethiopia, Gabon, Germany, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy and Japan.
Others are Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Montenegro, Pakistan, Peru, the Philippines, Republic of Korea, Romania, Sierra Leone, United Arab Emirates, United States and Venezuela.
He noted that in accordance with Assembly resolution 65/281, beginning in 2013, the UN Human Rights Council would start its yearly membership cycle on 1 January.
"As a transitional measure, the period of office of its members ending in June 2013 and June 2014 had been exceptionally extended until the end of the respective calendar year," he
added.
Created by the General Assembly in May 2006, as the principal UN body dealing with human rights, the Council comprises 47 elected member states.
On the basis of equitable geographical distribution, Council seats are allocated to the five regional groups as follows: African States, 13 seats, Asia-Pacific States, 13 seats, Eastern
European States, 6 seats, Latin American and Caribbean States, 8 seats and Western European and other States, 7 seats.
The Council’s founding resolution called for the direct election of its members by an absolute majority of votes in the 193-member Assembly, or 97 votes.
Members can be suspended by a two-thirds majority vote if deemed to be deficient in upholding human rights standards.
Membership, which is staggered, is open to all member states, and members are not eligible for immediate re-election after two consecutive terms.
-0- PANA AA/MA 12Nov2013
The other elected members are China, Cuba, France, Maldives, Mexico, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, United Kingdom and Vietnam.
All the 14 elected members would serve three-year terms beginning on 1 January 2014.
The 14 outgoing members are Angola, Ecuador, Guatemala, Libya, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritania, Poland, Qatar, Republic of Moldova, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand and Uganda.
In accordance with Assembly resolution 60/251, those member states were eligible for immediate re-election except those who had served two consecutive terms, namely, Angola and Qatar.
The 14 members were elected according to the following pattern: four seats for African States, four seats for Asia-Pacific States, two seats for Eastern European States, two seats for
Latin American and Caribbean States, and two seats for Western European and other States.
Namibia, Macedonia and Vietnam would be sitting on the Geneva-based panel for the first time.
Maldives was re-elected for an additional term while Algeria, China, Cuba, France, Mexico, Morocco, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and United Kingdom had served
previous non-consecutive terms.
UN General Assembly President John Ashe from Antigua and Barbuda, announced that the following States would also continue as members of the Council.
They are Argentina, Austria, Benin, Botswana, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Chile, Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Czech Republic, Estonia, Ethiopia, Gabon, Germany, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy and Japan.
Others are Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Montenegro, Pakistan, Peru, the Philippines, Republic of Korea, Romania, Sierra Leone, United Arab Emirates, United States and Venezuela.
He noted that in accordance with Assembly resolution 65/281, beginning in 2013, the UN Human Rights Council would start its yearly membership cycle on 1 January.
"As a transitional measure, the period of office of its members ending in June 2013 and June 2014 had been exceptionally extended until the end of the respective calendar year," he
added.
Created by the General Assembly in May 2006, as the principal UN body dealing with human rights, the Council comprises 47 elected member states.
On the basis of equitable geographical distribution, Council seats are allocated to the five regional groups as follows: African States, 13 seats, Asia-Pacific States, 13 seats, Eastern
European States, 6 seats, Latin American and Caribbean States, 8 seats and Western European and other States, 7 seats.
The Council’s founding resolution called for the direct election of its members by an absolute majority of votes in the 193-member Assembly, or 97 votes.
Members can be suspended by a two-thirds majority vote if deemed to be deficient in upholding human rights standards.
Membership, which is staggered, is open to all member states, and members are not eligible for immediate re-election after two consecutive terms.
-0- PANA AA/MA 12Nov2013
