CZECH REPUBLIC TO REPLACE RUSSIA IN UNHRC
The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in a secret ballot voting elected the Czech Republic to replace Russia on the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC). 157 countries voted in favor of the Czech Republic in the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) and there were 23 abstentions. The Czech Republic retains the UNHRC seat till 31 December 2023. Russia was suspended from the UNHRC by a vote in the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) for its human rights violations in Ukraine. Later, Russia announced that it had withdrawn from UNHRC before the vote. Although Russia is suspended from the UNHRC, it can participate in the UNHRC sessions as it has observer status. The seats in the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) are divided among regional groups and a replacement for Russia had to come from an East European country. The Czech Republic, an East European country, submitted a candidacy proposal to the UNHRC in April. In 2011, Libya was suspended from UNHRC because of the violence against protesters by forces supporting then-leader Muammar Gaddafi.
WHAT IS UNHRC?
The United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) is a UN organization that aims to protect human rights. It was established by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in 2006. It replaced the United Nations Commission on Human Rights (UNCHR). The headquarters of UNHRC is in Geneva in Switzerland. The UNHRC has 47 members elected for three-year terms and the seats are divided on a regional group basis. No member can occupy the UNHRC seat for more than two consecutive terms.
RUSSIA SUSPENDED FROM UN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL (UNHRC)
Russia has been suspended from the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) after there were allegations that its soldiers violated human rights in Ukraine. The member nations of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) voted to suspend Russia. The UNHRC is an inter-governmental body under the United Nations. It is responsible for the protection and promotion of human rights across the world. The UNHRC also investigates human rights breaches and addresses various human rights issues. On 15th March 2006, this council was established by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). The UNHRC replaced the earlier formed United Nations Commission on Human Rights. There are 47-member states in the UNHRC and they serve for three years. They cannot be re-elected immediately after serving two consecutive terms. Federico Villegas is the current president of the UNHRC.
PROCESS OF REMOVAL OF A COUNTRY
The UNGA can suspend any Council member that committed human rights violations during its membership term. A two-thirds majority vote is required by the General Assembly to suspend a member.
Suspension of Russia:
The United States first moved the resolution to suspend Russia over its military aggression in Ukraine. The resolution to remove Russia was titled ‘Suspension of the rights of membership of the Russian Federation in the Human Rights Council’. Under this resolution, grave concerns regarding human rights abuses committed by Russia in Ukraine were highlighted. The campaign to suspend Russia started after photos and videos of civilians killed by the Russian army in Bucha came to the fore.
INDIA ABSTAINS FROM VOTING AT UNHRC
Recently, India abstained on a vote at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva. The Council moved the resolution to set up an international commission of enquiry into Russia’s actions in Ukraine. The move is significant in the terms that the vote followed even after India’s meeting with Quad countries. India has also abstained from similar resolutions in the United Nations General Assembly and United Nations Security Council. India also abstained from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) resolution that was related to safety at four nuclear power stations and a number of nuclear waste sites including Chernobyl, as the Russians seized control of them.
Recently, the United States announced that it would rejoin the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council that it left in 2018. The USA will return to the Council as an observer with the aim of seeking election as a full member. The Human Rights Council is an inter-governmental body within the United Nations system responsible for strengthening the promotion and protection of human rights around the world.
Formation: The Council was created by the United Nations General Assembly in 2006. It replaced the former United Nations Commission on Human Rights.
The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) serves as the Secretariat of the Human Rights Council. OHCHR is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland.
Members: It is made up of 47 United Nations Member States which are elected by the UN General Assembly (UNGA). The UNGA takes into account the candidate States' contribution to the promotion and protection of human rights, as well as their voluntary pledges and commitments in this regard. The Council's Membership is based on equitable geographical distribution. Seats are distributed as follows:
- African States: 13 seats
- Asia-Pacific States: 13 seats
- Latin American and Caribbean States: 8 seats
- Western European and other States: 7 seats
- Eastern European States: 6 seats
Members of the Council serve for a period of three years and are not eligible for immediate re-election after serving two consecutive terms.
INDIA AND UN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL:
Recently, a group of Special Rapporteurs to the United Nations (UN) has written to the Indian government expressing concerns over the draft Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) notification 2020. In 2020, India’s National Human Rights Commission submitted its mid-term report to the Council as a part of the third round of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) process. India was elected to the Council for a period of three years beginning 1st January 2019.
TEST YOURSELF
Q.1 Which of the following countries have recently replaced Russia after its withdrawal from the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC)
- Switzerland
- Czech Republic
- Argentina
- None of the above-mentioned
Q.2 Consider the given statements & state which of the following is/are incorrect in the reference to Russia's suspension from UNHRC?
- Russia is suspended from the UNHRC and it cannot participate in the UNHRC sessions as it does not have a observer status
- The seats in the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) are divided among regional groups and a replacement for Russia had to come from an East European country.
- Only I is incorrect: ANSWER
- Only II is incorrect
- Both I & II is incorrect
- None of the following
Q.3 The seats of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) are divided into many parts on a regional basis. Consider the given options & state which of the following is not one of them?
- African States
- Middle Eastern States: ANSWER
- Latin American and Caribbean States
- Western European and other States
Q.4 Consider the given statements in the reference to the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC), and state which of the following is/are correct?
- On 15th March 2006, the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) was established by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
- There are 47-member states in the UNHRC and they serve for 1 year.
- Only I follows: ANSWER
- Only II follows
- Both I & II follows
- None of the following
Q.5 From the given options, which of the following is the current President of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC)?
- Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus
- Catherine M. Russell
- Federico Villegas: ANSWER
- None of the following
