Table of Contents
UPSC PRELIMS 2009
The security Council of UN consists of 5 permanent members, and the remaining 10 members are elected by the General Assembly for a term of
- 1 year
- 2 years
- 3 years
- 5 years
ANSWER – B
The Security Council also has 10 non-permanent members, elected on a regional basis to serve twoyear terms.
NOTES
The 193-member UN General Assembly held elections for new members to the UN Human Rights Council. The 18 new members were elected by absolute majority through a secret ballot. Countries needed a minimum of 97 votes to get elected to the Council.
WHAT HAPPENED RECENTLY?
India has been elected to the United Nations’ top human rights body for a period of three years beginning January 1, 2019, getting 188 votes in the Asia-Pacific category, the highest number of votes among all candidates. (18 countries in total)
THERE WAS SOME CONTROVERSY
- Philippines – Eritrea – Bahrain and Cameroon
- The organisation said Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte’s crackdown on drugs had been “a killing frenzy that has left thousands dead” and that Eritrean authorities had persecuted and jail government critics.
UNITED NATIONS HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL
The United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) is a United Nations body whose mission is to promote and protect human rights around the world. The headquarters of UNHRC is in Geneva, Switzerland. The UNHRC has 47 members elected for staggered three-year terms on a regional group basis.
NOTES
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.
AS OF OCTOBER 2018
WHAT IS DIFFERENCE BETWEEN UNHRC, OHCHR AND HRC IN UN?
- UNHCR stands for the United Nations High Commission for Refugees. They are the UN agency responsible for looking after refugees
- The UNHRC is the United Nations Human Rights Council. It is an intergovernmental body responsible for protecting and promoting human rights around the world. It’s 47 member seats are filled with members elected for three year terms
- OHCHR is the Office of the United Nations High Comissioner for Human Rights. It’s mandate is to promote and protect human rights. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights is the principal human rights official in the UN.[
OFFICE OF THE UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS
The current High Commissioner is Michelle Bachelet of Chile, who succeeded Zeid Raad Al Hussein of Jordan on 1 September 2018
HOW IS THE UNHRC SEAT OF ANY USE TO INDIA?
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