Table of Contents
What has happened?
- The United Nations General Assembly on Thursday suspended Russia from the U.N. Human Rights Council, Over reports of “gross and systematic violations and abuses of human rights” by invading Russian troops in Ukraine.
Special session
- The UNGA resumed its Emergency Special Session on Thursday after a request from,
- Antigua and Barbuda, Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, Georgia, Japan, Liberia, Republic of Moldova, Ukraine, the UK, the US and the Head of the Delegation of the European Union, on behalf of 27 members of the EU bloc.
What is human rights council?
- The Human Rights Council is an inter-governmental body within the United Nations system.
- The Human Rights Council consists of 47 member states, elected directly and individually by secret ballot by the majority of the members of the General Assembly.
- It is responsible for strengthening the promotion and protection of human rights around the world.
- The Human Rights Council replaced the former UN Commission on Human Rights.
- It was created by the UNGA on March 15, 2006, and the body met in its first session from June 19-30, 2006.
- In 2007, the Council adopted an “institution-building package” to set up its procedures and mechanisms.
Resolution against Russia
- The draft resolution titled ‘Suspension of the rights of membership of the Russian Federation in the Human Rights Council’ notes the Human Rights Council resolution of March 4, 2022,
- In particular its grave concern regarding reports of gross and systematic violations and abuses of human rights and violations of international humanitarian law committed by Russia during its aggression against Ukraine.
- It recognises strong expressions of concern in statements by UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres and by the High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet.
How a member can be suspended from UNHRC?
- The UN General Assembly, by a two-thirds majority of the members present and voting,
- May suspend the rights of membership in the Council of a member of the Council that commits gross and systematic violations of human rights.
- Abstentions do not count and the resolution requires two-thirds of yes/no votes to be adopted.
Voting on the resolution
- The U.S.-led push garnered 93 votes in favor, while 24 countries voted no and 58 countries abstained.
- Russia had warned countries that a yes vote or abstention will be viewed as an “unfriendly gesture” with consequences for bilateral ties, according to a note seen by Reuters.
- Countries who voted against during UN vote on Russian suspension from UNHRC-
- Algeria, Belarus, Bolivia, Burundi, CAR, China, Congo, Cuba, N. Korea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Iran, Ka’hstan, K’yzstan, Lao, Mali, Nicaragua, Syria, T’jkistan, U’zbistan, Vietnam, Zimbabwe Whole of South Asia abstained during the UN vote on Russian suspension from UNHRC.
Any other suspension in the past?
- The only time a member state was suspended from the Geneva-based Human Rights Council was Libya in 2011, When in an unprecedented move a resolution was adopted in the General Assembly that had expressed deep concern about the human rights situation in the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya,
- In the wake of Muammar Al-Gaddafi’s violent crackdown on anti-government protestors.
conclusion
- Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine began on Feb. 24, the General Assembly has adopted two resolutions denouncing Russia with 141 and 140 votes in favor.
- The United States announced it would seek Russia’s suspension after Ukraine accused Russian troops of killing hundreds of civilians in the town of Bucha.
- Russia denies attacking civilians in Ukraine. U.N. Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said on Tuesday that while Bucha was under Russian control “not a single civilian suffered from any kind of violence.”
Q) Which is the only country to withdraw membership from UNO?
- Thailand
- Cuba
- Indonesia
- Honduras
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