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15 new members elected to UN Human Rights Council

21 October 2014 21:25 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. The UN General Assembly on Tuesday elected 15 member states, including Albania, Bolivia, India, Ghana, Nigeria and Portugal, to the UN Human Rights Council for a three-year term of office beginning Jan. 1, 2015, APA reports.

The other elected new members are Bangladesh, Botswana, the Congo, El Salvador, Indonesia, Latvia, the Netherlands, Paraguay and Qatar.

In the Group of African States, Ghana and Nigeria both won 187 votes, the Congo garnered 185 votes while Botswana got 183 votes.

In the Group of Asia-Pacific States, India gained 162 votes, Indonesia obtained 152 votes, Bangladesh won 149 votes and Qatar secured 142 votes.

In the Group of Eastern European States, Albania attained 176 votes, while Latvia gained 175 votes.

In the Group of Latin American and Caribbean States, El Salvador got 151 votes, Bolivia won 144 votes and Paraguay garnered 139 votes.

In the Group of Western European and other States, Portugal won 184 votes and the Netherlands got 172 votes.

The Human Rights Council is the main United Nations intergovernmental body responsible for promoting and protecting all human rights and fundamental freedom. It was established by the General Assembly in 2006 to replace the 60-year-old UN Commission on Human Rights.

The UN council addresses human rights violations and makes corresponding recommendations. It responds to human rights emergencies, works to prevent abuses.

The council's 47 members are elected directly and individually by secret ballot by the majority of the 193 members of the General Assembly. They serve for a three-year renewable term and cannot seek immediate re-election after two consecutive terms.

The council membership is based on equitable geographical distribution. Thirteen seats each are devoted to the Group of African States and the Group of Asia-Pacific States, eight to the Group of Latin American and Caribbean States, seven to the Group of Western European and other States and six to the Group of Eastern European States.