UN General Assembly Elects 15 Countries to Human Rights Council, Including Kuwait

New York, October 13 (KUNA) -- The United Nations General Assembly elected 15 countries today, Tuesday, to membership on the Human Rights Council for three-year terms beginning on January 1 of next year, including the State of Kuwait. Kuwait received 173 votes in the election, which was held by secret ballot within the Asia-Pacific Group, while the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan received 171 votes. The elected countries, in addition to Kuwait and Jordan, include Nepal, Ukraine, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Nigeria, Brazil, and Germany. Kuwait’s election marks its second consecutive term on the Council, as its current term ends on December 31 of next year, with the new term starting on January 1, 2027, and lasting until the end of 2029. The Human Rights Council comprises 47 member states elected directly by the UN General Assembly by secret ballot, in accordance with the principle of equitable geographical distribution, for three-year terms, with no state eligible for immediate re-election after serving two consecutive terms. The Council’s seats are distributed as follows: 13 for the African Group, 13 for the Asia-Pacific Group, six for the Eastern European Group, eight for the Latin American and Caribbean Group, and seven for the Western European and Other States Group. Based in Geneva, the Council is an intergovernmental body within the UN system tasked with promoting and protecting human rights, discussing human rights situations worldwide, addressing violations, and making recommendations on how to address them. (End) A.S.T. / N.S.A.