UN Re-elects Kuwait to Human Rights Council

The United Nations General Assembly elected 15 countries to membership on the Human Rights Council today, Tuesday, including the State of Kuwait, for a three-year term beginning on January 1 of next year. Kuwait received 173 votes in the election, which was held by secret ballot among the Asian and Pacific States group, while the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan received 171 votes. The elected countries, alongside 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; its current term ends on December 31 of next year, with the new term beginning on January 1, 2027, and running through 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 immediate re-election allowed after serving two consecutive terms. The Council’s seats are distributed as follows: 13 for the African States group, 13 for the Asian and Pacific States group, six for the Eastern European States group, eight for the Latin American and Caribbean States group, and seven for the Western European and Other States group. Based in Geneva, the Council is an intergovernmental body within the United Nations system tasked with promoting and protecting human rights, discussing human rights situations worldwide, addressing violations, and making recommendations on how to address them.