• India was re-elected to the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) for the 2022-24 term with an overwhelming majority in the General Assembly. 

• The 76th UN General Assembly held elections on October 14 for 18 new members of the UNHRC who will serve for a period of three years, starting in January 2022.

• The General Assembly elected Argentina, Benin, Cameroon, Eritrea, Finland, Gambia, Honduras, India, Kazakhstan, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Montenegro, Paraguay, Qatar, Somalia, UAE and the USA for the 2022-2024 term on the Council.

• India got 184 votes in the 193-member assembly to get elected for its sixth term in the UNHRC. 

• India’s current term was set to end on December 31 2021. 

United Nations Human Rights Council 

• The Human Rights Council is an inter-governmental body within the United Nations system responsible for strengthening the promotion and protection of human rights around the globe and for addressing situations of human rights violations and making recommendations on them. 

• It has the ability to discuss all thematic human rights issues and situations that require its attention throughout the year. 

• The Council was created by the United Nations General Assembly on March 15, 2006. 

• It replaced the former United Nations Commission on Human Rights.

• It meets at the UN Office in Geneva.

Membership of the Human Rights Council

• The Council is made of 47 Member States, which are elected by the majority of members of the General Assembly of the United Nations through direct and secret ballot. The General Assembly takes into account the candidate States’ contribution to the promotion and protection of human rights, as well as their voluntary pledges and commitments in this regard.

• The Council’s membership is based on equitable geographical distribution. 

Seats are distributed as follows:

• African States: 13 seats

• Asia-Pacific States: 13 seats

• Latin American and Caribbean States: 8 seats

• Western European and other States: 7 seats

• Eastern European States: 6 seats.

Members of the Council serve for a period of three years and are not eligible for immediate re-election after serving two consecutive terms.

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