India elected to UN Human Rights Council for seventh time

• India has been elected to the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) for the 2026-28 term, marking the country’s seventh stint on the Geneva-based rights body.

• The General Assembly elected the 14 members for a three-year term of office beginning on January 1, 2026.

These countries are:

Angola, Chile, Ecuador, Egypt, Estonia, India, Iraq, Italy, Mauritius, Pakistan, Slovenia, South Africa, United Kingdom and Vietnam.

• India has been a member of the Council continuously since its creation in 2006, except for three mandatory breaks in 2011, 2018, and 2025. 

• In the first Council election in 2006, India was elected with the highest number of votes. Since then, India has had six terms, in 2006-2007, 2008-2010, 2012-2014, 2015-2017, 2019-2021 and 2022-2024.

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.

• The Council held its first session in June 2006.

• 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.

• With membership on the Council comes a responsibility to uphold high human rights standards. 

• This is a criteria insisted on by States themselves when they adopted a resolution in March 2006 to create the Human Rights Council.