United States to re-join UNHRC

February 10, 2021

The Joe Biden administration in United States is all set to re-join the UN Human Rights Council. The United States had withdrawn from the council in the year 2018 under Presidency of the Donald Trump

Background

Donald Trump withdrew from the world body’s main human rights because of its disproportionate focus on Israel.
Israel had received the largest number of critical council resolutions so far with respect to any other country.
So, the Trump administration discussed the issue with the body’s membership.
The members include Cuba, China, Russia, Eritrea and Venezuela. All these countries have been accused of human rights abuses.

About UN Human Rights Council (UNHCR)

UNHRC is an inter-governmental body within the UN system.
The agency is involved in strengthening the promotion and protection of human rights across the world.
It looks after the situations of human rights violations and recommends on the situations.
The council was created in the year 2006 by the UN General Assembly Resolution 60/251.
The first session of the council took place in 2006 three months after its establishment.
The agency is involved in discussing all the thematic human rights issues.
The UNHRC was created after replacing the United Nations Commission on Human Rights (UNCHR).
The council comprises of the 47 UN Member States. The member states are elected by the UNGA by a direct and secret ballot.

UNHRC Sessions

The UNHRC held three regular sessions in a year. The session lasts for a total of 10 weeks. The session take place for four weeks in the month of March, three weeks in the month of June and three weeks in the month of September. The sessions are held at the UN Office Geneva in Switzerland.

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