Despite Spotty Record on Human Rights Brazil Gets UN Seat

United Nations Brazil, Chile and Argentina figure among the 15 members elected on Wednesday, May 21, to the Human Rights Council while Spain, Sri Lanka and Timor did not muster sufficient votes.

The vote on the 15 out of 47 seats of the Geneva-located Human Rights Council was taken by the 192 members of the United Nations General Assembly. An absolute majority of 97 is needed to be voted in. However the nomination was not without controversy.

Human Rights Watch campaigned strongly against countries which "shouldn't be in the council" such as Sri Lanka and others with a doubtful record as Brazil.

Sri Lanka and Timor were eliminated from the Asian four seats by Japan, Bahrain, South Korea and Pakistan. Africa will be represented by Burkina Faso, Gabon, Ghana and Zambia.

However the big looser in Western Europe was Spain which only managed 119 votes against 123 for France and 120 for UK. In Eastern Europe Ukraine and Slovakia were voted in.

In Latinamerica there were no surprises: Brazil with the support of 175 votes, plus Argentina and Chile with 176 and 172 votes.

Other Latinamerican countries in the council include Uruguay, Cuba, Bolivia, Nicaragua and Mexico. New members will take office June 19.

"This is solid evidence of the growing world community recognition of the human rights policy implemented in Argentina and commitment from the Argentine government to this cause", said Argentine ambassador in UN Jorge Arguello.

The Human Rights Council was created in 2006 to replace the much discredited Human Rights Commission with its poor performance and integration with country members with disputed records. United States, which was ousted from the Commission, never approved the creation of the Council and refuses to be a member.

Mercopress

Tags:

You May Also Like

Not Just Sun and Sea: Brazil’s Northeast Brings Back Colonial Past

In the interior of Brazil's Northeast the expression "a moça ficou para o caritó" ...

Brazil and Argentina Condemn Honduras Elections But Can’t Make Mercosur Work

Brazilian analysts say that the political coincidences of the two-day Mercosur presidential summit held ...

Brazil Wants to Export Less Green and More Toasted and Ground Coffee

The Brazilian industry wishes to increase exports of toasted and ground coffee. The objective ...

Sí£o Paulo, Brazil, 451 Today, Is an Ethnic Powerhouse

The city of São Paulo celebrates today 451 years of history. From the school ...

Brazil Market Falls 60% from Peak Performance in May

For the first time in three years, this Monday, October 27, Brazil's stock exchange, ...

Brazilian Pandeiro Does Jazz in New York

Walking through the streets of Brazil, you will inevitably run into a roda de ...

How Education Fell from Grace in Brazil

Brazilian President Lula, in his first year in office, created an educational project called ...

Soy field in Brazil

Future Looks Rosy for Brazil’s Soy Growers

The international soybean market, the main crop in Brazil and Argentina, is showing excellent ...

Brazil Expecting 80,000 from Around the World to Hospital Fair

A delegation of sixteen representatives of the medical product industry in Egypt arrived yesterday ...

After 20 Years of Hardship Brazil Naval Industry Ready for Big Leagues Again

Brazil’s naval industry, which boasted the second place worldwide in the 1970s, lived two ...