Former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley on Wednesday slammed the Biden government’s action to regain a seat on the controversial Human Rights Council, pointing out that the body’s table in Geneva contains ‘tyrants and dictators’.
“Biden’s admin wants a seat at the table with tyrants and dictators,” Haley tweeted.
BLINKEN EXPRESSES THE INTENTION TO RETURN TO THE UN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL
“The United States must not give credibility to the sham council for UN Human Rights,” she said. “A group that covers the world’s worst human rights violators and spends most of its time attacking Israel.”
Haley was responding to Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s announcement Wednesday that the U.S. will run for a seat on the board – which left the U.S. in 2018 due to his membership and anti-American bias. Biden has vowed to rejoin the council during the 2020 presidential campaign.
CUBA, CHINA, RUSSIA ELECTED TO HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL; US brands are a ‘mockery’
Haley was a UN ambassador when the US left and at the time described the council in an uncertain term as “a protector of human rights violators, and a pit of political prejudice. ‘
Her remarks were reinforced in the ensuing years by the continued election of countries with poor human rights records to the council. Cuba, China and Russia were elected to the council last year. Saudi Arabia was on the ballot but could not garner enough support to win a seat.
The Trump administration describes their election as a “mockery”.
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A year earlier, the UN General Assembly had elected Libya, Sudan and Venezuela to the Council. Venezuela in particular drew surprise for its election, as it saw massive human rights violations and mass poverty under the socialist Maduro regime.
In July, 53 UN-led countries joined Cuba in support of China’s national security law – a law that formed the basis of the repression of Hong Kong residents.
Blinken said Wednesday that the U.S. will seek a three-year term from next year, while also acknowledging that the body needs reform and should stop focusing so much on Israel.
He also expressed concern about Chinese abuses of minorities in the Xinjiang region and the Russian repression of opposition politicians and protesters.
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“The United States places democracy and human rights at the center of our foreign policy because it is essential for peace and stability,” Blinken said.
Blinken also said that countries “with the worst human rights record may not be members of this council.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.