Maldives Takes A Seat In The United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC)

Maldives has secured a seat at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) on Tuesday after winning the elections held at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). The Maldives will serve in the UNHRC during the 2023-2025 term.

A secret ballot was cast at the UNGA meeting held on Tuesday with 17 countries competing for the 13 coveted seats at the UNHRC. To ensure equal representation at the UNHRC, membership is given based on geographical distribution with allotted seats among each regional group.

Maldives is present among the Asia Pacific States and competed for one of the four seats designated for the region. During the election, Maldives managed to gain 154 votes out of 189 vote casts, winning a seat at the council. The other three countries who would be joining the Maldives from the Asia Pacific States are Bangladesh, Kyrgyzstan and Vietnam. All the elected members will begin their term on first January 2023.

Maldives previously served in the UNHRC during the 2011-2016 term as well. With the country’s foreign policy centered around the preservation of democracy and protection of human rights, Maldives is yet again preparing to serve another term.

The United Nations Human Rights Council is a United Nations body whose mission is to promote and protect human rights around the world. The council constitutes of 47 members elected to serve three-year terms on a regional group basis. The 5 regional groups are African States, Asia-Pacific States, Latin America and Caribbean States, Western Europe and other States and Eastern European States.