The Maldives has won a seat at the United Nations Human Rights Council for the term 2023-2025, at the election held today at the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
Today’s election saw 17 countries compete for 14 vacant seats. The Maldives competed in the Group of Asia-Pacific States, where 4 seats were vacant.
The Maldives won with 154 votes, out of a total of 189 votes cast. Along with the Maldives, Bangladesh, Viet Nam, and Kyrgyzstan also won a seat for the Group of Asia-Pacific States.
The membership for the UN Humans Rights Council is based on equitable geographical distribution, and seats are distributed as follows among regional groups:
- Group of African States (13)
- Group of Asia-Pacific States (13)
- Group of Eastern European States (6)
- Group of Latin American and Caribbean States (8)
- Group of Western European and other States (7)
The 47 members at the United Nations Human Rights Council not only reflects the United Nation’s diversity, but it gives the Council legitimacy when speaking out on human rights violations in all countries.
Members serve for a period of three years and are not eligible for immediate re-election after serving two consecutive terms. The new members will start their terms on January 1, 2023.
