AMN
India has been elected to the United Nations Human Rights Council, UNHRC, with highest number of votes. In a tweet, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj today informed that India secured 188 votes out of 193.
India was elected in the Asia-Pacific category for a period of three years beginning January 1, 2019. The 193-member UN General Assembly held elections for new members to the UN’s top human rights body . The 18 new members were elected by absolute majority through a secret ballot.
I am happy to inform that India has been elected to the United Nations Human Rights Council with highest number of votes. We have secured 188 votes out of 193.
— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) October 13, 2018
Following the election, India’s Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Syed Akbaruddin said the highest number of votes reflects the country’s standing in the international comity.
In the Asia Pacific category, India got 188 votes followed by Fiji with 187 votes, Bangladesh 178, Bahrain and Philippines 165 each. India got the highest number of votes among all 18 countries in the five regional categories.
India had previously been elected to the Geneva-based Human Rights Council for the 2011-2014 and 2014-2017 term. Created by the Assembly in March 2006 as the principal United Nations body dealing with human rights, the Human Rights Council comprises 47 elected Member States.