Pakistan along with China, Russia and Cuba won seats on the UN Human Rights Council despite strong opposition from activist groups over their abysmal human rights records.
Hillel Neuer, an international lawyer on human rights and executive director of United Nations Watch based in Geneva, condemned the election of the countries.
Apart from dozens of journalists and activists who expressed outrage, social media influencers like Surendra Poonia questioned the UNHRC too. “How come your organization is not able to see atrocities on minorities in Pakistan and torture camps in China where Uyghur Muslims are tortured? It is like a brutal killer getting awarded for non-violence,” he tweeted.
Last week, a coalition of human rights groups from Europe, the US and Canada called on UN member States to oppose the election of China, Pakistan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Cuba and Uzbekistan, saying their human rights records make them unqualified.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo slammed the UN body for electing the nations.
Pakistan, China, Russia and Cuba to the agency tasked with defending human rights.
“The election of China, Russia, and Cuba to the UN Human Rights Council validates the US decision to withdraw from the Council in 2018 and use other venues to protect and promote universal human rights.? At #UNGA this year, we did just that,” Pompeo tweeted.
In a secret-ballot voting in the 193-member UN General Assembly on Tuesday, Pakistan secured 169 votes, Uzbekistan received 164, Nepal 150 and China 139. Saudi Arabia lost the race with just 90 votes.
“US commitment to human rights is far more than just words. We have identified and punished human rights abusers in Xinjiang, Myanmar, Iran, and elsewhere, and call for all nations to take this moment to recommit to the #UDHR,” Pompeo said in another tweet.
