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The Maldives Wins a Seat at the UN Human Rights Council

The Maldives Wins a Seat at the UN Human Rights Council Image 1

 

12 October 2022

The Maldives has won a seat at the United Nations Human Rights Council, at the elections held today at the United Nations General Assembly in New York today.

Today’s election saw 17 countries competing for 14 vacant seats. The Maldives competed in the Group of Asia-Pacific States, for one of the 4 vacant seats.

The Maldives won with 154 votes, out of a total of 189 votes cast. Along with the Maldives, Bangladesh, Vietnam, and Kyrgyzstan also won seats for the Group of Asia-Pacific States.

The membership for the UN Humans Rights Council is based on equitable geographical distribution, and seats are allotted 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.