WASHINGTON, Oct 14 (NNN-BERNAMA) — The UN General Assembly voted Tuesday to elect a new tranche of 15 Human Rights Council (HRC) members, including China, Cuba and Russia.
Anadolu Agency (AA) reported that the trio of countries won seats over objections from critics who challenge their rights records.
It said Cuba and Russia were shoe-ins for the spots after running without a sufficient number of challengers in the regional groups established by the UN to open the possibility that they would not claim victory.
China, however, faced stiff competition in the Asia-Pacific region where six nations were competing for five spots. China secured the last of the five spots as Saudi Arabia failed to cross the needed vote threshold.
The final results in that contest were Pakistan with 169 votes, Uzbekistan at 169, Nepal with 150, and 139 for China. Saudi Arabia received just 90 votes.
All UN member states are eligible to sit on the HRC where terms last for three years.
