Russia Voted Out Of UN Human Rights Council

Russia’s policies in Syria may see a setback. It has been ousted from the United Nations Human Rights Council in a General Assembly vote after losing bid for re-election to council membership by just two votes.

UN deputy director for Human Rights Watch, Akshaya Kumar, said even though the atrocities happening in Syrian town of Aleppo are hard to imagine, but those were not on the minds of those who voted.

The recent ceasefire and efforts for publicly shaming as well as isolating Russia gained ground at the UN. Member states said in last week’s meeting the atrocities committed in Aleppo amounted to war crimes.

Russian Ambassador to the UN Vitaly Churkin said the two countries, Hungary and Croatia, which voted against them are not too much exposed to the international diplomacy.

UN Human Rights Council was created in 2006 in Geneva and consists of 47 members. Its aim is to promote human rights across the world as well as to hold accountable to those who violate basic principles.

However, the council don’t enjoy any authority of taking action, but significant pressure can be generated to violating country.

The council is an influential body within the UN system.