New Delhi: The Executive Director of the United Nations, Hillel Neuer on Wednesday urged the 2022 Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy to exclude Russia, China and Pakistan from the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), as reported by news agency ANI.
Neuer cited the attack on Ukraine to expel Russia, human rights violations for China and terrorism for Pakistan.
Welcoming the delegates to the 14th Geneva Summit, Neuer said, "We meet today at a fascinating moment. It is only the second time in history that Member-States of UNHRC is likely to be removed tomorrow. The US announced that working together with Ukraine and other European states, they will move to suspend Russia from the Council."
Neuer said that "At the Geneva Summit, we empower the oppressed, who dare to speak up for their people in the name of their freedom and human dignity". He claimed that Russia was certain to be expelled from the Human Rights Council. Because only a few members will vote against it and those who do not vote to get the required two-thirds majority will not be counted.
"It's guaranteed to pass because only a handful will vote No and abstentions won't count for the required two-thirds majority," said Neuer.
The demand for Russia's exclusion from the Human Rights Council has gained momentum after information about the horrific brutality committed by Russian soldiers in Bucha, located near Kyiv, Ukraine. US President Joe Biden has also strongly condemned Russian President Vladimir Putin for the attack and has demanded a war crime case against Russia. But Russia has denied allegations of violence in Bucha.
"This is exactly what we have been saying all along when we first tried to stop Russia, China and Cuba from getting elected in the first place in 2020. We couldn't get any governments to say these words. From day one, the invasion in February, we called on Russia to be expelled. We hope that the resolution tomorrow pass with a large majority. After Russia is removed, we urge the same to be done to other dictatorships on the Council. China too does not belong to Human Rights Council nor does the Cuban dictatorship. Venezuela, the narco-criminal state also does not belong here. I urge everyone to sign the petition that we launched," said Neuer.