UNGA Vote On Draft Resolution Seeking To Suspend Russia From UN Human Rights Council Today — All About It

The Assembly will vote on a draft resolution to decide on whether to suspend the rights of membership in the Human Rights Council of the Russian Federation.

The Human Rights Council consists of 47 member states, elected directly and individually by secret ballot by the majority of the members of the General Assembly. (Representative Photo: AFP)

New Delhi: The United Nations General Assembly is set to vote on a draft resolution seeking to suspend Russia from the UN Human Rights Council on Thursday

The move was initiated by the US after harrowing images emerged of corpses from the Ukrainian city Bucha, as Washington termed Moscow's participation in the top human rights body as a "farce".

According to news agency PTI, the UNGA will resume its Emergency Special Session on Thursday after a request from Antigua and Barbuda, Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, Georgia, Japan, Liberia, Republic of Moldova, Ukraine, the UK, the US, and the Head of the Delegation of the European Union, on behalf of 27 members of the EU bloc.

The Assembly will vote on a draft resolution to decide on whether to suspend the rights of membership in the Human Rights Council of the Russian Federation.

'Suspension of the rights of membership of the Russian Federation in the Human Rights Council'

The draft resolution titled 'Suspension of the rights of membership of the Russian Federation in the Human Rights Council' notes the Human Rights Council resolution of March 4, 2022.

It puts forth grave concern regarding reports of gross and systematic violations and abuses of human rights and violations of international humanitarian law committed by Russia amid its offensive against Ukraine.

The draft resolution expresses grave concern over the ongoing human rights and humanitarian crisis in Ukraine, particularly as the reports of violations and abuses of human rights and violations of international humanitarian law by Russia, including gross and systematic violations and abuses of human rights, emerge, PTI reported.

It also notes strong expressions of concern in statements by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and by the High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet.

Paulina Kubiak Greer, spokesperson for General Assembly President Abdulla Shahid, told reporters that the draft resolution was submitted for co-sponsorship by Ukraine, Antigua and Barbuda, Canada, Colombia, Czech Republic, Estonia, France, Georgia, Germany, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liberia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Poland, Republic of Moldova, the UK and the US.

Russia's participation in Human Rights Council is a farce: US Ambassador 

Earlier this week in the Romanian capital Bucharest, US Ambassador at UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield had said that Washington, in close coordination with Ukraine, European countries, and other partners at the UN, was going to seek Russia's suspension from the UNHRC.

Russia should not have a position of authority in that body, nor should we allow Russia to use its role on the Council as a tool of propaganda to suggest they have a legitimate concern about human rights, the US Ambassador said, as reported by PTI

"In fact, we see every day, including yesterday, heartbreaking reports about how little they care about human rights. Russia's participation on the Human Rights Council is a farce. It hurts the credibility of the Council and the UN writ large. And it is simply wrong. Which is why we believe it is time for the UN General Assembly to suspend them," she asserted.

Notably, India, having abstained from voting against Russia on eight occasions, has unequivocally condemned the disturbing reports of civilian killings in the Ukrainian city of Bucha. New Delhi supported the call for an independent investigation, emphasising that when innocent human lives are at stake, diplomacy must prevail as the only viable option.

About UNHRC

Russia's current membership in the Council ends in December 2023.

As per PTI's report, the only time a member state was suspended from the Geneva-based Human Rights Council was Libya in 2011 as an unprecedented resolution was adopted in the General Assembly expressing deep concern about the human rights situation in the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya in the wake of Muammar Al-Qadhafi's violent crackdown on anti-government protestors.

The Human Rights Council consists of 47 member states, elected directly and individually by secret ballot by the majority of the members of the General Assembly.

The General Assembly, by a two-thirds majority of the members present and voting, may suspend the rights of membership in the Council of a member of the Council that commits gross and systematic violations of human rights. Abstentions do not count and the resolution requires two-thirds of yes/no votes to be adopted.

(With Agency Inputs)