Saudi Arabia has failed in its bid to secure a seat on the United Nations Human Rights Council, losing out during a secret ballot held by the UN General Assembly on Wednesday.
This marks the second unsuccessful attempt by the Kingdom to join the 47-member council, following a similar setback four years ago.
The election, conducted by the 193-member UN General Assembly in New York, aimed to fill seats on the Geneva-based council.
The voting is organized geographically to ensure balanced representation, with Saudi Arabia competing in the Asia-Pacific region.
In this round, six candidates vied for five available seats. Saudi Arabia fell short, receiving 117 votes, failing to secure a position.
The five available seats in the Asia-Pacific region were awarded to Cyprus, the Marshall Islands, Qatar, South Korea, and Thailand.
Additionally, seats on the council were also filled by other countries, including the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, the Czech Republic, North Macedonia, Bolivia, Colombia, Mexico, Iceland, Spain, and Switzerland.
Countries like Benin, Gambia, and Qatar were re-elected for a second three-year term. Members of the Human Rights Council can only serve two consecutive terms, after which they must step down. The newly elected members will begin their terms in 2025.
Saudi Arabia’s candidacy faced significant criticism due to ongoing concerns over the country’s human rights record. International organizations and human rights groups have long called attention to the Kingdom’s handling of civil liberties, free speech, and political dissent. According to a statement from Reprieve, a rights group, the outcome of the vote is significant, reflecting a global rejection of the Kingdom’s controversial policies.
They noted that the Saudi regime, under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, has been accused of severe human rights abuses, including arbitrary detentions, executions, and the silencing of dissenting voices, with little fear of international consequences.
Tess McEvoy, a program director at the International Service for Human Rights, echoed similar sentiments, stating that the global community had rejected giving more power to nations that violate fundamental rights.
Saudi Arabia’s failure to win a seat on the Human Rights Council highlights the ongoing scrutiny the Kingdom faces on the international stage regarding its human rights practices.
The outcome also signals the growing importance of holding nations accountable for their domestic policies, especially within organizations tasked with protecting and promoting human rights globally.
