Russia Fails to Join UN Human Rights Council, RI Wins Most Votes
Russia Fails to Join UN Human Rights Council, RI Wins Most Votes
Russia failed to regain membership in the UN Human Rights Council.
On Tuesday (10/10), Russia only managed to win 83 votes, while Bulgaria received 160 votes and 123 votes for Albania.
The three countries are competing at the UN General Assembly for two seats as members of the Human Rights Council representing the Eastern European regional group for a three-year term starting on January 1, 2024.
"UN member states are sending a strong signal to the Russian leadership that a government responsible for countless war crimes and crimes against humanity does not belong there," said Louis Charbonneau, UN Director at Human Rights Watch.
Russia was expelled from the council 18 months ago, a diplomatic effort led by the United States (US) after their invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
A UN-mandated investigative body said in March that Russia had committed various war crimes in Ukraine, such as deliberate killings, torture and deportation of children.
The International Criminal Court, ICC, also accused Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russian Children's Rights Commissioner Maria Lvova-Belova of committing war crimes by illegally deporting hundreds of Ukrainian children. However, the Kremlin rejected the allegations and the court's jurisdiction.
In contrast, a senior Russian official accused the US of exerting unmatched efforts to ensure his country remained out of the UN Human Rights Council.
“The United States is campaigning for Albania,” said Maria Zabolotskaya, Russia's Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, as quoted by the RIA news agency. “A campaign directed directly against us is unprecedented.”
The selection of China and Cuba drew criticism
Amid signs of "fatigue" from the war in Ukraine, some diplomats have previously said Russia had a chance of being re-elected to the council.
"I think Western diplomats may be exaggerating the risk of a Russian victory to keep UN members on their toes," said Richard Gowan, director of the UN's International Crisis Group.
China and Cuba were also among the countries that managed to gain seats on the UN Human Rights Council, despite criticism from human rights advocates.
"Crimes against humanity and genocide do not appear to disqualify action by the UN's highest human rights body," said a statement by the Uighur Human Rights Project, which opposes China's gross human rights violations against the Muslim ethnic minority, posted on the X platform (Twitter).
Juan Pappier, Deputy Americas Region Director at Human Rights Watch, wrote in X ahead of the vote that Cuba was unfit to be a member of the UN Human Rights Council.
"The record of systematic human rights violations speaks for itself," he wrote.
How about Indonesia?
Indonesia has been re-elected as a member of the UN Human Rights Council for the 2024-2026 period.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia (Kemlu RI) reported this matter on its official X account, Wednesday (11/10). Indonesia received 186 votes from the 192 UN member countries present.
Indonesia is carrying the theme 'Inclusive Partnership for Humanity' after being re-elected as a member of the UN Human Rights Council and is committed to upholding human rights and is committed to being a solution to world human rights problems.
"Indonesia is committed to upholding human rights & being part of the solution to human rights problems in the world," wrote the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said that no country should be left behind in terms of promoting and protecting human rights.
ha/rs (Reuters, Seconds)
Rusia Gagal Gabung Dewan HAM PBB, RI Raih Suara Terbanyak
Rusia Gagal Gabung Dewan HAM PBB, RI Raih Suara Terbanyak
Rusia gagal untuk kembali menjadi anggota Dewan Hak Asasi Manusia PBB.
Pada Selasa (10/10), Rusia hanya berhasil meraih 83 suara, sedangkan Bulgaria mengantongi 160 suara dan 123 suara untuk Albania.
Ketiga negara tersebut bersaing di Majelis Umum PBB memperebutkan dua kursi anggota Dewan HAM mewakili kelompok regional Eropa Timur untuk masa jabatan tiga tahun yang dimulai pada 1 Januari 2024.
"Negara-negara anggota PBB mengirimkan sinyal kuat kepada kepemimpinan Rusia bahwa pemerintah yang bertanggung jawab atas kejahatan perang dan kejahatan terhadap kemanusiaan yang tak terhitung jumlahnya tidak pantas berada di sana,” kata Louis Charbonneau, Direktur PBB di Human Rights Watch.
Rusia dikeluarkan dari dewan tersebut 18 bulan lalu, sebuah upaya diplomatik yang dipimpin Amerika Serikat (AS) setelah invasi mereka ke Ukraina pada Februari 2022.
Sebuah badan investigasi yang diberi mandat oleh PBB mengatakan pada Maret lalu bahwa Rusia telah melakukan berbagai kejahatan perang di Ukraina, seperti pembunuhan yang disengaja, penyiksaan, dan deportasi anak-anak.
Mahkamah Pidana Internasional, ICC, juga menuduh Presiden Rusia Vladimir Putin dan Komisaris Hak Anak Rusia Maria Lvova-Belova melakukan kejahatan perang dengan mendeportasi ratusan anak-anak Ukraina secara ilegal. Namun, Kremlin menolak tuduhan tersebut dan yurisdiksi pengadilan.
Sebaliknya, seorang pejabat senior Rusia menuduh AS mengerahkan upaya yang tiada tandingannya untuk memastikan negaranya tetap keluar dari Dewan HAM PBB.
"Amerika Serikat berkampanye untuk Albania,” ujar Maria Zabolotskaya, Wakil Perwakilan Tetap Rusia untuk PBB, seperti dikutip oleh kantor berita RIA. "Kampanye yang ditujukan secara langsung terhadap kami belum pernah terjadi sebelumnya.”
Terpilihnya Cina dan Kuba menuai kritik
Di tengah tanda-tanda "kelelahan" akibat perang di Ukraina, beberapa diplomat sebelumnya mengatakan Rusia memiliki peluang untuk kembali terpilih menjadi anggota dewan tersebut.
"Saya pikir para diplomat Barat mungkin melebih-lebihkan risiko kemenangan Rusia untuk menjaga agar anggota PBB tetap waspada,” kata Richard Gowan, Direktur International Crisis Group PBB.
Cina dan Kuba juga termasuk di antara negara yang berhasil mendapatkan kursi Dewan HAM PBB, meski menuai kritik dari para pembela hak asasi manusia.
"Kejahatan terhadap kemanusiaan dan genosida tampaknya tidak mendiskualifikasi tindakan badan tertinggi hak asasi manusia PBB,” bunyi pernyataan Proyek Hak Asasi Manusia Uighur, yang menentang pelanggaran berat HAM Cina terhadap etnis minoritas muslim, yang diunggah ke platform X (Twitter).
Juan Pappier, Wakil Direktur wilayah Amerika di Human Rights Watch, menulis di X menjelang pemungutan suara bahwa Kuba tidak layak menjadi anggota Dewan HAM PBB.
"Catatan pelanggaran hak asasi manusia sistematis sudah membuktikannya,” tulisnya.
Bagaimana dengan Indonesia?
Indonesia kembali terpilih menjadi anggota Dewan HAM PBB untuk periode 2024-2026.
Kementerian Luar Negeri Republik Indonesia (Kemlu RI) mengabarkan perihal ini di akun X resminya, Rabu (11/10). Indonesia memperoleh 186 suara dari 192 negara anggota PBB yang hadir.
Indonesia mengusung tema 'Inclusive Partnership for Humanity' setelah terpilih kembali menjadi anggota Dewan HAM PBB dan berkomitmen menjunjung tinggi HAM serta berkomitmen menjadi solusi masalah HAM dunia.
"Indonesia komitmen junjung tinggi HAM & jadi bagian dari solusi masalah HAM di dunia," tulis Kemlu RI. Menlu RI Retno Marsudi menyebut tidak boleh ada negara yang tertinggal dalam hal pemajuan dan perlindungan HAM.
ha/rs (Reuters, Detik)