What is the UN Human Rights Council and why did Donald Trump withdraw the US from the council?
THE UN Human Rights Council has become the latest international organisation to be shunned by United States under Donald Trump’s presidency.
But activists warned the move would make advancing human rights globally even more difficult.
What is the UN Human Rights Council?
The UN Human Rights Council (UNHCR) is an international body whose mission is to promote and protect human rights around the world.
The Geneva based organisation was created in 2006 to replace the UN’s Human Rights Commission.
It is made up of 47 States responsible for the promotion and protection of all human rights around the globe.
In its session on June 19, 2018, the UN’s high commissioner for human rights slammed Trump’s immigration policy of separating children from parents crossing the southern border illegally as “unconscionable”.
Why did Donald Trump withdraw the US from the council?
Trump’s administration believes the UNHRC is biased against Israel which has been criticised for its heavy-handed treatment of Palestinian protesters.
The council has passed more resolutions targeting the Jewish state than against all other nations combined.
The President believes it is hypocritical because its membership includes countries like China, Cuba and Venezuela which are well-known human rights abusers.
In May Trump moved the US embassy to Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem in a move that has been welcomed by the Jewish state but condemned by other countries.
How was the US withdrawal announced?
America’s UN ambassador Nikki Haley confirmed the United States was withdrawing calling it “an organisation that is not worthy of its name”.
Ms Haley said a year ago she made clear the US would stay in the council only if “essential reforms were achieved”.
But she says it’s clear those calls for change were not heeded and accused the council of having a “chronic bias against Israel”.
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