DailyPost has gathered that Nigeria, at the ongoing United Nations General Assembly, in New York, United States of America, has been elected a member of the United Nations Human Rights Council based in Geneva.
Nigeria and 14 other countries were voted into the Council to serve for a period of three years, beginning from January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2017.
According to a statement released by the Permanent Mission of Nigeria to the United Nations, Nigeria had 187 votes from the 192 valid ballots in the election which was by secret ballot.
The statement signed by the Mission’s Spokesman, Dr Tope Adeleye Elias-Fatile, added that going by the development, Nigeria will be occupying seats simultaneously both at the United Nations Security Council and at the United Nations Human Rights Council by 2015.
“Therefore, Nigeria will be involved in series of intense activities in both councils in the coming year,” the statement noted.
The Human Rights Council, held on geographical representation saw Ghana, Botswana and Congo being among African countries also elected. This means Nigeria and the three countries African representatives will occupy the four African seats at the council in the stipulated period.
The Council is an inter-governmental body within the United Nations system with responsibility in the strengthening of promotion and protection of human rights around the world. It is also charged with addressing situations around the world, as well as making recommendations on human rights violations across the world
Comprising of 47 United Nations member states elected by the United Nations General Assembly, the Council was created by the United Nations General Assembly on March 15, 2006, by resolution 60/251.
Other elected countries include Albania, Bangladesh, El Salvador, Latvia, Netherlands, Paraguay, Portugal and Qatar. Meanwhile, Bolivia, Botswana, Congo, India and Indonesia whose terms were due to expire at the end of the year got re-elected at the assembly.
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