Czech Republic elected to replace Russia on U.N. rights council

Authored by reuters.com and submitted by twotwo_twentytwo

An overview of the special session on the situation in Ukraine of the Human Rights Council at the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, March 4, 2022. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse

UNITED NATIONS, May 10 (Reuters) - The United Nations General Assembly elected the Czech Republic to the Geneva-based Human Rights Council on Tuesday to replace Russia, which was suspended last month over its invasion of Ukraine and then immediately quit the 47-member body.

Russia had been in its second year of a three-year term. The Czech Republic will complete that term on the council, which cannot make legally binding decisions. Its decisions carry political weight, however, and it can authorize investigations.

The Czech Republic was elected with 157 votes in favor, while 23 countries abstained. Its terms starts immediately.

The Human Rights Council is due to hold a special session on Ukraine on Thursday, an official said on Monday, after Kyiv called for a review of the situation there, including reports of mass casualties in Mariupol. read more

The United States led the rare push to suspend Russia after its Feb. 24 invasion of Ukraine, which Moscow calls a "special military operation". Libya was suspended from the U.N. Human Rights Council in 2011 over violence against protesters by forces loyal to then-leader Muammar Gaddafi.

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Reporting by Michelle Nichols; Editing by Alison Williams

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

-Chandler-Bing- on May 10th, 2022 at 18:40 UTC »

Hey Czech friends, dumb American here. Should we still be calling your home the "Czech Republic" or is Czechia preferred?

psychodelephant on May 10th, 2022 at 16:46 UTC »

Step 1: kick Russia from Rights council. ✔️ Step 2: replace them with integrity. Czech

twotwo_twentytwo on May 10th, 2022 at 15:48 UTC »

For those unable to read the article due to a paywall:

UNITED NATIONS, May 10 (Reuters) - The United Nations General Assembly elected the Czech Republic to the Geneva-based Human Rights Council on Tuesday to replace Russia, which was suspended last month over its invasion of Ukraine and then immediately quit the 47-member body.

Russia had been in its second year of a three-year term. The Czech Republic will complete that term on the council, which cannot make legally binding decisions. Its decisions carry political weight, however, and it can authorize investigations.

The Czech Republic was elected with 157 votes in favor, while 23 countries abstained. Its terms starts immediately.

The Human Rights Council is due to hold a special session on Ukraine on Thursday, an official said on Monday, after Kyiv called for a review of the situation there, including reports of mass casualties in Mariupol.

The United States led the rare push to suspend Russia after its Feb. 24 invasion of Ukraine, which Moscow calls a "special military operation". Libya was suspended from the U.N. Human Rights Council in 2011 over violence against protesters by forces loyal to then-leader Muammar Gaddafi.