The US representative, Nikki Haley, announced on Tuesday that his country withdrew from the Human Rights Council of the UN, describing the action as a “nest of political motivations.”
We took this step because our commitment does not allow us to remain part of a hypocritical and self-centered organization that makes a mockery of human rights,”
said Haley.
US diplomacy no longer hid its differences with the Council, which Washington accused of having been moved by feelings contrary to Israel, and by the presence of countries that the government deems not fit to have a seat.
The Human Rights Council of the UN was created in 2006 to replace the Human Rights Commission and is made up of 47 member countries chosen by absolute majority in the UN General Assembly.
In June of 2017, Haley had already demanded a reform of the Council, and this year Washington promoted a draft resolution that contemplated profound changes in that group. The US proposals include a mechanism for countries accused of committing human rights violations to be excluded from the Council with a simple majority in the Assembly and not with a two-thirds vote.
It also demanded that the issue of “human rights in Palestine” not be systematically included in the agenda.