Nigeria lost out as Ghana, Malawi and other countries joined the UN Human Rights Council

After securing just three votes, Nigeria missed out on joining the honorees on Tuesday United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC).

Four African countries won seats on the council in the election. Ghana and Burundi were voted in as new members with 179 and 168 votes respectively, while Malawi (182 votes) and Cote d’Ivoire (181 votes) were re-elected for a second term.

The Council is the UN’s principal rights body, responsible for upholding and promoting universal fundamental freedoms. It was created in 2006 and consists of 47 member states, elected by secret ballot by a majority of General Assembly members.

The United Nations meets three times a year to review the human rights records of member states, a special process that gives countries the opportunity to present the steps they have taken and what they have done to advance human rights. This is called a global period study.

Elections on Tuesday returned to the 15 member states, who will serve three years from 1 January 2024.

The 15 member states include Albania, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burundi, China, Cote d’Ivoire, Cuba, Dominican Republic, France, Ghana, Indonesia, Japan, Kuwait, Malawi and the Netherlands.

Algeria, Argentina, Bangladesh, Belgium, Benin, Cameroon, Chile, Costa Rica, Eritrea, Finland, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Honduras, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia will host the forum along with 32 other countries. , Maldives, Montenegro, Morocco, Paraguay, Qatar, Romania, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, United Arab Emirates, USA and Vietnam.

Russia also sought re-election after stepping down last year in protest Suspension By the council. Peru also failed to secure a seat on the council.