Following high-profile charges of crimes perpetrated by Russian forces during the Ukraine war, the United Nations General Assembly voted Thursday to suspend Russia from the UN Human Rights Council.
The vote totaled 93 in favour, 24 against, and 58 abstentions.
According to a draught of the resolution, the General Assembly has the authority to “suspend the rights of participation in the Human Rights Council of a member of the Council who commits serious and systematic abuses of human rights.”
According to the draught resolution, the council is “very concerned” about allegations of “gross and systematic breaches and abuses of human rights” and “violations of international humanitarian law” committed by the Russian Federation during its invasion of Ukraine.
To remove Russia from the UN Human Rights Council, the General Assembly required to vote in favour by two-thirds of the nations present and voting. The measure suspends Russia’s membership in the Council and calls for a reassessment of the situation if the UN considers it necessary.
On Tuesday, the US ambassador to the UN made a case for Russia’s suspension from the Human Rights Council in front of the UN Security Council, something she and other UN member states have been advocating for.
“Russia should not have a position of leadership in a group whose sole mission is to promote human rights respect. It is not simply the height of hypocrisy; it is also hazardous “According to Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield.
“Every day, we observe how little Russia respects human rights,” she explained.
Finally, she stated, “Russia’s presence on the Human Rights Council undermines the Council’s legitimacy. It weakens the whole United Nations system. And it’s simply incorrect.”
Sergiy Kyslytsya, Ukraine’s UN ambassador, called on all UN member states to support the resolution suspending Russia from the council ahead of the vote on Thursday.
“The world has reached a critical moment. We see our liner sailing in perilous fog near lethal icebergs. It may appear that we should have dubbed it the Titanic rather than the Human Rights Council. We must act immediately to stop the council from sinking “Kyslytsya said.
Russia’s activities in Ukraine, according to the Ukrainian ambassador, “would be compared to war crimes and crimes against humanity.” While he acknowledged that suspending a country from the Human Rights Council is a “rare and unprecedented measure,” he stated that “Russia’s actions go over the pale.”
In response, Gennady Kuzmin, Russia’s deputy ambassador to the United Nations, urged member nations to reject the resolution, claiming that it would create a dangerous precedent.
“Today is not the time or place for theatrics or excessive theatrical acts such as the one exhibited by Ukraine. In reality, the draught resolution we’re debating today has little to do with the actual human rights situation on the ground “Kuzmin said.
According to the Russian delegate, the vote to suspend Russia from the Human Rights Council “is an attempt by the US to preserve its dominating position and entire control in order to continue its attempt at human rights colonialism in international relations.”
Human Rights Watch’s UN director, Louis Charbonneau, said in a statement that Russia’s suspension sends “a crystal-clear message” that they have “no business” on the council.
“The General Assembly has delivered a strong message to Russia’s leadership that a nation whose military frequently commits heinous human rights crimes has no place on the UN Human Rights Council,” Charbonneau said. “People all across the world have been appalled by the gruesome photographs from Bucha. Victims and their families have a right to hold those responsible accountable. Investigators from the United Nations and the International Criminal Court should get the wheels of justice turning by gathering and preserving evidence of war crimes as soon as possible.”
