How Does the UN Human Rights Council Selects its Members?

The UN Human Rights Council (HRC), announced today that its members have elected Ambassador Keva Lorraine Bain of Bahamas, Ambassador Ali Ibn Abi Talib Abdelrahman Mahmoud of Sudan, and Ambassador Monique T.G. van Daalen of the Netherlands to serve as Vice Presidents for a one-year term starting January 2021.

The choice reflects the need for geographical representation by the selection of nations of the Group of Latin American and Caribbean States, African States, and Western European and other States. Dutch Ambassador Van Daalen will take on the added duties of rapporteur for the HRC, the UN human rights body.  

It was agreed to convene a meeting before the end of the year to elect the new HRC president for its 15th annual cycle. Candidates must come from Asia-Pacific States, and its vice president must be a national from an Eastern European country. 

The delay is in part to allow additional time for further consultations on the nomination of ambassadors to these two positions, nomin…