Human Rights Watch welcomes Khan’s appointment as President of UN Human Rights Council

The Human Rights Watch has welcomed Fiji’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva Ambassador Nazhat Shameem Khan’s successful election as President of the United Nations Human Rights Council.

Executive Director Kenneth Roth says Fiji’s victory is a victory for those who believe the Human Rights Council should be used to defend human rights.

The New York Times reports in the Council, Fiji had backed investigations into reported abuses in Venezuela, the Philippines, Belarus, Syria and Yemen.

Khan was elected through a secret ballot process through which all 47 members of the Geneva-based human rights body cast their vote to appoint its president for 2021 – the Council’s 15th annual cycle.

She got 29 votes.

It was earlier reported that Russia and China had opposed the candidacy of Khan to be the President of the United Nations Human Rights Council.

However the Chinese Embassy in Fiji had said that China was happy to see Khan elected as the President of the United Nations Human Rights Council on behalf of the Asia and Pacific Group.

[Source: New York Times]