LOCAL
The UN General Assembly has elected South Africa, Algeria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Chile, Costa Rica, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Maldives, Morocco, Romania and Vietnam to the Human Rights Council for a three-year term starting on January 1 2023.
Germany and Sudan also won second terms on the Geneva-based body, but South Korea and Venezuela failed to be re-elected. The 47-member council cannot make legally binding decisions, but its decisions carry political weight and it can authorise inquiries.
Candidates are elected in geographical groups. There were two competitive races on Tuesday — among the Asia-Pacific and Latin American and Caribbean states — to elect 14 members. Members cannot serve more than two consecutive terms.
Observers said the election was important since it could tip the power balance within a deeply divided council. Vote counts have been getting closer on key issues, and last week a Western-led coalition lost a call for a debate on accusations of Chinese abuses in Xinjiang by only two votes in a historic defeat.
