The US will return to the UN Human Rights Council after a break of several years, where it is expected to rub against China, which has used the time to expand its influence in the absence of the US, reports TV3 News.
The UN Human Rights Council is a controversial body and, despite its name, is itself criticized for failing to do so. Countries that are difficult to be named at the forefront of human rights are often elected to the Council.
The US council dropped dramatically under the leadership of former President Donald Trump, accusing the institution of hypocrisy and over-criticism of Israel. The United States will now return to the Council. However, it is difficult to call the historical problems overcome, considering that, for example, Kazakhstan, Qatar and Cameroon have also been elected together with the United States.
The United States emphasizes that they still have strong opposition to the Council, but that the key is to be at the common table,
Ned Prais, US State Department spokesman
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“If we want to help build these institutions, achieve their highest goals and represent the interests of the United States, as is the case with the Human Rights Council, it is important for us to be there.”
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However, returning to the Council, the United States will encounter a much more confident China, which has used the absence of the United States to strengthen its influence. There are still widespread allegations of human rights abuses towards Beijing, and they come into force as China’s Winter Olympics approach next year.
