News - World: Human Rights Watch (HRW) has called for the blocking of voting for the UAE and other countries that do not respect human rights in the elections of the UN Human Rights Council.

"The uncompetitive UN elections for members of the Human Rights Council effectively guarantee seats to candidate countries that have a very poor human rights record" the organization said.

"UN member states should abstain from voting for Cameroon, Eritrea, the UAE and other candidates who do not meet the qualifications for membership in the UN's highest human rights body" It added.

On October 14, 2021, the United Nations General Assembly is set to elect 18 members of the 47-country Human Rights Council for a three-year term beginning in January 2022.

“The lack of competition in this year's Human Rights Council elections is a mockery of the word 'elections,'" said Louis Charbonneau, director of the UN division at Human Rights Watch.

The election of serious human rights violators such as Cameroon, Eritrea, and the UAE are sending a frightening message that UN members are not serious about the council’s primary mission of protecting human rights.

It has been more than three years since the United States, under Donald Trump, withdrew from the Human Rights Council, citing the council's criticism of Israel's human rights record and the membership of rights-violating countries.

The United States is seeking again to participate in the council's membership after President Joe Biden promised to return from the United States' rejection of the highest international human rights body, and committed to combating racism and other violations, and making human rights a cornerstone of American foreign policy.

Human Rights Watch said that UAE leaders have made great efforts to present the country as progressive, tolerant and respectful, but the human rights situation remains poor.

Human Rights Watch stressed that UN member states should conduct a thorough review of the records of all candidates for council membership.

“UN member states should ensure that all regional lists in future Human Rights Council elections are competitive,This is the best way to keep violating candidates out of the council” Charbonneau said.