UNHRC is flawed, wants reform however strolling away received’t repair it: US Secretary Blinken

The UN Human Rights Council is flawed and desires reform however strolling away from it, is not going to repair the Council, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken mentioned on Monday, as he introduced that Washington was able to re-engage and lead the inter-governmental rights physique.
In a tweet, Blinken mentioned, “The UN Human Rights Council is flawed and needs reform, but walking away won’t fix it. The best way to improve the Council, so it can achieve its potential, is through robust and principled US leadership.”
Under President Joe Biden, the United States is “reengaging and ready to lead,” Blinken mentioned.

The Biden administration, he mentioned, has recommitted the United States to a international coverage centred on democracy, human rights, and equality.
Effective use of multilateral instruments is a vital component of that imaginative and prescient, and in that regard the president has instructed the Department of State to reengage instantly and robustly with the UNHRC, Blinken mentioned.
The administration led by former president Donald Trump pulled out the US of the council in 2018, pointing on the massive variety of essential council resolutions handed towards Israel and the physique’s lack of ability to fulfill the record of reforms demanded by Washington.
“We recognise that the Human Rights Council is a flawed body, in need of reform to its agenda, membership, and focus, including its disproportionate focus on Israel. However, our withdrawal in June 2018 did nothing to encourage meaningful change, but instead created a vacuum of US leadership, which countries with authoritarian agendas have used to their advantage”, he mentioned in a press release.
Conservative lawmakers within the US have taken situation with the UNHRC giving membership to China, Cuba, Eritrea, Russia and Venezuela — all accused of human rights violations.
When it really works effectively, the Human Rights Council shines a highlight on international locations with the worst human rights information and may function an necessary discussion board for these preventing injustice and tyranny, Blinken mentioned.
The Council may also help to advertise basic freedoms across the globe, together with freedoms of expression, affiliation and meeting, and faith or perception in addition to the elemental rights of girls, ladies, LGBTQI+ individuals, and different marginalised communities.
To handle the Council’s deficiencies and guarantee it lives as much as its mandate, the United States should be on the decision-making desk utilizing the total weight of its diplomatic management, he asserted.

“In the immediate term, the United States will engage with the Council as an observer, and in that capacity will have the opportunity to speak in the Council, participate in negotiations, and partner with others to introduce resolutions”, he mentioned.
“It is our view that the best way to improve the Council is to engage with it and its members in a principled fashion. We strongly believe that when the United States engages constructively with the Council, in concert with our allies and friends, positive change is within reach”, Blinken mentioned.