Nigeria elected member of UN Human Rights Council

Nigeria, has been elected as a member of the Geneva-based United Nations Human Rights Council.

The election took place at the ongoing United Nations General Assembly, in New York, United States of America.
Nigeria, alongside 14 other countries, were elected to serve on the Council for a period of three years, beginning from January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2017.
The Human Rights Council is an inter-governmental body within the United Nations system with responsibility in the strengthening of promotion and protection of human rights around the world.
The Council’s responsibility also include addressing situations around the world, as well as making recommendations on human rights violations across the world
Made up of 47 United Nations member states elected by the United Nations General Assembly, the Council was created by the United Nations General Assembly on March 15, 2006, by resolution 60/251.
Other elected countries include Albania, Bangladesh, El Salvador, Ghana, Latvia, Netherlands, Paraguay, Portugal and Qatar.
Similarly, Bolivia, Botswana, Congo, India and Indonesia whose terms were due to expire at the end of the year were re-elected.
A statement by the Permanent Mission of Nigeria to the United Nations made available to Daily Sun in New York, said in one round of secret balloting, Nigeria had 187 votes from the 192 valid ballots at the election.
The statement signed by the Mission’s spokesman, Dr Tope Adeleye Elias-Fatile, added that with the new development, by 2015, Nigeria will be occupying seats simultaneously at the United Nations Security Council and at the United Nations Human Rights Council.
“Therefore, Nigeria will be involved in series of intense activities in both councils in the coming year,” the statement said.
Held on geographical representation, Ghana, Botswana and Congo were also elected, making Nigeria and the three countries African representatives occupying the four African seats at the council in the stipulated period.