President Joe Biden's administration announced plans to "re-engage" with the top UN rights body. Biden's predecessor, Donald Trump, heavily criticized the council and withdrew from it in 2018.
Under Trump, the US pulled out of the UN rights body Image: Reuters/D. Balibouse
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The United States said Monday it would return to the UN Human Rights Council, after an absence of more than two years.
Announcing the new approach, Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said the decision to withdraw in 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."
"The Biden administration has recommitted the United States to a foreign policy centered on democracy, human rights, and equality," Blinken said in a statement. "Effective use of multilateral tools is an important element of that vision."
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Return despite being 'a flawed body'
Nevertheless, the US is seeking reforms within the council.
"We recognize 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," Blinken added.
The move marks yet another reversal by US President Joe Biden of his predecessor's policies.
The withdrawal from the 47-member council was due to what the Trump administration said was "unrelenting bias" against Israel.
What is the UN Human Rights Council?
In 2006, the United Nations established the Human Rights Council to look into human rights violations across the globe. The council has had its fair share of controversy, mainly due to accusations of anti-Israel bias.
Promote and protect
The United Nations Human Rights Council was established in 2006 to replace the UN Commission on Human Rights. Its purpose is to promote and protect human rights around the world. Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, it meets three times per year — in March, June and September.
Image: AP
Members worldwide
The HRC has 47 member countries, with the seats spread throughout five different global regions. The UN General Assembly elects members directly by secret ballot. Elected countries serve three-year terms, and are not eligible for immediate re-election after serving two consecutive terms.
Image: Getty Images/AFP/K. Betancur
Addressing human rights issues
The main function of the HRC is to coordinate the UN's human rights activities and promote international cooperation on human rights issues. It has mechanisms in place to process complaints submitted by individuals, groups or NGOs and investigate human rights abuses. The HRC also works closely with the Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights (OHCHR) Zeid Ra'ad al-Hussein.
Image: Getty Images/AFP/J.-G. Python
Reports and resolutions
HRC resolutions are passed as political expressions of Council members. They are not legally binding, but often carry moral weight and promote "soft law" principles. They cover human rights issues ranging from freedom of expression, to torture, poverty and justice. Resolutions can lead to the creation of a special rapporteur (e.g. in Myanmar) or inquiry committees (e.g. on Syria or North Korea).
Image: Reuters
Controversy
In its most recent annual report in 2017, the OHCHR listed a record 29 nation states that took retaliatory action against citizens working to uncover human rights violations. Nine of those countries were actually on the Human Rights Council. Current members accused of violating human rights in the 2018 Human Rights Watch World Report are Venezuela, Rwanda, China, Saudi Arabia and the DR Congo.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/M. Trezzini
Accusations of anti-Israel bias
Israel is the only country with a dedicated item on the Council schedule. Agenda Item 7 has existed since 2007 to discuss rights abuses in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Britain has called it "disproportionate and damaging to the cause of peace." Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson threatened to vote against all resolutions "unless things change." And another Council member went even further...
Image: Reuters
United States withdraws
On June 19, US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley said Washington was leaving the HRC; the first time a member has quit before its term was up. "For too long the HRC has been a protector of human rights abusers and a cesspool of political bias," Haley said, citing "unrelenting bias" against Israel. A day earlier, the Council denouced the US policy of separating children from their migrant parents.
