Why in news?
The United States has recently withdrawn from the United Nations Human Rights Council.
How has US's HRC membership been?
- Under President Obama, the US was elected for a maximum of 2 consecutive terms by the UNGA.
- After a year off, it was re-elected in 2016 for the third term.
- The US is half-way through a three-year term.
- It would now be the first member to withdraw from the council.
What is the rationale?
- Israel - The council recently voted to probe killings in Gaza and accused Israel of using excessive force.
- The US and Australia cast the only “no” votes.
- US's current move comes as a response to the alleged bias of UNHRC against Israel.
- The disproportionate focus and unending hostility are cited as proof for the Council's political bias.
- Immigrants - It is also a response to the intense criticism against US for detaining children at the US-Mexico border.
- UN human rights chief called on Washington to halt its “unconscionable” separation policy.
- Council - Trump administration had long threatened to quit if council reforms were not undertaken.
- The US perceives the council's membership as disrespect for the most basic rights.
- The US wants to make it easier to expel member states with poor rights records.
- Currently, two-thirds majority of UN General Assembly is needed to suspend a member state.
- US expressed dissatisfaction at Russia, China, Cuba and Egypt for thwarting US efforts to reform the council.
- The US has maintained that the withdrawal was not any retreat from its human rights commitments.
What are the implications?
- Agreements - Washington’s withdrawal is the latest US rejection of multilateral engagement.
- The earlier ones are withdrawal from the Paris climate agreement and Iran nuclear deal.
- Reforms - HRC reform discussions are going on, with engagement by states and human rights organisations.
- It thus shows US's impatience to stay on course a multilateral process.
- Rights - It signals that US is not making human rights a priority in its foreign policy.
- By giving up its role at the HRC, it reduces its ability to influence the human rights agenda.
- Global - Withdrawal would make it more difficult to advance human rights priorities around the world.
- It could bolster countries such as Cuba, Russia, Egypt and Pakistan.
- These countries resist UN's authority citing it as interference in their sovereign issues.
- Many countries are now advocating withdrawal.
Source: The Hindu, The Wire
