By Omar Bah
The United Nations General Assembly has elected 18 countries, including The Gambia, to serve on the 47-member Human Rights Council for the 2025-2027 term. The re-election of The Gambia to the UN Human Rights Council for a second consecutive year is a testament to its global standing and commitment to sovereign integrity. The other 17 countries elected are Benin, Bolivia, Colombia, Cyprus, Czechia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Iceland, Kenya, Marshall Islands, Mexico, North Macedonia, Qatar, Korea, Spain, Switzerland, and Thailand.
The countries were selected through a secret ballot on Wednesday, and they will begin their three-year terms on January 1, 2025, replacing outgoing members whose terms end on December 31, 2024. All outgoing members were eligible for immediate re-election, except those who have served two consecutive terms. This includes Argentina, Cameroon, Eritrea, India, and Somalia. Albania, Algeria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burundi, Chile, China, Costa Rica, Cote d’Ivoire, Cuba, Dominican Republic, France, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Indonesia, Japan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Malawi, Maldives, Morocco, Netherlands, Romania, South Africa, Sudan, and Vietnam will continue to serve as members of the council.
Based in Geneva, The Human Rights Council is an intergovernmental body within the United Nations system responsible for promoting and protecting human rights worldwide. Approximately one-third of its 47 members are replaced annually, allowing for staggered three-year terms to ensure continuity. The allocation of seats on the council is based on regional groups for geographical representation: 13 seats each for Africa and the Asia-Pacific, eight for Latin America and the Caribbean, seven for Western Europe and other states, and six for Eastern Europe.
