Ukraine: UN Human Rights Council is in crisis
Ukraine understands US concern about the effectiveness of the work of the UN Human Rights Council (HRC), as stated in a commentary by Deputy Foreign Minister of Ukraine, Sergiy Kyslytsya, that was released on Wednesday, June 20.
"We understand the position of the United States of America and their concerns about the effectiveness of the HRC. The US decision on early termination of membership in the Council was not a surprise. More than a year ago, the United States, at a meeting of the UN Security Council, announced negative trends in the work of the UN regarding the protection of human rights," the commentary says.
Kyslytsya recalled that Ukraine has repeatedly stated, including within the framework of its non-permanent membership in the Security Council, that it believes it is important to take into account the human rights component in all areas of the organization's work.
According to the Deputy Minister, Ukraine was directly and actively involved in the creation of the UN Human Rights Council in 2006 and was part of it from the very beginning, for two consecutive terms in 2006-2008 and 2008-2011. This year, Ukraine once again became a member in this subsidiary body of the UN General Assembly.
"Understanding and objectively assessing existing problems and shortcomings in its work, we intend to work on reforming the Council," he said.
"Unfortunately, we have to state that today the UN Human Rights Council is in a difficult situation, if not to say in crisis," Kyslytsya admitted.
The US Permanent Representative to the UN, Nikki Haley, announced that the US is leaving the Human Rights Council on June 20.