Pakistan to contest for Human Rights Council
UNITED NATIONS, March 30 2006: Pakistan, India, Japan and Bangladesh have shown willingness to become members of the newly established UN Human Rights Council, UN sources said. Other candidates for 13 Asia seats are Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Indonesia and South Korea.
So far eight candidates have put themselves forward for the 13 seats but sources say more countries are expected to jump in. The UN General Assembly is due to hold the first election for the 47-member council, which replaced the much criticised Human Rights Commission, on May 9.
To achieve membership, a country will need to secure a majority balloting from General Assembly or a minimum 96 votes. Voting will be by secret ballot. The United States has yet to formally declare its candidacy but officials say they expect Washington to contest.
There is still a lot of time, a diplomat said. The Western Europe Group, from which US would contest, has been allotted seven seats and so far Britain, France, Germany and Finland has made their intention known to seek council membership. Africa, too, has been given 13 spots and Morocco, Algeria, Senegal and Nigeria have made their intention to contest known. Argentina. Brazil, Costa Rica, Peru, Cuba, Mexico, Uruguay and Honduras have already declared their candidacy for the eight seats allotted to the Latin America and the Caribbean, sources said.
Source: Daily Times
Date:3/30/2006
” 
” 
” 
” 
