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RI reelected as member of UN rights body
In an election held Tuesday at the UN headquarters in New York, US, Indonesia retained its seat on the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC)
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n an election held Tuesday at the UN headquarters in New York, US, Indonesia retained its seat on the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC). The news comes on the heels of the inauguration of President Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo, whom many are hoping will resolve the country's past human rights abuses.
'Indonesia's reelection is a special present for President Jokowi in his second day in office,' Indonesia's permanent representative to the UN, Desra Percaya, said in a statement made available to The Jakarta Post on Wednesday.
Indonesia, which was elected for the fourth time, was among the five Asian countries vying for UNHRC seats for the 2015-2017 term. The other countries were Thailand, India, Bangladesh and Qatar.
With only four Asian seats available, the Junta-ruled Thailand lost its bid, receiving votes from just 136 of the UN's 193 member states. India won 162 votes, followed by Indonesia (152), Bangladesh (149), and Qatar (142).
Eleven other countries were also elected to the council. They are Albania and Latvia, representing Eastern Europe; the Netherlands and Portugal (Western Europe); Botswana, Congo, Ghana and Nigeria (Africa), and Paraguay, Bolivia, and El Salvador (Latin America and Caribbean).
'Indonesia's reelection is a display of trust made by the international community regarding Indonesia's [record of] human rights protection and promotion, democracy consolidation, as well as a show of optimism toward our new government,' Desra said.
Indonesia was among the council's first members following its establishment in 2006.
Based in Geneva, Switzerland, the UNHRC addresses human rights violations and makes recommendations on rectification. It also reviews countries' rights records and acts on complaints.
The council currently has 47 member states serving 3-year terms. (nfo)(+++)
