China, Russia Join UN’s Human Rights Body as a Saudi Bid Fails
- Rights groups decry role for governments accused of violations
- Cuba among Latin American nations elected for uncontested slot
Photographer: Andrey Rudakov/Bloomberg
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China, Cuba and Russia were elected to the UN Human Rights Council despite vehement opposition from activists and organizations who say the countries’ governments are among the worst offenders of human rights globally.
The United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday elected 15 new members to the 47-nation council. Seats are allotted according to regional groups, and Russia ran unopposed, as did Cuba. Saudi Arabia failed to win a seat, losing out to China, Nepal, Pakistan, and Uzbekistan for spots in one group.