Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2024 All Rights Reserved

Bulgaria and Albania elected members of the UN Human Rights Council

Photo: ohchr.org

In a secret ballot at the United Nations on the election of two new members of the UN Human Rights Council, which took place at the General Assembly in New York, Bulgaria received 160 votes, Albania – 123, and Russia – 83.

Russia failed in its bid to return to the United Nations' top human rights body on Tuesday, with rivals (Bulgaria and Romania – editorial note) winning considerably more votes at the General Assembly in an election seen as a key test of Western efforts to keep Moscow isolated, Reuters writes. Russia was ousted from the council 18 months ago in a US-led diplomatic push following its February 2022 invasion of Ukraine.The United Nations Human Rights Council has 47 voting members from five regional groups. They are elected for three years for a maximum period of two consecutive terms. In this vote, 17 countries competed for 15 seats starting from 2024-2026. The body does not have legally binding powers but its meetings raise scrutiny and it can mandate investigations to document abuses, which sometimes form the basis for war crimes prosecutions, Reuters writes further.

“I would like to thank everyone who supported Bulgaria’s bid. The country’s election to the Council comes as recognition of its active human rights policy,” said Bulgarian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Mariya Gabriel.



Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

Paul Cameron in Burgas

Burgas Airport welcomes its one millionth passenger

Paul Cameron from London has turned out to be the one millionth passenger for 2024 at Burgas Airport, and his landing turned into a real celebration, BNT reported.  He and his wife Cindy arrived on a charter flight from Gatwick Airport and were..

published on 8/7/24 10:27 PM

Belene equipment will not be used for Kozloduy NPP

With the votes of GERB-SDS, PP-DB and MRF, the National Assembly rejected the proposal of BSP for Bulgaria that part of the equipment for Belene NPP be used to replace the 3rd steam generator of the 6th unit of Kozloduy NPP, which is constantly failing...

published on 8/7/24 6:02 PM

Bulgarian military to train Ukrainian soldiers

The caretaker government has allowed the Bulgarian military to train Ukrainian soldiers on the territory of NATO member states. The reasoning states that with this decision Bulgaria expresses its support forUkraine, upholds Euro-Atlantic values and..

published on 8/7/24 5:53 PM