UN Watch has circulated a draft resolution for the UN General Assembly to remove Russia from the Human Rights Council, which the watchdog group entered into the record in testimony before the 47-nation body.
In less than 24 hours, more than 120,000 people endorsed UN Watch’s call to remove Russia:
For God's sake, Russia cannot remain on the U.N. Human Rights Council.
— Hillel Neuer (@HillelNeuer) April 2, 2022
“Mr. President, we hereby request that this Council adopt a resolution, under par. 8 of resolution 60/251, calling on the General Assembly to remove Russia as a member this Council. Our proposed text which we have circulated to delegates can be found at: https://t.co/SaWv9D17bq.” pic.twitter.com/Z4OdjFq8wP
— Hillel Neuer (@HillelNeuer) April 3, 2022
The draft resolution would need to be formally submitted by a UN member state, and to receive two-thirds of General Assembly members present and voting.
Estonia has officially called for Russia to be removed, while U.S. Secretary of State Tony Blinken hinted at it.
Draft Resolution for the General Assembly
76/xxx. Suspension of the rights of membership of the Russian Federation in the Human Rights Council
The General Assembly,
Recalling its resolution 60/251 of 15 March 2006, which states that members elected to the Human Rights Council shall uphold the highest standards in the promotion and protection of human rights, and that the General Assembly may suspend the membership rights of a member of the Council that commits gross and systematic violations of human rights,
Reiterating the need for the full implementation of resolution ES-11/1 of 2 March 2022, entitled “Aggression against Ukraine,” and ES-11/2 of 24 March 2022, entitled “Humanitarian consequences of the aggression against Ukraine”;
Condemning in the strongest terms the ongoing systematic, widespread and gross violations of human rights by the Russian Federation, including those that may amount to crimes against humanity, resulting from the hostilities by the Russian Federation against Ukraine, including the besiegement of and shelling and air strikes in densely populated cities of Ukraine, in particular Mariupol, as well as attacks striking civilians, including journalists, and civilian objects, in particular schools and other educational institutions, water and sanitation systems, medical facilities and their means of transport and equipment, and the abduction of local officials, as well as attacks striking diplomatic premises and cultural sites,
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Decides to suspend the rights of membership in the Human Rights Council of the Russian Federation.
🇪🇪 Estonian Foreign Minister Eva-Maria Liimets in March echoed our call for Russia to be removed from the U.N. Human Rights Council. The top diplomat in her ministry today underscored their principled position.
We have circulated a draft resolution here: https://t.co/jlCpQOHvrP https://t.co/0lZBqQm3yH pic.twitter.com/R07aHvibTB
— Hillel Neuer (@HillelNeuer) April 3, 2022
