In a closely contested election for seats on the United Nations Human Rights Council, Saudi Arabia was not elected, signaling a significant setback in the Kingdom’s efforts to expand its influence within global human rights mechanisms. Despite its prominent position in the Middle East, Saudi Arabia’s human rights record faced scrutiny, ultimately preventing its successful bid for a seat on the Council.
During the election held by the UN General Assembly, member states voted to fill 18 new seats on the Human Rights Council. Out of 19 candidates, Saudi Arabia ranked sixth in the Asia-Pacific group, where only five seats were available. It received 117 votes, trailing behind Thailand (177 votes), Qatar and Cyprus (167 votes each), the Republic of Korea (161 votes), and the Marshall Islands (124 votes).
The election saw participation from candidates across five regional slates, though only the Asia-Pacific slate presented a competitive race with more candidates than available seats. In other regional groups, such as Africa, Latin America, and Western Europe, candidates ran unopposed, leading to closed slates.
Prior to the vote, several organizations, including the International Service for Human Rights (ISHR), campaigned against Saudi Arabia’s candidacy. These groups raised concerns over the Kingdom’s human rights record, particularly regarding systemic violations affecting migrant workers and gender-based violence. Saudi Arabia’s recent election to chair the UN Commission on the Status of Women, despite criticism of its treatment of women, had further drawn attention to its track record on human rights issues.
The Kingdom’s human rights record had been reviewed earlier this year by the UN’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR) process, where states called for answers on various violations. Saudi officials largely rejected calls for reform, maintaining their stance despite international concerns.
The election results come in the wake of previous high-profile defeats for other nations with controversial human rights records. Venezuela and Russia both lost bids to remain or return to the Council in 2022 and 2023, respectively, reflecting a growing trend in competitive slates where states with questionable human rights practices face greater challenges in securing seats.
In contrast, uncompetitive elections have been more common in Human Rights Council history, with regions often putting forward clean slates of candidates running unopposed. This has raised concerns about the Council’s effectiveness and the need for more open contests. ISHR has urged states committed to advancing human rights to ensure future elections remain competitive and to prioritize candidates with strong human rights commitments.
The 2024 Human Rights Council election results:
Africa (closed slate):
- Benin (181 votes)
- Gambia (181 votes)
- Kenya (181 votes)
- Democratic Republic of the Congo (172 votes)
- Ethiopia (171 votes)
- Liberia (1 write-in vote)
Asia-Pacific (competitive slate):
- Thailand (177 votes)
- Cyprus (167 votes)
- Qatar (167 votes)
- Republic of Korea (161 votes)
- Marshall Islands (124 votes)
Latin America and Caribbean (closed slate):
- Bolivia (180 votes)
- Colombia (175 votes)
- Mexico (172 votes)
- Ecuador (1 write-in vote)
- Saint Lucia (1 write-in vote)
Western Europe and other States (closed slate):
- Switzerland (175 votes)
- Iceland (174 votes)
- Spain (174 votes)
Central and Eastern Europe (closed slate):
- North Macedonia (168 votes)
- Czechia (166 votes)
Saudi Arabia’s failure to secure a seat on the UN Human Rights Council highlights the increasing difficulty for countries with controversial human rights records to gain acceptance in global human rights mechanisms.
The competitive nature of the Asia-Pacific slate, coupled with the scrutiny of Saudi Arabia’s human rights practices, played a pivotal role in the outcome. This election underscores the growing call for the Human Rights Council to maintain its integrity by prioritizing members committed to upholding and advancing global human rights standards.