afrol News, 22 May - Despite strong international outcry, the United Nations General Assembly went ahead to elect a 15-member Human Rights Council on Wednesday.

Rights groups opposed the election of Gabon, Zambia, Burkina Faso, Bahrain, Pakistan, East Timor and Sri Lanka to the UN council, accusing them of gross violations of human rights.

Except Sri Lanka and East Timor, all these countries with "questionable human rights credentials" got elected. Other elected members include Ghana and France.

Three of the council's members - China, Cuba and Saudi Arabia - were listed on Freedom House's Worst of the Worst report.

The Executive Director of the Geneva-based UN Watch, Hillel Neuer, wondered why "democratic countries" have "squandered a golden opportunity to promote human rights through this important UN body."

Neuer blamed these countries of lending "international credibility to repressive governments that routinely violate the rights of their own citizens."

Paula Shriefer, Advocacy Director of Freedom House, said with the exception of Burma, the UN Human Rights Council has so far failed to adequately address any of the egregious human rights situations taking place in the countries included in the Worst of the Worst report.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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