Saudi Arabia Fails to Win Seat on UN Human Rights Council

Facts

• Saudi Arabia missed out on a UN Human Rights Council seat in a close vote on Wednesday, four years after their previous loss in 2020.^[1]
• Rights groups organized a campaign prior to the vote, accusing the Saudis of alleged serious human rights violations. Anti-execution organization Reprieve said Saudi Arabia had executed at least 212 individuals this year — exceeding its 2022 and 2023 records of 196 and 172 respectively.^[2]
• Prior to the vote, Louis Charbonneau, the UN director of Human Rights Watch, declared the Kingdom 'unfit to serve on the Human Rights Council,' citing allegations that Saudi border guards had killed hundreds of Ethiopians in 2022-23. The Saudi mission 'categorically' denied all allegations.^[1]
• Only six contenders competed for five seats in the Asia-Pacific group, which includes Saudi Arabia, on Wednesday. Saudi Arabia lost out with 117 votes, while the Marshall Islands placed fifth with 124.^[2]
• Under the initiative 'Vision 2030,' Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman has spent billions of dollars to bolster Saudi Arabia's public diplomacy around its tourism and entertainment sectors.^[3]
• In all, the General Assembly elected 18 new members to the Human Rights Council. The new members will begin their term in 2025. The council conducts fact-finding missions and sends independent investigators to examine torture and rights violations.^[4]

Sources: ^[1]Guardian, ^[2]Reuters, ^[3]Middleeastmonitor and ^[4]Associated Press.

Narratives

• Narrative A, as provided by Human Rights Watch. Saudi Arabia does not deserve membership in the UN Human Rights Council. Governments that commit heinous acts and protect those responsible should not be allowed on the UN's top human rights council. It was fortunate that the Saudis were unsuccessful in their bid for a seat. Had they secured a seat, they would have undermined the council and denigrated the entire human rights organization.
• Narrative B, as provided by Vision2030. It is regrettable that Saudi Arabia failed to get a seat in the UN's Human Rights Council. Saudi Arabia has devised a strategy to establish a new framework for the nation's future, whereby both the Kingdom and its residents may prosper. In alignment with Vision 2030, the nation aims to secure a position on the UN Human Rights Council to demonstrate its enhancement of human rights standards and its evolution into a contemporary, vibrant society.