Securing the largest number of votes among the contested seats, India was on Tuesday elected to the first United Nations Human Rights Council at the elections held in the United Nations General Assembly.
In the largest-ever elections in the history of the United Nations, 47 members to the Human Rights Council were elected directly and individually by secret ballot.
These elections were held in pursuance of a resolution of the United National General Assembly, adopted on March 15 to establish the HRC to replace the Commission on Human Rights.
The new body replaces the much criticised and now defunct Human Rights Commission.
In the drawing of lots, India, which has a one-year term, polled 173 votes out of 190.
But Indian officials said the term is crucial as during it a new human rights machinery would be shaped.
Secretary General Kofi Annan said that the high rate of participation reflected 'a widely shared commitment to replace the previous CHR with a body that can work more effectively, and can embody human rights ideals with more credibility.'
He said the Council elected Tuesday offers the United Nations a unique opportunity to make 'a fresh start in its vital work of upholding the highest standards of human rights'.
In the new HRC, India, as a democratic, multi-ethnic, multi-religious, multi-lingual, and multi-cultural society, would bring a perspective of 'straddling all divides of pluralism, moderation and balance'.
'India will continue to work towards promotion and protection of human rights based on the principles of cooperation and genuine dialogue and an integrated approach to all human rights, civil, political, social, economic and cultural,' Indian officials here said.
Speaking to reporters after the vote, General Assembly President Jan Eliasson described it as a 'truly historic occasion' reflecting the will of all 191 Member States of the world body.
He also echoed Annan's point about self-scrutiny on the Council. 'I find it very important that all member states have made pledges and commitments to human rights, which, they are expected to live up to, and also that they have accepted, by their membership in the HRC to be reviewed that their human rights record is to be reviewed,' he said.
The Council will hold its first meeting in Geneva on June 19.
PTI adds:
India got the maximum number of votes in the Asian group, showing the vast support it enjoys among the member States. Also elected from the Asian group were Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, China, South Korea and Indonesia. In terms of votes, Pakistan was way down at sixth position getting 149 votes.
Interestingly, India got far more votes that both Japan and China whose tally was 158 and 146 respectively. Closest to India was Indonesia, which got 165 votes followed by Bangladesh with 160 votes.
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