US rejoins UN Human Rights Council after more than 3-year hiatus

By Servet Gunerigok

WASHINGTON (AA) - The US officially returned to United Nations Human Rights Council on Thursday after former President Donald Trump pulled Washington from the body in June 2018.

US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield thanked the international body for the "overwhelming support" from member states.

"Pleased to announce the U.S. has been elected to the @UN_HRC. With @POTUS' pledge fulfilled, we will work to ensure the Council lives up to the principle that 'all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.'" she tweeted.

The US will serve on the Council for the next three-year term, beginning in 2022.

Antony Blinken, US Secretary of State, said the US "will work hard to ensure the Council upholds its highest aspirations and better supports those fighting against injustice and tyranny around the world".

"The Council plays a meaningful role in protecting human rights and fundamental freedoms by documenting atrocities in order to hold wrongdoers accountable," he said in a statement.

"Together, we must push back against attempts to subvert the ideals upon which the Human Rights Council was founded, including that each person is endowed with human rights and that states are obliged to protect those rights," Blinken added.

The former administration left because the 47-member Geneva-based body is “not worthy of its name,” citing alleged “chronic bias” against Israel and inclusion of human rights abusers as council members.