US joins UN Human Rights Council as observer, demands reforms

The United States is again seeking closer ties with the UN Human Rights Council. The country joins the council as an observer, perhaps regaining full members in the future. Senior American diplomat Mark Cassayre announced it in Geneva. He added that the United States will try to reform the council.

According to Cassayre, it is obvious that the council has gaps, but it also has the potential to be an “important forum for those who struggle against tyranny and injustice in the world”.

President Biden thus reverses a decision by his predecessor Trump, which the United States withdrew from the Human Rights Council in June 2018 because it would be structurally anti-Israel. Republicans have been critical of the council for years. For example, they are upset that the council has reprimanded Israel in most of all countries, while notorious human rights violators such as Saudi Arabia, Russia or China have seats on the council. .

President Bush therefore initially refused to join the corps. When his successor Obama did, Trump overturned that decision.

American first

Democrats also believe the council should make improvements, but argue in favor of continued discussions within the UN organization. That is why Foreign Minister Blinken is once again seeking rapprochement.

Since taking office last month, President Biden has already reversed much of Trump’s foreign policy. Where the Republican over there under the motto America first has chosen to withdraw the United States from international organizations such as WHO and Unesco and from the Paris climate agreement, Biden wants to reconnect with the international community.