US moves to rejoin UN Human Rights Council
February 8, 2021
The United States said Monday it would return to the UN Human Rights Council, after an absence of more than two years.
Announcing the new approach, Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said the decision to withdraw in 2018 "did nothing to encourage meaningful change, but instead created a vacuum of US leadership, which countries with authoritarian agendas have used to their advantage."
"The Biden administration has recommitted the United States to a foreign policy centered on democracy, human rights, and equality," Blinken said in a statement. "Effective use of multilateral tools is an important element of that vision."
Return despite being 'a flawed body'
Nevertheless, the US is seeking reforms within the council.
"We recognize that the Human Rights Council is a flawed body, in need of reform to its agenda, membership, and focus, including its disproportionate focus on Israel," Blinken added.
The move marks yet another reversal by US President Joe Biden of his predecessor's policies.
Donald Trump pulled the US out of the inter-governmental body in June 2018.
The withdrawal from the 47-member council was due to what the Trump administration said was "unrelenting bias" against Israel.
jsi/rs (AFP, dpa, AP)