CNN shows you the way of death in Ukraine 3:28
(CNN) — The United Nations General Assembly voted to exclude Russia from the Human Rights Council at a meeting on Thursday. The result of the vote was 93 votes in favour, 24 against and 58 abstentions.
In a draft resolution read by CNN, the General Assembly said it would “suspend the rights of membership of the Human Rights Council of any Council member who commits serious and systematic human rights abuses.”
The document added that the Council was “deeply concerned” by reports of “serious and systematic violations and abuses of human rights” and “violations of international humanitarian law” committed by the Russian Federation during its invasion of Ukraine.
A two-thirds majority in the General Assembly was required for Russia to leave the UN Human Rights Council. According to the resolution, the vote suspends membership rights in the Human Rights Council of the Russian Federation. He also decides to review the matter as well, if appropriate.
“Russia’s actions are limitless”
Before the vote, Ukraine’s Ambassador to the UN Sergiy Kyslytsya called on all UN member states to support the resolution excluding Russia from the Council.
“The world has come to a crucial point. We see our cruise ship heading through a treacherous fog toward deadly icebergs. It might seem like we should have called it Titanic instead of Human Rights Council… We must take action today to prevent this from sinking the council,” Kyslytsya said.
He added that Russia’s actions in Ukraine “would amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity.” Despite pointing out that voting to exclude a country from the Human Rights Council was “a rare and extraordinary act,” he maintained that “Russia’s actions are beyond all bounds.”
Russia asked the UN to vote against it
In response, Russia’s deputy ambassador to the United Nations Gennady Kuzmin urged member states to oppose the resolution, saying it would set “a dangerous precedent”.
“Today is neither the time nor the place for theater or for the type of extreme theatrical performance presented by Ukraine. In fact, the draft resolution we are considering today has nothing to do with the actual human rights situation on the ground,” Kuzmin said.
The Russian representative argued that the vote on Russia’s expulsion from the Human Rights Council “is an attempt by the United States to maintain its dominant position and full control in order to continue its attempted colonialism of human rights in international relations.”
Countries defend Russia’s suspension from UN Human Rights Council
The US Ambassador to the United Nations on Tuesday defended Russia’s suspension of the Human Rights Council, which she and other UN member states have been pushing for, before the UN Security Council.
“Russia should not occupy a position of authority in a body whose purpose, whose very purpose is to promote respect for human rights. It’s not just the height of hypocrisy, it’s dangerous,” said Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield.
“Every day we see more and more how little Russia respects human rights,” he said.
In the end he argued: “Russia’s participation in the Human Rights Council damages the credibility of the Council. It undermines the entire UN. And it’s just a mistake.”