BRUSSELS —‘’The European Union remains steadfastly and reliably committed to the Human Rights Council as the United Nations’ main body for upholding human rights and fundamental freedoms worldwide,’’ said Wednesday an EU spokesperson in a statement on the US decision to withdraw from the Council.
‘’We reaffirm our support to the effective and efficient functioning of the Human Rights Council and remain committed to cooperating with all countries and with civil society in order to strengthen the Council, while protecting its achievements,’’ the spokesperson said.
‘’The US has always been at the forefront of the protection of human rights around the world and has for many years been a strong partner for the European Union in the Human Rights Council. Today’s decision risks undermining the role of the US as a champion and supporter of democracy on the world stage. The European Union will nevertheless continue to defend human rights and fundamental freedoms, whether in multilateral fora or around the world, also by cooperating with the US whenever possible,’’ the statement said.
‘’We share the objective to make the Human Rights Council more efficient and therefore remain strongly engaged in the ongoing efficiency efforts led by the Human Rights Council President. The EU is and will continue to be a staunch supporter of multilateralism and the wider UN system.’’
U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley announced on Tuesday that the United States is pulling out of the U.N. Human Rights Council, citing the world body’s “chronic” bias against Israel as one of the primary factors for the withdrawal.
“For too long, the human-rights council has been a protector of human-rights abusers and a cesspool of political bias,” Haley said in announcing the withdrawal. “Regrettably, it is now clear that our call for reform was not heeded.”
Haley added that the Council has a “chronic bias against Israel,” while also decrying that countries like China, Cuba and Venezuela, who all have poor human-rights records, are members of the Council.