Ukraine elected to UN Human Rights Council for a new term

The UN General Assembly on October 13 elected Ukraine to the UN Human Rights Council for the 2027-2029 term. The Ukrainian candidacy was supported by 162 states. The new three-year membership term will begin on January 1, 2027.

The results of the vote were announced by the Permanent Mission of Ukraine to the UN and Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha.

The Foreign Minister thanked the states that supported Ukraine and stressed that the country joins the Council amid ongoing Russian aggression, accompanied by large-scale violations of human rights and international humanitarian law.

One of Ukraine's main priorities in the Council will be holding Russia accountable for human rights violations. Kyiv plans to support international mechanisms for documenting and investigating such crimes.

The Ukrainian delegation will pay special attention to the protection of prisoners of war and illegally detained civilians, as well as the return of Ukrainian children deported or forcibly transferred by Russia.

"Drawing on our own experience, we will work with partners to strengthen accountability, protect human dignity, enhance the international human rights protection system, and respond to new challenges in the world", - said Sybiha.

The UN Human Rights Council is an intergovernmental body responsible for the protection and promotion of human rights worldwide. It consists of 47 states, elected by the General Assembly by secret ballot for a three-year term.

The Council examines the human rights situation in specific countries, adopts relevant resolutions, and can establish independent international mechanisms to investigate violations.

Along with Ukraine, the results of the current vote also elected Moldova, Germany, Ireland, Japan, and several other countries to the Council.

Ukraine has previously been a member of the UN Human Rights Council four times - in 2006-2008, 2008-2011, 2018-2020, and 2021-2023. Thus, the upcoming term will be the country's fifth.

Based on materials from: Andrii Sybiha, United Nations