The United Nations General Assembly voted on Tuesday to elect 14 new members to the UN Human Rights Council, with Egypt and Iraq among those selected. The new members will serve three-year terms starting on January 1, 2026.
Egypt secured a spot from the African group with 173 votes, alongside Angola, Mauritius, and South Africa. For the Asia-Pacific group, Iraq was elected with 175 votes, joining India, Pakistan, and Vietnam.
Two Latin American and Caribbean countries-Chile and Ecuador- were also chosen, while Italy and the United Kingdom will represent Western European and other states. Estonia and Slovenia will take the two seats for Central and Eastern Europe.
The Human Rights Council, composed of 47 member states, is a key UN body dedicated to safeguarding human rights globally. It has the mandate to address human rights issues year-round and convenes its sessions in Geneva.
Elected by the UN General Assembly, the members are selected based on their contributions to promoting and protecting human rights, as well as their voluntary pledges and commitments.
