US Withdrawal from UNHRC: UNHRC: Action to be taken accordingly to fill the post

World
Europe

02:19

The United Nations' Human Rights Council met in Geneva for the first time since the US pulled out. The group's president said once it's been formally notified, they'll fill the empty post. On Tuesday, the US announced its withdrawal, saying the institution "is not worthy of its name". Many countries described the move as regrettable. Mark Fontes has more.

The UN human rights council's session with the United States' seat left empty. The commissioner of the body emphasized the importance of the organization.

VOJISLAV SUC, PRESIDENT UNITED NATIONS' HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL "In times when the value and strength of multilateralism and human rights are being challenged on a daily basis, it is essential that we uphold a strong a vibrant council recognising it as a central part of the United Nations for the 21st century."

The US announced its withdrawal Tuesday. It's the latest withdrawal by the Trump administration from an international institution. US officials slammed the UNHRC.

MIKE POMPEO SECRETARY OF STATE, US "We have no doubt that there was once a noble vision for this council. But today we need to be honest. The Human Rights Council is a poor defender of human rights."

NIKKI HALEY US AMBASSADOR TO THE UN "Human rights abusers continue to serve on and be elected to the Council, the council ceases to be worthy of its name. Such a council in fact damages the cause of human rights. And then of course there is the matter of the chronic bias against Israel."

Haley criticized the body as recently as March for its treatment of Israel. After the council's adoption of resolutions condemning Israel for its posture toward Palestine, she said in a statement the body treated the DPRK better than Israel.

While many countries described the withdrawal as regrettable, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu tweeted his thanks to the Trump administration. The Prime Minister said "the UNHRC obsessively focused on Israel, the one genuine democracy in the Middle East."

The withdrawal came also just one day after the UN's criticism of the Trump administration's "zero tolerance" immigration policy. The policy has resulted in the separation of nearly 2000 children from their parents at the border.

Mark Fontes, CGTN.