PH votes to suspend Russia from UN Human Rights Council

MANILA – The Philippines is one of the countries that voted in favor of suspending Russia from the United Nations Human Rights Council (UN HRC).

The resolution removing Russia from the 47-member body was adopted by the UN General Assembly on Thursday after receiving a two-thirds majority of those voting, where 93 are in favor and 24 are against.

Fifty-eight countries abstained from the process.

Russia joined the Geneva-based body in January 2021 as one of 15 countries elected by the General Assembly to serve three-year terms.

Under the 2006 resolution that established the Council, the General Assembly can suspend a country from membership if it commits gross and systematic violations of human rights.

The United Nations said the Thursday meeting marks the resumption of a special emergency session on the war in Ukraine and also follows reports of violations committed by Russian forces.