Human Rights Victory: Saudi Arabia Fails to Secure a Seat on the UN Human Rights Council

In a significant win for human rights organizations, Saudi Arabia failed in its bid to gain a seat on the UN Human Rights Council during elections held at the UN General Assembly today.

The General Assembly, composed of 193 member states, elected 18 new members to the 47-member council, with terms lasting three years. Despite Saudi Arabia’s efforts to win a seat for the Asia-Pacific group, it finished last among the six candidates.

SANAD, alongside other rights organizations, had urged member states to refrain from voting for Saudi Arabia due to its ongoing human rights violations, including reports of rising repression, arbitrary arrests, and restrictions on basic freedoms in the kingdom. Electing Saudi Arabia, they argued, would undermine international human rights principles.