Saudi Arabia Fails to Win Seat on UN Human Rights Council

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Above: Delegates attend the 56th UN Human Rights Council session in Geneva, Switzerland, on July 4, 2024. Image copyright: Lian Yi/Contributor/Xinhua via Getty Images

The Facts

  • Saudi Arabia missed out on a UN Human Rights Council seat in a close vote on Wednesday, four years after their previous loss in 2020.

  • Rights groups organized a campaign prior to the vote, accusing the Saudis of alleged serious human rights violations. Anti-execution organization Reprieve said Saudi Arabia had executed at least 212 individuals this year — exceeding its 2022 and 2023 records of 196 and 172 respectively.

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The Spin

Narrative A

Saudi Arabia does not deserve membership in the UN Human Rights Council. Governments that commit heinous acts and protect those responsible should not be allowed on the UN's top human rights council. It was fortunate that the Saudis were unsuccessful in their bid for a seat. Had they secured a seat, they would have undermined the council and denigrated the entire human rights organization.

Human Rights Watch

Narrative B

It is regrettable that Saudi Arabia failed to get a seat in the UN's Human Rights Council. Saudi Arabia has devised a strategy to establish a new framework for the nation's future, whereby both the Kingdom and its residents may prosper. In alignment with Vision 2030, the nation aims to secure a position on the UN Human Rights Council to demonstrate its enhancement of human rights standards and its evolution into a contemporary, vibrant society.

Vision2030