Pledges of Human Rights Council Candidates vs. the Reality – 2024


According to the UN General Assembly resolution that created the Council (A/RES/60/251, adopted March 15, 2006): "when electing members of the Council, Member States shall take into account the contribution of candidates to the promotion and protection of human rights and their voluntary pledges and commitments made thereto;"

BENIN

    NO PLEDGE SUBMITTED

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO

    NO PLEDGE SUBMITTED

ETHIOPIA

    NO PLEDGE SUBMITTED

GAMBIA

    NO PLEDGE SUBMITTED

QATAR

The Human Rights Pledge of Qatar
    "Respect, promotion, and protection of human rights are among the policy pillars of the State of Qatar, which recognizes that human rights, along with sustainable development and peace and security, are interlinked and mutually reinforcing. The primacy of such priority is embodied in a constitutional and legislative system that consolidates the principles of human rights and fundamental freedoms and ensures their respect and protection for all. It is also reflected in an institutional framework that includes numerous human rights institutions and agencies that contribute effectively to the promotion and protection of human rights."
    (Voluntary pledge for candidacy to Human Rights Council - Qatar)
Some of what Qatar neglected to mention in its pledge:
    "Significant human rights issues included credible reports of: enforced disappearance; arbitrary arrest; political prisoners; serious restrictions on free expression, including the existence of criminal libel laws; substantial interference with the freedom of peaceful assembly and freedom of association, including overly restrictive laws on the organization, funding, or operation of nongovernmental organizations and civil society organizations; restrictions on freedom of movement; inability of citizens to change their government peacefully in free and fair elections; serious and unreasonable restrictions on political participation; extensive gender-based violence;..."
    (Country Reports on Human Rights Practices Qatar 2023, U.S. Department of State)

SAUDI ARABIA

The Human Rights Pledge of Saudi Arabia
    "The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia submits its candidacy for membership of the Human Rights Council for the 2025–2027 period based on its deeply-rooted Islamic values that require human rights to be protected and their violation prohibited. It does so as an extension of its national, regional and international human rights efforts,..."
    (Voluntary pledge for candidacy to Human Rights Council - Saudi Arabia)
Some of what Saudi Arabia neglected to mention in its pledge:
    "Significant human rights issues included credible reports of: arbitrary or unlawful killings, including extrajudicial killings; enforced disappearance; torture and cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment by government agents; harsh and life-threatening prison conditions; arbitrary arrest and detention; serious problems with the independence of the judiciary; political prisoners or detainees; transnational repression against individuals in another country; arbitrary or unlawful interference with privacy; punishment of family members for alleged offenses by a relative; serious restrictions on freedom of expression and media freedom, including violence or threats of violence against journalists, unjustified arrests or prosecutions of journalists, and censorship; serious restrictions on internet freedom; substantial interference with the freedom of peaceful assembly and freedom of association, including overly restrictive laws on the organization, funding, or operation of nongovernmental and civil society organizations; restrictions of religious freedom; restrictions on freedom of movement and residence within the territory of a state and on the right to leave the country; refoulement of refugees to a country where they would face torture or persecution; inability of citizens to change their government peacefully through free and fair elections; serious and unreasonable restrictions on political participation; serious government restrictions on domestic and international human rights organizations; crimes involving violence or threats of violence targeting migrants and refugees, especially of Ethiopian origin; laws criminalizing consensual same-sex sexual conduct between adults which were not enforced; crimes involving violence or threats of violence targeting lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or intersex persons; and prohibiting independent trade unions or significant restrictions on workers’ freedom of association."
    (Country Reports on Human Rights Practices Saudi Arabia 2023, U.S. Department of State)