The UN General Assembly in New York was due to vote on new members for the UN Human Rights Council on May 21, the SITA newswire reported. The vote is significant for Slovakia as it is one of the candidates to represent Central and Eastern European countries on the council. Serbia and Ukraine are also running for the two vacancies within the group. The general assembly is due to elect fifteen new members, according to Slovak Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ján Škoda.
The UN Human Rights Council, based in Geneva, has 47 members. Its voting system ensures proportional representation of all the world’s regions. If elected, it would be Slovakia’s first time as a member of this UN body, which is tasked with addressing human rights violations around the world. Currently, seven European Union members serve on the council. The results of the vote are to expected to be known by the evening in Slovakia. SITA
Compiled by Zuzana Vilikovská from press reports
The Slovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information presented in its Flash News postings.
21. May 2008 at 16:00
