Former UN ambassador Nikki Haley on Wednesday criticized the Biden government’s decision to claim a seat on the controversial Human Rights Council – noting that the Geneva-based body’s board includes “tyrants and dictators”.
“Administrator Biden wants a seat at the table with tyrants and dictators,” tweeted Haley.
BLINKEN EXPRESSES INTENTION TO RETURN TO THE UN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL
“The United States should not give credibility to the false UN Human Rights Council,” she said. “A group that covers the worst human rights violators in the world and spends most of their time attacking Israel.”
Haley was responding to Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s announcement on Wednesday that the U.S. will push for a seat on the board – which the U.S. left in 2018 because of its adherence and anti-U.S. prejudice. Biden had promised to return to the council during the 2020 presidential campaign.
CUBA, CHINA, RUSSIA ELECTED TO THE UN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL; US BRANDS IS A ‘MOCKERY’
Haley was a UN ambassador when the United States left and described the council in no uncertain terms at the time as “” a protector of human rights violators and a pit of political prejudice “.
His comments were reinforced in subsequent years by the continued election of countries with a poor human rights record to the council. Cuba, China and Russia were elected to the council last year. Saudi Arabia was in the vote, but failed to garner enough support to win a seat.
The Trump administration called his election a “mockery”.
POMPEO SAYS UN UN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL REACHES ‘NEW LOW’ WITH ANTI-US RESOLUTION ON RACING, POLICE
A year earlier, the UN General Assembly elected Libya, Sudan and Venezuela to the Council. Venezuela, in particular, drew attention to his election, considering that he has seen massive human rights abuses and mass poverty under Maduro’s socialist regime.
In July, 53 UN countries, led by Cuba, demonstrated in support of China’s national security law – a law that served as a basis for repressing the people of Hong Kong.
On Wednesday, Blinken said the United States will seek a three-year term starting next year, while also recognizing that the agency needs reform and needs to stop focusing so much on Israel.
He also expressed concern about minority abuses by the Chinese in the Xinjiang region and Russian repression against politicians and opposition protesters.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPLICATION
“The United States is putting democracy and human rights at the center of our foreign policy because they are essential to peace and stability,” said Blinken.
Blinken also said that countries “with the worst human rights record should not be members of this council”.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.