Pakistan elected as member state of UN Human Rights Council

E-Paper | October 01, 2026

Pakistan elected as member state of UN Human Rights Council

Dawn.com Published October 16, 2017

Pakistan, along with 11 other countries, was elected as a member state of the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council by the body's General Assembly on Monday, securing more than two-thirds of the vote.

Pakistan's Permanent Representative to the United Nations Maleeha Lodhi congratulated the country on its "diplomatic success" on her Twitter account and said that the "victory is a manifestation of the international community's trust in Pakistan".

"Pakistan's record of promoting and protecting human rights has been vindicating by this victory," she said in a tweet.

Lodhi lauded UN's Pakistan team for their efforts and contribution in securing more than two-third votes of the UN General Assembly. She also thanked the "world community" for the "overwhelming support".

Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif also took to Twitter to announce the victory.

Other countries elected by the UN General Assembly include Australia, Afghanistan, Nepal, Qatar, Congo, Slovakia, Spain, Ukraine, Chile, Mexico and Peru. They will serve on the 47-member council from January 2018 through the end of 2020.

The Democratic Republic of Congo was elected to the UN Human Rights Council despite opposition from the United States and a leading rights group.

Kinshasa now finds itself in the rare position of sitting on the Geneva-based council while the body investigates allegations of killings, torture, rape and the use of child soldiers in the Kasai region of the DR Congo.

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Khalid

Oct 16, 2017 11:49pm

Congratulations. But how does that help an average Pakistani citizen?.

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Sarmad Hassan

Oct 16, 2017 11:51pm

Great Job. well done

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Ash20

Oct 16, 2017 11:51pm

It is not an election but members are selected in a kind of rotating basis. Guess Lodhi after photograph gaffe is trying to secure her position which she may lost.

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FARIDA Ali

Oct 16, 2017 11:57pm

Bravo! Given the present gobal climate; such strong showing by the Pakistan UN Team and its fearless leader deserve kudos for achieving results for Pakistan.

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Osman

Oct 17, 2017 12:20am

Congratulations!

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Muhammad Tayyeb

Oct 17, 2017 01:09am

congratulation to every Pakistani. Great job

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uzaie

Oct 17, 2017 01:32am

while good that we are at the seat, it doesn't mean it makes pakistan any better. Humans rights inside pakistan are very poor and fixing that is what means success for the country, not occupying a seat.

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Harmony-1©

Oct 17, 2017 01:43am

@Ash20 - "It is not an election..." Really? It says "securing more than two-thirds of the vote."

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Zak

Oct 17, 2017 01:56am

@Khalid not sure, but sure helps the Kashmiri's in IOK

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ARK

Oct 17, 2017 02:17am

It is on rotational basis and also reciprocity. States agree in advance to vote on quid pro quo. Nothing special!

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Zink

Oct 17, 2017 02:17am

Did she use the right picture???

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hyat

Oct 17, 2017 02:21am

now its time to win corruption free society as well.

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Dedrick (Germany)

Oct 17, 2017 02:25am

@Ash20 Check your facts because In accordance with paragraph 7 of General Assembly resolution 60/251 the Council shall consist of 47 Member States, which shall be elected directly and individually by secret ballot by the majority of the members of the General Assembly.

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Dr Manzoor Tariq US

Oct 17, 2017 02:25am

This was must for us as we have seen worst example of Human Rights violation in Pakistan. We must admit that.

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Dr Manzoor Tariq US

Oct 17, 2017 02:29am

We are proud of this achievement though it doesn't mean anything for us. It secure her job at UN. She is fine unless she shows some fake photograph and create controversy. People laugh at us in US, not in Pakistan.

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Tahir

Oct 17, 2017 02:51am

Whatever. We need much better and smart representation in the UN. The lady proved to be less prepared with data. More sincere and aggressive person should present Pakistan. Not some time-pass.

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Prapur

Oct 17, 2017 03:25am

Where r your minority Hindu which were over 17% at the time of independence and now less than 3%? Shame on all Pakistanis who complain about human rights violation elsewhere but don’t practice in their own country. R u willing to take Rohingia refugees in Pakistan or any other Islamic countries except Bangladesh who has no choice and India is forced on by many where India has lot of under privileged of its own. Shame on those who complain about human rights violation in India where all minorities have grown leaps and bound.

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Educationist

Oct 17, 2017 03:35am

Can anyone explain what does it mean to be a member of UN Human Rights Council? What will be Pakistan's role and responsibilities towards citizens as well as world? I am not an expert but what I understand is that a country is not elected in UN Human Rights Council because the country is the best model in the world in terms of promoting and protecting human rights. The newly elected members include Pakistan, Afghanistan and Congo, and everyone knows that these countries have repeatedly failed in protecting even the basic rights of citizen and in many cases states have been violating and denying rights. Well in case of Pakistan, we have proudly signed and ratified all international treaties including UN Declaration of Human Rights and other conventions for protecting rights of children, women, refugees, minorities and all other disadvantaged groups. In reality, Pakistan has repeatedly failed in protecting rights of ordinary citizens, for example millions of children are denied their right to quality education, millions denied right to food and health...let's not discuss status of other social and political rights now so let's not congratulate government now and instead wait till human rights are protected in reality in streets of Pakistan...

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Mushtaq Ahmed

Oct 17, 2017 03:40am

Big deal, what it helps Pakistan in anyway.

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Kaka

Oct 17, 2017 03:43am

Now make sure ethnic minorities in Pak are not second class citizens anymore

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Zahid

Oct 17, 2017 03:45am

@Ash20 پہلے تولو پھر بولو

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Educationist

Oct 17, 2017 03:47am

@FARIDA Ali I wish to see fearless leaders not just in UN meetings talking and signing convention but leaders who implement international conventions in Pakistan. Every decade we fail to achieve our national targets and then plan again to accomplish basic rights next decade...

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PakistanFirst

Oct 17, 2017 04:00am

meaningless involvement from Pakistan. Need of hour is not such fluffy involvement but rather involvement in economic and scientific research groups.

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Hafiz Saeed Masood Azhar

Oct 17, 2017 04:03am

Alhamdulilah. Now we can raise the human rights offences committed against the ummah by Indians, especially in Kashmir and against beef eating Muslims.

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Brother Therasa

Oct 17, 2017 04:56am

Selected on a rotational basis, claims it as achievement. Now that's one way of setting the bar high.

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brr

Oct 17, 2017 04:56am

with blasphemy laws and targeting of ahmedias, hindus - well what a sham. no wonder UN is an ineffective body, almost useless

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brr

Oct 17, 2017 05:04am

And on the same week when pakistan illegally and against judicial instructions kidnaps and extradites a turkish family which UNHCR had provided support for. pakistan wins yes. LOL

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COMMENTATOR

Oct 17, 2017 05:05am

Illustrious group. Kudos.

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ARSHAD ,Canada

Oct 17, 2017 05:32am

@Khalid , I would expect these types of questions from an Indian not from Pakistan. No this election will send a gift box for every Pakistanis. But it shows that Pakistan is not alone and isolated in the World despite many enemies of Pakistan has been trying and claiming for success. Even many people in Pakistan are convinced that Pakistan has been isolated but the reality and the truth is India is more isolated than a few years ago. Poor Indian feels that they found new friends in the USA after losing Russia and China. But the truth is The USA is using India to counter China and Russia.And the USA knows that they can not be successful in this region without Pakistan so they are keeping this chanel open and wide. All their top officials are visiting Pakistan on regular basis. So to all Pakistan haters , Pakistan is not isolated. But no rewards in terms of Goodies and Dollars are not coming But what this gives you is some RESPECT in the World.

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Farhan

Oct 17, 2017 06:16am

Madam Lodhi, This is not a medal or a victory. We have 47 more nations who are going to be part of this group. We need to work with them. Our HR records will have more visibility and we have more responsibility not to disappoint the world. There are more people died in our country due to conflicts. We need to present this to he world.

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Wise2win

Oct 17, 2017 06:25am

Now this is not a joke. The UNHRC is headed by Saudi Arabia, the same country that indiscriminately bombs Yemen, chop off heads in public and considers women as second class citizens!

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Gautam

Oct 17, 2017 06:40am

Congratulations, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Nepal, Qatar, Congo, Slovakia, Ukraine, Chile, Mexico and Peru for being elected on the august body..

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RAZA BAQARI

Oct 17, 2017 06:42am

WELL DONE,MALEEHA LODHI

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khan

Oct 17, 2017 07:00am

Nice job. The world recognizes that we are champions of human rights.

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Khwarizmi

Oct 17, 2017 07:10am

@Khalid Who said anything would help the average Pakistani citizen? After all, we have decided to keep a family-owned party system in place in Pakistan whose leaders use Pakistan as a place to govern and London & Dubai as a place yo live.

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Sandy

Oct 17, 2017 07:39am

Many countries in this commission have immense record of human rights violation.

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Najum

Oct 17, 2017 08:42am

All countries are accepted turn by turn. This woman just needs to be replaced. Terrible diplomat, who is more concerned about photo sessions and promoting herself as a celebrity.

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Inclusive political institution

Oct 17, 2017 09:16am

Congrats to Dr Malerha Lodhi, Dr Tehmina Janjua, Minister of Foreign Affairs Khawaja Asif, PM Abassi, for such great work. Plz keep it up.

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THiru

Oct 17, 2017 11:22am

In good, great company. KSA is also there.

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Zeeshan Ali

Oct 17, 2017 03:07pm

Congratulation Pakistan, on securing such a great achievement, at UNGA and thanks to Mem Maliha Lodhi and congrats to Pakistan team as well. Nobody can isolate this country, which is contributing a lot to human rights. We love to spread peace around the world where some states like India is only playing a blame game rather than to contribute to HUMANITY. Certainly India must be penalised as she violated many times. Its time to raise a voice against India for its violation at many places like Kashimr. I'll quote our Leader Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah which he said: "There is no power on earth that can undo Pakistan" Pakistan Zindabad- LONG LIVE PAKISTAN

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Hassan

Oct 17, 2017 04:35pm

Overall its a great achievement... many countries still trust on Pakistan on human rights issue.... its a great achievement...

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Rana mursaleen

Oct 17, 2017 08:31pm

Thanks mem

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riz1

Oct 18, 2017 03:25pm

Hillel Neuer, executive director of UN Watch, a Geneva-based rights group, singled out three of the winners — Congo, Qatar and Pakistan — for criticism, saying for the U.N. to elect them “as a world judge on human rights is like making a pyromaniac into the town fire chief.” Slow yet steady, the world powers will ensure that such hypocrisy will not be tolerated in the coming years, we and wait and watch, or change ourselves.

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Urooj Moazzam

Oct 18, 2017 05:59pm

Congratulations Pakistan!!

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