TheUN Human Rights Councilthe worlds principal defender of vulnerable people worldwide has elected an Indonesian diplomat to be President for 2026 in a first for the country.
War crimes, racism, arbitrary detention and rape as a weapon of war: these just a few of the pressing international issues over which the UN Human Rights Council deliberates.
Under Council rules, presidents are appointed to serve for one year by the bodys 47 Member States, based in Geneva.
Ambassador Sidharto Reza Suryodipuro will now lead proceedings at the UN forum after his nomination as the sole candidate of the Asia-Pacific group, whose turn it was to propose a leader for the Council.
Other members of the regional bloc include China, Japan and South Korea.
Succeeds Switzerland
Mr. Suryodipuro takes over from last years President, Jurg Lauber from Switzerland; the Indonesian ambassador will now wield the gavel at the Councils three scheduled sessions beginning in late February, June and September.
Hell also be overseeing reviews of the human rights record of the Councils Members a procedure known as the Universal Periodic Review.
After his confirmation on Thursday, Mr. Suryodipuro said that Indonesia had been a strong supporter of the Council since it began its work 20 years ago, and of the Geneva forums predecessor, the Human Rights Commission.
Our decision to step forward is rooted in our 1945 constitution and that aligns with the purposes and principles of theUN Charterwhich mandates Indonesia to contribute to world peace based on independence, peace and social justice, he told delegates.
At the same meeting, delegates also agreed to the appointment of Ecuadorian candidate, Ambassador Marcelo Vzquez Bermdez, as Vice President of the Council for 2026.
Deep seated global crisis
Although Mr. Bermudez was the sole candidate of the group of Latin American and Caribbean states, his bid was not endorsed by Bolivia nor Cuba, which disassociated itself from his election.
Taking the floor at the organizational meeting of the Council, Colombian representative Mara Juliana Tenorio Quintero highlighted the tense geopolitical backdrop currently prevailing, in the context of a deep-seated global crisis.
We now see a return of threats and force as a way of governing international relations without looking at the real impact on the international situation and this threatens the system that for more than eight decades has been essential in avoiding a third world war, she said.
At this historic moment, Ms. Quintero urged all delegates to ensure an absolute abiding by human rights law. We must act in accordance with international human rights law, international humanitarian law and international law as a whole, she insisted.
