Nepal Elected to UN Human Rights Council With Highest Vote Among Asia-Pacific Countries

KATHMANDU – Nepal has been elected a member of the United Nations Human Rights Council for the 2027-2029 term.

In the election held at the UN headquarters in New York, Nepal received 173 of the 180 votes cast in the UN General Assembly. It won the most votes among the countries elected from the Asia-Pacific regional group.

After the election, Nepal’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York issued a statement expressing gratitude to all UN member states for the trust and support they extended to Nepal.

“We express our heartfelt gratitude to all UN member states for expressing trust and confidence in Nepal’s commitment to multilateralism, human rights, international law and a rules-based international system with the United Nations at its centre,” the mission said.

The mission also congratulated the other countries elected for the Council’s new term. It named Brazil, Burundi, the Dominican Republic, Germany, Ghana, Ireland, Japan, Jordan, Kuwait, Moldova, Nigeria, Ukraine, Uruguay and Zambia, all elected for 2027-2029.

The mission said Nepal remains committed to working closely with UN member states and other partners to protect human dignity, promote inclusion, and advance social justice and equal and equitable development for all.

Nepal has previously served two consecutive terms on the Council, in 2018-2020 and 2021-2023. With the new election, Nepal will become a Council member for a third term from January 1, 2027.

The UN Human Rights Council, established in 2006, is the UN’s main intergovernmental body working to protect and promote human rights. Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, the Council has 47 member states based on geographical representation. Members are elected by the UN General Assembly for three-year terms.

The Council reviews the human rights situation in member states, discusses human rights violations, makes recommendations and encourages international cooperation to protect and promote human rights. It also assesses the human rights situation of all member states through the Universal Periodic Review process.

The election gives Nepal an opportunity to strengthen its representation in the international human rights arena. As a member, Nepal can contribute to multilateral dialogue and cooperation on human rights, human dignity, equality, inclusion, social justice and respect for international law.

Membership also carries the responsibility to implement international human rights commitments, protect fundamental freedoms and put into practice Nepal’s commitment to universal human rights values.