Press release

UK elected to the UN Human Rights Council

The UK has today been successful in its bid for election to the UN Human Rights Council for the term January 2014 – December 2016.

This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government
The UN Human Rights Council

This follows an eleven month campaign, resulting in a high number of votes from countries around the world.

Following the announcement of the election results in New York today, the Foreign Secretary William Hague said:

I am delighted that the UK is back on the Human Rights Council. We will use our voice to help strengthen the Council, to support countries working to improve their human rights record, and to call to account nations that commit serious and systematic violations against their citizens.

We will work tirelessly to protect the most vulnerable people from discrimination and to champion global causes – including ending sexual violence in conflict, the need for the full participation of women in peace-building, and the universal right to freedom of expression and freedom of religion and belief.

I thank the countries that supported Britain’s candidacy and look forward to working closely with the other members of the Council.

Further information

Follow @FCOHumanRights on twitter

Read the outline of the UK’s candidacy for the 2014 to 2016 UN Human Rights Council

Read about the UK’s work promoting human rights internationally

Follow the Foreign Secretary on twitter @WilliamJHague

Follow the Foreign Office on twitter @foreignoffice

Follow the Foreign Office on facebook and Google+

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Updates to this page

Published 12 November 2013
Last updated 14 November 2013 + show all updates
  1. Added translation

  2. First published.