Nepal has been re-elected as a member of the United Nations Human Rights Council in the elections held at UN Headquarters in New York on Tuesday.

This is the second time that Nepal became a member of the UNHRC following its first election in January 2018. Nepal garnered 150 votes and will serve a consecutive three-year term of 2021-2023.

“In addition to Nepal, three countries from Asia Pacific region namely China, Pakistan and Uzbekistan were among the 15 Member States elected by a secret ballot in a plenary meeting of the 75th session of the UN General Assembly today,” read a press release issued by the Permanent Mission of Nepal to the United Nations.

Amrit Bahadur Rai, Nepal’s permanent representative to the United Nations, said Nepal’s re-election is the international community’s acknowledgement of the country’s progressive journey on political and human rights fronts.

“It is also a recognition of Nepal’s efforts in protection and promotion of human rights both at home and across the globe, including through our peacekeepers,” said Rai. “Nepal would continue to contribute to the work of the Council in promoting an apolitical and impartial approach to human rights through a unique perspective of a land-locked and least developed country striving for socio-economic transformation.”

Rai stressed that Nepal will continue to strive, with a sense of a great deal of responsibility, to promote the ideals of justice, peace and progress for all, placing the human rights needs of the most vulnerable groups of people at the centre.

Other newly elected countries were Côte d'Ivoire, Gabon, Malawi and Senegal from Africa; Russian Federation and Ukraine from Eastern Europe; Bolivia, Cuba and Mexico from Latin America; and France and the United Kingdom from Western Europe.

All elected nations will serve a three-year term beginning from January 2021.