(VOVWORLD) - The UN General Assembly on Monday elected 15 new members to the Human Rights Council: Afghanistan, Angola, Australia, Chile, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mexico, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, Qatar, Senegal, Slovakia, Spain, and Ukraine.
 The 72nd session of the UN General Assembly in New York on September 23, 2017 (Photo: AFP/VNA) |
They will serve a 3-year term beginning on January 1, 2018. Nigeria and Qatar were elected for the second time. Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop told Radio National that the fact Australia received 176 votes was a “very strong endorsement” of its efforts to protect human rights. She said Australia will focus on the empowerment of women, indigenous rights, and refugee issues.