US Pulls Out of UN Human Rights Council After Accusing Body of Anti-Israel Bias
The United States removed itself from the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) Tuesday, following more than a year of highly public protests against the 47-nation body. The US’ primary grievances are the council’s alleged anti-Israel bias and its inclusion of rights abusers.
US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo made the announcement Tuesday at the State Department building in Washington, DC. The announcement follows forewarnings from US diplomats and others that the US would pull out around the time of the body's reconvening in Geneva on June 18.
Pompeo began the presser by noting the Trump administration's commitment to human rights. "President Trump wants to move the ball forward," Pompeo said, adding that he has previously called out countries that "say one thing and do the other." Pompeo accused nations on the council of colluding to win elections and said its anti-Israel bias is "well-documented."
"Ambassador Haley has spent more than a year trying to reform the council," Pompeo said, adding that she's been a "fearless voice" in defending Israel.
When Haley took the podium, she reminded the press that "One year ago I traveled to the United Nations' Human Right Council in Geneva," adding that on her June 6, meeting she called for reforms, which have since "not been heeded.'" Haley announced the withdrawal from the council after calling it "cesspool of political bias."
Haley proposed two reasons as to why the council failed to adopt her reforms. "First, there are many unfree countries that simply don't want the council to be effective. A credible rights council would be a threat to them" Haley said. "The second reason our reforms didn't succeed is even more frustrating," she said, adding that friendly nations on the council are "embarrassed" by the treatment of Israel but "many of these like minded countries were unwilling to challenge the status quo."
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