ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq - Iraq on Tuesday was elected as a member of the UN's Human Rights Council, joining over a dozen other countries that were chosen to serve on the committee for the period between 2026 to 2028. 

Iraq was endorsed by the Asia-Pacific States UN bloc and will be joined by India, Pakistan, and Vietnam in representing the Asia-Pacific contingent on the Council, which consists of 47 members, 13 of whom are allocated for member states of the aforementioned bloc.  

According to its website, the UN body is "responsible for the promotion and protection of all human rights around the globe" and "has the ability to discuss all thematic human rights issues and situations that require its attention throughout the year," holding its meetings at the UN office in Geneva.

"The members of the Council shall serve for a period of three years and shall not be eligible for immediate re-election after two consecutive terms," a Council statement on the Tuesday election results said.

According to the Iraqi foreign ministry, Iraqi Ambassador to the UN Lukman al-Faily said that "Iraq will work during its membership in the Council to promote constructive dialogue, activate multilateral cooperation, and present initiatives focused on respecting human dignity, empowering vulnerable groups, and supporting the principles of justice and equality, in line with the United Nations Charter and the Sustainable Development Goals."

The foreign ministry statement continued by asserting that "this achievement reflects the international community's confidence in Iraq's democratic path and its commitment to the principles of human rights, the rule of law, and pluralism."

"This victory marks a new milestone in Iraq's diplomatic journey and a clear indication of its constructive role in strengthening the human rights system at the regional and global levels," the statement concluded.

Established in 2006, Iraq previously served on the Council between 2017 and 2019. As of 2023, 123 of the 193 UN member states had served on the body.

The Human Rights Council has come under severe criticism for the dubious human rights records of many of its members, with only 30 percent of the then members being deemed as "free" by the metrics of the US think tank Freedom House in its annual Freedom in the World report. 

US President Donald Trump in February opted to revoke Washington's membership, with a White House statement saying the Council "has protected human rights abusers by allowing them to use the organization to shield themselves from scrutiny."

Amnesty International criticized the US move, calling it a "complete and blatant disregard for human rights and international cooperation."

The total list of the 14 countries elected to the Council on Tuesday consists of Angola, Chile, Ecuador, Egypt, Estonia, India, Iraq, Italy, Mauritius, Pakistan, Slovenia, South Africa, the United Kingdom, and Vietnam.