Saudi Arabia failed in its attempt to become a member of the United Nations Human Rights Council for the next three-year, while China, Russia and Cuba were elected on Tuesday in a vote that caused an outcry among human rights defenders.
Russia and Cuba ran unopposed in the UN General Assembly election. Saudi Arabia and China vied for membership in a five-nation race for four spots with Pakistan, Uzbekistan and Nepal.
Pakistan received 169 votes, Uzbekistan 164, Nepal 150, China 139 and Saudi Arabia 90 votes – ending Riyadh’s attempt to again be a member of the UN’s top human rights body.
Fifteen countries were elected to the 47-nation council on Tuesday.