US pulls out of UN Human Rights Council, calling it ‘an exercise in shameless hypocrisy’ for letting China join and creating Israel scrutiny rule
The announcement came soon after the UN human rights chief denounced the US for separating migrant children from their parents at the border
The United States has pulled out of the United Nations Human Rights Council, with Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley calling it “a mockery of human rights” for allowing China – among other countries – to join, and for a rule that scrutinises Israel’s treatment of the Palestinian people.
“For too long, the Human Rights Council has been a protector of human rights abusers, and a cesspool of political bias,” Haley said on Tuesday at the State Department in Washington in a joint speech with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
She said the decision was an affirmation of US respect for human rights, a commitment that “does not allow us to remain a part of a hypocritical and self-serving organisation that makes a mockery of human rights”.
Her remarks came the day after the council lambasted the US for separating migrant families at its border with Mexico – timing that Haley refused to comment on.
“Look at the council membership, and you see an appalling disrespect for the most basic rights,” said Haley, citing the China, Venezuela, Cuba and Democratic Republic of Congo as members with poor human rights records.