Pakistan wins a seat in UN Human Rights Council

Pakistan has been elected in the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) on Monday ,getting 171 votes, when 97 votes were required, local media announced Tuesday. Pakistan will serve on the Council from 2013 to 2015. “It is a validation of Pakistan’s strong commitment to human rights,” Pakistan’s permanent representative to the United Nations Masood Khan said. “our membership of the Human Rights Council acts as a catalyst for higher attention to human rights back home,” he added. This is the third time Pakistan has been elected to the 47-member Council. Pakistan was first elected in the council back in 2006 when it was created by the UN General Assembly. The Human Rights council body is composed of 13 countries from Africa, 13 from Asia, six from Eastern Europe, eight from Latin America and the Caribbean, and seven from Western Europe and other states.