Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó regards it as a huge success that Hungary has been chosen from among the group of Eastern and Central European countries to be awarded membership of the UN Human Rights Council.

Speaking in Békéscsaba on Saturday, the Hungarian Foreign Minister said with reference to the decision by the United Nations General Assembly that the ratio of votes – Hungary received 144 votes, followed by Croatia with 114 – clearly indicates that “despite the insults, attacks and false charges committed against us in the international press, the world believes that we are fit to be on the Human Rights Council. According to Mr. Szijjártó this is something that people should keep an eye on in future and it is obvious that Hungary will be an active member of the Council between 2017 and 2019.

Hungary will take action in the interests of human rights and democracy throughout the world, and also to ensure that the world acquires an accurate image of the country, he added. “Let us not allow certain forces, be they from the West or East or international, to attempt to discredit a country in the way in which they have tried to discredit us in recent years! We will be working to combat this on the Human Rights Council”, Mr. Szijjártó stressed.

Three countries were vying for the two places available for the Eastern European region: in addition to Hungary and Croatia, Russia, which has been a member of the organisation during the current term which is now drawing to a close, was also in the running. Croatia also came in ahead of Russia, which received only 112 votes. This was most probably also the result of the fact that earlier in the week over 80 humanitarian organisations called on the member states of the United Nations to not allow Russia to continue its membership of the Human Rights Council because of its role in Syria.

The Council is one of the United Nations’ most important inter-governmental bodies. The UN General Assembly voted to establish the Council on 15 March 2006 to succeed the UN Human Rights Commission. The task of the representatives of the 47 member states who sit on the Council include protecting human rights, taking action against human rights infringements and drawing up recommendations.

Hungary has already been a member of the Council on one occasion from 2009 to 2012. The current mandate is for three years and begins in 2017.

(Cabinet Office of the Prime Minister/MTI)