Cyprus' first election to UN Human Rights Council a "great success", FM says

The Republic of Cyprus' election in the UN Human Rights Council for the period 2025-27 for the first time, is a "great success", Foreign Affairs Minister Constantinos Kombos has said.

He was speaking to the Cyprus News Agency (CNA) immediately after the results of the vote were announced on 9 October. 

The UN General Assembly elected 18 members of the Human Rights Council for the 2025-2027 term, namely Benin, Bolivia, Colombia, Cyprus, Czechia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Gambia, Iceland, Kenya, Marshall Islands, Mexico, North Macedonia, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Spain, Switzerland and Thailand. 

"The Republic of Cyprus has just been elected in the Human Rights Council, the main body of the Organisation to monitor the way in which human rights are implemented globally," Kombos told the Cyprus News Agency.

It is, he noted, "an important success for Cyprus, since it is the first time we have managed to be elected in this particular body."

It is even more important, the Foreign Affairs Minister added, that "we managed to be elected second in the geographic group in which we participate with a particularly important number of votes." He pointed out that "we garnered 167 votes out of the 189 member states who took part in the vote."

According to Kombos, this outcome "is yet another proof that our diplomatic horizons are becoming broader and our aim is to exercise our statehood in an active and energetic manner as a member of the international community."

In the meantime, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a press release that "having a strong history in defending the Ecumenical Declaration of Human Rights principles, Cyprus is ready to substantially contribute in the consultations and initiatives of the UN Human Rights Council aiming to deal with modern challenges, including human rights violations internationally."

This election, the Ministry added, "constitutes a significant milestone for Cypriot diplomacy as for the first time in its history the Republic of Cyprus is elected in one of the most important bodies of the UN system, thus enhancing our country's international diplomatic imprint."

Cyprus' election in the Council, it noted, "is the result of our long-standing efforts and commitment to promoting and protecting human rights both at home and abroad."

As an elected member of the Human Rights Council, which is based in Geneva, "Cyprus will have the opportunity to promote matters it considers important such as children's rights, gender equality and women's rights, the rights of vulnerable groups and the protection of cultural heritage."

(Source: CNA)