Kazakhstan elected to the UN Council on Human Rights

Kazakhstan, Astana, Nov. 12 / Trend D. Mukhtarov /

Kazakhstan was first elected to the UN Council on Human Rights (UNHRC) in the framework of the 67th session of the UN General Assembly in New York, the press service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan reported.

"For the candidacy of Kazakhstan voted by 183 states. In this election 18 new states were elected to UNHRC," - said in ministry's report.

The General Assembly established the UNHRC on 15 March 2006 and it is the leading international body in the field of human rights protection, replacing the Commission on Human Rights. The Council consists of 47 states. Council membership is open to all UN member states, who are elected by a majority vote of the UN General Assembly by direct and secret ballot for three years.

Kazakhstan actively supports the work of the Human Rights Council and cooperate with human rights mechanisms for the protection and realization of human rights and freedoms. Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan annually takes part in the high-level segment of HRC.

"In February 2010, Kazakhstan introduced and successfully defended its first national report for the new human rights mechanism of the UNHRC - the Universal Periodic Review. Election of our country to the biggest human rights framework was recognition by UN progress of Kazakhstan in successive promotion and protection of universal human rights and freedoms, as well as clear evidence of a strong commitment to active international cooperation in this area ", - underlined in the report.