Today's Date:

France’s Election to the Human Rights Council

France was just elected to the Human Rights Council during the first vote held today, May 9. It was elected by its peers in the UN General Assembly, obtaining 150 out of 191 votes in the first round of balloting. I am delighted and wish to thank all those who gave us their vote.

France was resolutely committed to negotiating the resolution creating the Human Rights Council. We are particularly honored to have a seat in this new institution, which will meet in Geneva.

We now hope to work with all the Council’s new Member States and Observer States, but also with the nongovernmental organizations that will be essential players. It is up to us to make this new body operational very quickly and to make the Council’s first session, opening on June 19, a success.