Morocco will head the United Nations Human Rights Council for the next three years despite disagreements on the continent regarding the position. South Africa, especially campaigned vigorously against Morocco position, arguing that the country’s human rights record is awful. The votes in Geneva yesterday between Morocco’s Ambassador Omar Zniber and South Africa’s ambassador Mxolisi Nkosi ended in a 30 / 17 split. The position was regarded as Africa’s turn, but the continent could not agree on a consensus candidate before the vote. Following his success, Zniber said the council’s work was “so important and so fundamental: the promotion of, respect toward and guarantee of human rights as universally recognised”, according to a statement from the body. The UN Human Rights Council is a United Nations body whose mission is to promote and protect human rights around the world. It has 47 members elected for staggered three-year terms on a regional group basis, and it is based in Geneva.
