UN to appoint human rights monitor in Russia

The UN Human Rights Council has voted to establish a Special Rapporteur to monitor human rights in Russia

A dedicated official will be appointed to investigate human rights issues in Russia, the UN Human Rights Council has decided. A resolution establishing the position was passed with 17 votes in favor, six votes against and 24 abstentions.

The move was backed mostly by the Western nations and their allies like South Korea or Japan. China, Bolivia, Venezuela, Cuba, Eritrea and Kazakhstan voted against the resolution. Among those who abstained were Brazil, Mexico and India.

The special rapporteur, who is yet to be appointed, will be tasked with assessing the level of observance of human rights in Russia. The UN official will be expected to submit their first report on the issue at the next session of the UN Human Rights Council and the UN General Assembly next year.

It is the first time a special rapporteur is being sent to monitor the situation in one of the UN Security Council's five permanent members. Similar positions have been created for over a dozen other nations, however, including Syria, Myanmar, Iran, North Korea, Belarus and several African nations.

#HRC51 | Draft resolution A/HRC/51/L.13 on the situation of human rights in the Russian Federation was ADOPTED. pic.twitter.com/tGebm367Vc

— UN Human Rights Council