Explanation of Vote on A/C.3/72/L.62 on Report of the Human Rights Council

Mordica Simpson
ECOSOC Advisor
United States
New York City
November 16, 2017

AS DELIVERED

The United States offers this statement as an explanation of vote. The United States continues to view the resolution on the Report of the Human Rights Council as procedurally unnecessary. In previous years, including last year, some delegations have used it as an attempt to undermine certain decisions of the Human Rights Council.

More broadly, the United States strongly objects to the Human Rights Council’s disproportionate focus on Israel and has concerns regarding certain other resolutions adopted over the past year. We also believe the continued membership of some states that have especially poor human rights records undercuts the credibility of the Council. On a positive note, we wish to highlight the important actions taken by the Council, including through renewing mandates on the human rights situations in Iran, the DPRK, and Syria.