WASHINGTON 鈥� The United States announced plans Monday to reengage with the much-maligned U.N. Human Rights Council that former President Donald Trump withdrew from almost three years ago, as the Biden administration reverses another Trump-era move away from multilateral organizations and agreements.
Announcing the new approach from Washington, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the pullout in June 2018 鈥渄id nothing to encourage meaningful change, but instead created a vacuum of U.S. leadership, which countries with authoritarian agendas have used to their advantage.鈥�
鈥淭he Biden administration has recommitted the United States to a foreign policy
The decision is likely to draw criticism from conservative lawmakers and many in the pro-Israel community, who have derided the council and echoed Trump administration complaints that it was too quick to overlook abuses by autocratic regimes and governments 鈥� and even accept them as members.
Blinken said President Joe Biden had instructed the State Department to 鈥渞eengage immediately and robustly鈥� with the council, but he acknowledged it still needs work.
"We recognize that the Human Rights Council is a flawed body, in need of reform to its agenda, membership, and focus, including its disproportionate focus on Israel," he said.
Blinken said the council, when it works well, 鈥渟hines a spotlight on countries with the worst human rights records and can serve as an important forum for those fighting injustice and tyranny."
鈥淭o address the council鈥檚 deficiencies and ensure it lives up to its mandate, the United States must be at the table using the full weight of our diplomatic leadership,鈥� he added.
Trump pulled out of the council due to its disproportionate focus on Israel, which has received by far the largest number of critical council resolutions against any country, and because it failed to meet an extensive list of reforms demanded by then-U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley.
Besides the council鈥檚 persistent focus on Israel, the Trump administration took issue with the body鈥檚 membership, which currently includes China, Cuba, Eritrea, Russia and Venezuela, all of which have been accused of human rights abuses.
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres welcomed the U.S. decision, calling the council 鈥渢he world鈥檚 leading forum for addressing the full range of human rights challenges,鈥� U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.
鈥淭he United Nations looks forward to hearing the crucial voice of the United States across the council鈥檚 urgent work,鈥� the U.N. chief鈥檚 spokesman said.
Hillel Neuer, the executive director of advocacy group UN Watch, which often decries the council鈥檚 excessive focus on Israel, said the Obama administration had had a 鈥渢endency to become a cheerleader for the council鈥� -- and called on the Biden team to avoid it, and instead call out the council鈥檚 鈥渁buses.鈥�
鈥淭he cost of the U.S. decision to rejoin is that it gives legitimacy to a council where tyrannies and other non-democracies now comprise 60% of the membership,鈥� Neuer said.
鈥淚n exchange, the U.S. must demand serious reform, removing despots from the council such as Venezuela鈥檚 Nicolas Maduro regime, holding dictators to account, and removing the agenda item that targets Israel in each session, the only one to focus on a single country,鈥� he added.
The council's next session -- the first of three each year, and the only one to feature a 鈥渉igh-level segment鈥� that often lures top diplomats -- runs from Feb. 22 to March 23.
Although the U.S. will have only nonvoting observer status for now, U.S. officials say the administration intends to seek one of the three full-member seats left vacant when the current council terms of Austria, Denmark and Italy 鈥� from the 鈥淲estern Europe and other states group鈥� 鈥� expire at the end of 2021.
The U.N. General Assembly makes the final choice in a vote that generally takes place in October every year to fill vacancies in three-year terms at the 47-member-state council.
U.S. engagement with the council and its predecessor, the U.N. Human Rights Commission, has been something of a political football between Republican and Democratic administrations for decades. While recognizing its shortcomings, Democratic presidents have tended to want a seat at the table while Republicans have recoiled at its criticism of Israel.
Trump鈥檚 withdrawal from the UNHRC, however, was one of a number of U.S. retrenchments from the international community during his four years in office. He also walked away from the Paris Climate Accord, the Iran nuclear deal, the World Health Organization, the U.N. education and cultural organization, UNESCO, and several arms control treaties. Trump also threatened to withdraw from the International Postal Union and frequently hinted at pulling out of the World Trade Organization.
Since taking office last month, Biden has rejoined both the Paris accord and the WHO and has
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Keaten reported from Geneva.
Matthew Lee And Jamey Keaten, The Associated Press
