China is known for lacking in the human rights department and as of November 15th it has been granted a seat on the UN's Human Rights Council. This decision has been highly speculated considering China's history and its strict policies, such as censorship of the internet, lack of religious freedom, lack of freedom of speech, poor legal system, and the infamous one-child policy. China has also refused to let human rights inspectors into the country. Other nations with known human rights violations, including Russia, Saudi Arabia, and Cuba, have been accepted as well. In order to be elected the UN takes into account the promotion of human rights and commitment to preserving these rights by the nation, which China has not exhibited. The reasoning behind this action is not justified. The UN claims that is must represent different regions and governments around the world, but it does not make sense to accept a nation that goes against the ideals of the organization. This article goes into greater detail about the issue.
Below is a political cartoon opposing the admission of China as well as Russia, Saudi Arabia, and Cuba into the United Nation's Human Rights Council.
I can see the contradictions in this move to grant China a seat on UN's human rights council. Though the final line of the article states “that it has to be a body that represents people from all regions and political structures,” China has had an extremely rocky history in regards to human rights. From the one child policy to its strong censorship, they have obviously committed many human rights violations. Though I think it is positive that this move may encourage China to improve their policies on human rights, this could also cause the human rights council to be regarded as less important. Just as the political cartoon depicts, people have also criticized other countries getting a chair in this council such as Russia, Saudi Arabia and Cuba. Does this move deplete the purpose of the council or will this add more cultural diversity and varying viewpoints to it?
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