Kuwait Secures Second Term on UN Human Rights Council

Kuwait has been elected to a second consecutive term on the United Nations Human Rights Council. The Gulf state continues its participation in the UN’s premier human rights body.

Election Results

The United Nations General Assembly elected Kuwait and 14 other countries to the council for three‑year terms starting on 1 January 2027. In a secret ballot held under the Asia‑Pacific Group, Kuwait received 173 votes while Jordan obtained 171 votes.

Council Composition and Rules

Alongside Kuwait, the newly elected members are Nepal, Ukraine, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Nigeria, Brazil and Germany. Kuwait’s current term ends on 31 December, and the new term will run from 1 January 2027 to 31 December 2029. The council has 47 members, elected directly by the General Assembly through a secret ballot, with seats allocated according to equitable geographical distribution. Members serve three‑year terms and are not eligible for immediate re‑election after serving two consecutive terms.

Regional Seat Allocation

The 47 seats are distributed as follows: 13 for African states, 13 for Asia‑Pacific states, six for Eastern European states, eight for Latin American and Caribbean states, and seven for Western European and other states.

About the Human Rights Council

Headquartered in Geneva, the Human Rights Council is an intergovernmental body within the UN system mandated to promote and protect human rights worldwide. — KUNA