UN: a Swiss elected president of the Human Rights Council

Monday 09th December 2024 11:00 AM

International Geneva –

Swiss elected president of UN Human Rights Council

The Swiss ambassador to the UN in Geneva Jürg Lauber was elected to the post of the institution on Monday. He will hold his mandate for one year.

Published today at 4:50 p.m.

Jürg Lauber was elected by acclamation on Monday by the member states of the Human Rights Council.

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In 2025, a Swiss will chair the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva for the first time. Ambassador Jürg Lauber was elected by acclamation on Monday by the body’s member states and will serve in his mandate for one year.

Switzerland’s return to the Council in January for three years, after six years of absence, will be accompanied by an unprecedented situation. In almost 20 years of existence, the main United Nations body responsible for human rights has never been led by a Swiss representative.

No state from the regional bloc of the Confederation contested Mr. Lauber’s candidacy, leaving the way open to the host state. “It is a great honor and a huge responsibility. Above all, it is an opportunity to strengthen our commitment to the Council,” the 61-year-old from Zoug told Keystone-ATS.

In particular, he wishes to “regain space for diplomacy” in a Council plagued by political tensions. He also wants to help make the organ more efficient.

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