Nigeria has won election for a non-permanent seat at the United Nations (UN) Security Council alongside Gabon and Brazil.
Bosnia and Lebanon won but will be in the rare position of being subject to scrutiny by the UN's most powerful body while serving their two-year terms because the former has never served on the council and the latter has not been a member since 1953-54.
Unlike previous Security Council elections, there were no contested seats this year. As a result, the five countries nominated by regional groups won an easy election yesterday, following voting by the 192-member General Assembly.
Assembly President, Ali Treki, announced the results - 186 votes for Nigeria, 184 for Gabon, 183 for Bosnia, 182 for Brazil and 180 for Lebanon and declared the five countries elected to terms beginning January 1, 2010.
"It's going to be an even stronger Security Council, I think, next year," Britain's UN Ambassador John Sawers was quoted as saying.
"We have two large countries in Brazil and Nigeria who carry the weight of being a regional power. We have two countries in Lebanon and Bosnia that have been through conflict and can bring their own national experiences to the Security Council,” he added.
For Bosnia and Lebanon, he was quoted in the Associated Press (AP) as saying, "I think the experience of being on the council will help strengthen their national government systems to enable to take decisions, to take a view at the centre on international issues and broaden the context of those governments."
On the eve of Nigeria’s election to the seat yesterday, Amnesty International called on the Nigerian government to strengthen its national human rights record and demonstrate the country’s commitment to promoting and protecting human rights.
“In 12 months Nigeria will celebrate 50 years of independence. Following successive military regimes, efforts have been made by the Nigerian government to improve the human rights situation in the country.
“The Constitution that came into force in 1999 recognizes the right to life; prohibits torture and other ill treatment, and guarantees a fair trial; however, economic, social and cultural rights fall under the directive principles and are not justifable. In addition, a wide range of human rights concern remain,” it said.
In a statement made available to THISDAY, the group proffered a 10-point agenda for Nigeria to fulfill as a member of the Security Council which include, complying with international and regional human rights obligations, as explicitly set out in the treaties it had ratified; preventing and prosecuting acts of extrajudicial executions, enforced disappearances, torture or other ill treatment; adopting a moratorium on executions, improving access to justice and protecting human rights in the Niger delta among others.
The last time Nigeria sat at the Council was 15 years ago - 1994/95. It was its third time.
The African Union (AU) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) supported the latest bid by endorsing Nigeria’s candidacy.
Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Prof. Joy Ogwu, had said the country needed to campaign and lobby hard for the position. She explained that this would entail reaching out to friends and foes in all the world capitals.
“We expect to lobby and intensify our campaign at all levels. Nigerian representatives across the world must market the country. We must not take anything for granted or rest on our oars,” she said.
Ten of the council's 15 seats are filled by regional groups for two-years and five non-permanent members are elected by the General Assembly every year. To win, candidates must get a two-thirds majority vote of the assembly members which is usually done by secret ballot.
The five other Security Council seats are occupied by its veto-wielding permanent members: the United States, Russia, China, Britain and France.
Source: Thisdayonline.com
5 months ago
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