President Javier Milei’s government has decided not to present a candidate representing Argentina for election to the United Nations Human Rights Council.
The decision, confirmed by Foreign Ministry sources, was reportedly pushed by the Casa Rosada and President Milei, who wants to extricate Argentina from multilateral agencies where he does not consider a presence necessary.
Milei would like to leave international bodies which he believes harm the country or condition its commercial policies, government officials briefed.
Opponents criticised the decision, mourning it as further proof of Argentina’s unwillingness to voice support for longstanding human rights policies under the Milei administration.
But the government maintains that it made no sense to sit on the council given that other members are “countries where human rights are violated” – a reference to Iran, which has chaired the UN Social Human Rights Forum, despite being under investigation by the multilateral body for alleged violence against women and children.
The United Nations Human Rights Council is an intergovernmental body dedicated to promoting and protecting human rights worldwide, tackling violations and making recommendations on the stance of each country.
Member states are elected for three-year terms, with one-third renewed annually.
The decision not to present a candidate from Argentina was taken months ago, according to reports. The Casa Rosada only recently conveyed the news formally to the UN, La Nación reported.
It follows Milei’s announcement in February earlier this year that the nation would exit the World Health Organisation (WHO), a body the President described as a “criminal organisation” responsible for committing crimes against humanity through its recommendations during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Amnesty objects
Rights groups criticised the decision. In a statement, Amnesty International took aim directly at Milei, “deploring” the fact that he “has no interest in having a seat on that table.”
The UN is a central institution for “promoting and protecting” human rights worldwide, said the rights watchdog in a statement, noting that the country’s lack of representation would imply “not voting on nor presenting resolutions” despite being equally “obliged” by the body’s international mechanisms.
“The Human Rights Council is a global forum enabling governments to examine each other’s violations, create investigative missions and periodically review the situation in every country. Although not perfect, it is crucial for requiring governments to comply with their human rights obligations, including towards their own populations. Being a part implies assuming concrete commitments and submission to international scrutiny,” said the NGO.
Argentina’s participation “is part of its international integration and commitment to multilateralism,” given that it was a founding member of the rights council, continued the statement, highlighting previous backing for missions to “verify and investigate [rights violations] such as in Venezuela and Myanmar.”
“Withdrawal weakens that tradition, while renouncing that role sends a worrying signal to the world as to the will to sustain a commitment to the rights of Argentines,” concluded the NGO.
The CONADU federation of university teachers expressed its "strong rejection" of the decision. Highlighting "the erosion of Argentina's historic role as a standard-setter in human rights," the union bemoaned a loss of influence on the global stage under the Milei administration.
– TIMES/PERFIL
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