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26Feb17


US weighs withdrawal from UN Human Rights Council: report


The Trump administration is reportedly thinking about withdrawing from the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC).

The council's next session is scheduled for Monday, and the administration is not expected to pull out of the council before that, Politico reported, citing sources in regular contact with former and current U.S. officials.

"There's been a series of requests coming from the secretary of State's office that suggests that he is questioning the value of the U.S. belonging to the Human Rights Council," a former State Department official told Politico.

The former official told Politico debate over membership in the council likely includes accusations of bias against Israel and questions over the countries that make up the council, some of which are known for human rights abuses, according to Politico.

State Department spokesman Mark Toner told Politico that "our delegation will be fully involved in the work of the HRC session which starts Monday."

The Human Rights Council was created in 2006, and former President Barack Obama thought it would be beneficial to be a part of the council to attempt to influence it.

[Source: By Rebecca Savransky, The Hill, 26Feb17]

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