Albania is set to join the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC).

Prime Minister Edi Rama stated that the country is now taking on another international role.

“Albania joins the UN Human Rights Council. 123 member states of the UN General Assembly voted in favor of Albania as one of the 15 countries that will sit on the Human Rights Council from January 1, 2024, to December 31, 2026,” emphasized Rama, who also published the names of the 15 new members of the UNHRC.

These include Brazil, Bulgaria, Burundi, China, the Ivory Coast, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, France, Ghana, Indonesia, Japan, Kuwait, Malawi and the Netherlands.

The United States Embassy to Tirana congratulated Albania on its election to the UNHRC.

In the message published by the U.S. Embassy, it is emphasized that this is another opportunity for Albania to raise its voice for the most vulnerable worldwide.

“Congratulations to Albania on its election to the United Nations Human Rights Council! Albania has been a principled voice on the UN Security council and its election to the Human Rights Council is another opportunity to stand up for the most vulnerable throughout the world.”

The UNHRC is a United Nations body whose mission is to promote and protect human rights around the world.

The Council has 47 members elected for staggered three-year terms on a regional group basis.

The Council investigates allegations of breaches of human rights in United Nations member states and addresses thematic human rights issues like freedom of association and assembly, freedom of expression, freedom of belief and religion, women’s rights, LGBT+ rights and the rights of racial and ethnic minorities.

Meanwhile on June 11, 2021, Albania was elected a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for the period 2022-2023, for the first time in 65 years as a member of the UN.

The country assumed the Presidency of the UN Security Council twice during its mandate.