U.S. to rejoin U.N. human rights body

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Wednesday that the United States will vie for a seat at the U.N.’s human rights body, which would cement a U.S. return to a Genevabased group that was shunned by the Trump administration.

The top U.S. diplomat said his country will seek a threeyear term starting next year at the Human Rights Council, and acknowledged it needs reform, particularly to end its “disproportionate” focus on Israel — the only country whose rights record comes up for scrutiny at every one of its thriceyearly meetings.

In a video message, Blinken raised concerns about countries including Myanmar, which has faced international criticism over a military coup last month, China over its Xinjiang region, and Russia after the jailing of opposition leader Alexei Navalny and demonstrators during protests against President Vladimir Putin’s government.

“The United States is placing democracy and human rights at the center of our foreign policy because they’re essential for peace and stability,” Blinken said, adding that “the United States will seek election to the Human Rights Council for the 2022 to 2024 term.”