US to move to rejoin human rights council

WASHINGTON: United States President Joe Biden’s Administration will reengage with the United Nations Human Rights Council, three years after former president Donald Trump withdrew over what his administration called bias against Israel and a lack of reform.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken would announce today that the US will return to the Genevabased council as an observer, a senior State Department official said yesterday.

‘‘We intend to do so knowing that the most effective way to reform and improve the council is to engage with it in a principled fashion,’’ the official said.

‘‘We know that the council has the potential to be an important forum for those fighting tyranny and injustice around the world. By being present at the table, we seek to reform it and ensure it can live up to that potential.’’

Trump, whose ‘‘America First’’ agenda contributed to his decisions to withdraw from multiple international organisations and agreements, quit the council in 2018 — halfway through a threeyear term — over what he called chronic bias against Israel and a lack of reform.

The UN General Assembly is due to elect new members to the council later this year. Members are elected by secret ballot in geographical groups. — Reuters