Competition and transparency
Organizations criticize process for electing members from Latin America and the Caribbean to the UN Human Rights Council
The information that GRULAC – the Group of Latin American and Caribbean States in the United Nations – will nominate the same number of candidates as the number of seats reserved for the region in the elections for the UN Human Rights Council has led organizations to speak out against this practice, known as ‘clean slate’.
In a letter sent to GRULAC representatives, Conectas, CELS (Center for Legal and Social Studies) of Argentina and Corporación Humanas of Chile called for more competitiveness and transparency in the process to elect members of the HRC by GRULAC.
“We have noted with concern that since the last elections several regional groups have put into practice the so-called ‘clean slate’, i.e. submitting an equal number of candidates as the positions available, which does not foster a real debate for the election of States that have the best proposals on the subject of human rights,” reads the letter.
According to the rules, 8 of the 47 seats on the HRC are reserved for countries in Latin America and the Caribbean. In 2015, the terms of Brazil, Argentine and Venezuela will expire and only the latter is running for reelection.
The withdrawal of the other two countries will pave the way for the entry of Ecuador and Panama.
Click here to read the letter sent by the organizations to GRULAC
