Malawi on Tuesday was elected to the United Nations Human Rights Council for a term of 3 years beginning 2021.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation confirmed of the development in a statement posted on its official facebook page.

According to the post, Malawi got 180 votes out of about 190.

“The United Nations (UN) General Assembly on Tuesday, 13th October, 2020, elected Malawi as a member of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC)for a term of 3 years beginning 2021. Malawi got an overwhelming majority of 180 votes out of 190. This is a demonstration of the confidence by UN Member States in the Republic of Malawi towards promotion and consolidation of human rights in the country and her contribution at a global level.

“The United Nations Human Rights Council is based in Geneva and is responsible for the promotion and protection of human rights at the international level. It conducts universal periodic reviews of the human rights records of all Member States. It gives member states an opportunity to declare what actions they have taken to improve the human rights situations in their countries and to fulfil their human rights obligations,” reads in part the statement.

The UN General Assembly conducted the elections in New York, USA in order to fill 15 vacant seats for the term 2021-2023.