Russia loses the elections of three United Nations bodies because of Ukraine

United Nations (AFP) – Russia lost elections to three UN bodies this week, signaling opposition to its invasion of Ukraine Over a year ago still going strong.

The votes in the 54-member United Nations Economic and Social Council followed the approval of six non-binding resolutions against Russia. by 193 members of the United Nations General Assembly. The last of these – on February 23, the eve of the first anniversary of the invasion – called on Moscow to end hostilities and withdraw its forces, and it was adopted by 141 votes to 7 with 32 abstentions.

In the Economic and Social Council elections, Russia was overwhelmingly defeated by Romania for a seat on the Commission on the Status of Women. It lost out to Estonia to become a member of the Executive Board of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). Armenia and the Czech Republic were defeated in a secret ballot for membership of the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice.

US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said after Wednesday’s vote, “This is a clear signal from ECOSOC members that no country should take positions in critical UN bodies when it is in flagrant violation of the UN Charter.”

In a vote for members of 14 committees, councils and expert groups overseen by the Economic and Social Council, Russia was elected to the Committee on Social Development by acclamation – from which the US and UK separated their countries, saying the Russian invasion violated international law and Ukrainian law. land unit.

Russia was also elected by acclamation to the Intergovernmental Working Group of Experts on International Standards of Accounting and Reporting,