Pakistan seeks UN Human Rights Council seat, pledges consensus-based engagement
The announcement was made by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Wednesday during a reception hosted by Pakistan's Mission in New York as the country assumed the rotating presidency of the UN Security Council for the month of July.
Pakistan has previously served multiple terms on the Geneva-based Human Rights Council, which is composed of 47 member states elected for staggered three-year terms by the UN General Assembly. The next round of elections is scheduled for late 2025.
'Pakistan has also presented its candidature for election to the Human Rights Council for the term 2026–2028. Our engagement with the Human Rights Council is guided by the idea of truth, tolerance, respect, universality, consensus-building and engagement,' Dar said at the dinner.
'Pakistan's candidature is endorsed by the Asia-Pacific Group, and we hope to count on your valuable support.'
The announcement coincides with Pakistan's broader push for UN reform, its active participation in Security Council deliberations this month and its ongoing diplomatic efforts to strengthen the UN system's focus on peace, development, and rights.
Dar also used the reception to reaffirm Pakistan's commitment to multilateral diplomacy and UN Charter principles, especially the peaceful resolution of disputes and the non-use of force.
As part of its Security Council presidency, Pakistan has prioritized three areas: the peaceful settlement of disputes, multilateralism and enhanced cooperation between the UN and regional bodies such as the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Dar explained.
'These same guiding principles continue to shape our contributions to the Council's work, including in our presidency this month, both in deliberations and in action,' the deputy prime minister said, noting that Pakistan continues to support 'reform of the United Nations to make this organization stronger, more effective, and more responsive to the interest and priorities of the general membership.'
Pakistan, he added, has 'championed strengthening of the three pillars of the United Nations — peace and security, development and human rights,' including across the General Assembly, ECOSOC, and other multilateral platforms.
On Tuesday, under Pakistan's presidency, the UNSC unanimously adopted a resolution calling on member states to use peaceful means to resolve disputes.
The resolution encourages states to make full use of existing mechanisms such as 'negotiation, mediation, arbitration, judicial settlement or other peaceful means,' in accordance with the UN Charter.
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