UNHRC election: Nepal among 15 members elected for 2027-29 term
Why in the news
On 13 October 2026, the UN General Assembly chose 15 countries for seats on the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) through a secret ballot. Every regional group fielded only as many candidates as it had seats, so the vote was uncontested.
Key facts
- Elected members: Brazil, Burundi, Dominican Republic, Germany, Ghana, Ireland, Japan, Jordan, Kuwait, Nepal, Nigeria, Republic of Moldova, Ukraine, Uruguay and Zambia.
- Term: three years, from 1 January 2027 to 31 December 2029.
- Top scorers (African group): Zambia 177, Ghana 173, Nigeria 172 and Burundi 160 votes, out of 181 ballots.
- Re-election rule: a member that has served two consecutive terms cannot be immediately re-elected.
- Human Rights Watch criticised the uncontested format of the vote.
| Regional group | Seats on the Council |
|---|---|
| African States | 13 |
| Asia-Pacific States | 13 |
| Latin American and Caribbean States | 8 |
| Western European and other States | 7 |
| Eastern European States | 6 |
| Total | 47 |
About the UN Human Rights Council
The General Assembly created the Council in March 2006 as the main UN body on human rights. It has 47 member states elected by the 193-member General Assembly, and each member serves a three-year term. Seats are shared among the five regional groups.
Exam angle
- UNHRC size: 47 members; term: 3 years; created: 2006.
- Nepal is among the 15 states elected for the 2027-29 term.
- Highest vote in this election: Zambia (177).