09 May 2006
China joins UN Human Rights Council
(UN) The People's Republic of China (PRC) has been elected to the UN's new Human Rights Council despite calls from human rights organisations for UN member states to reject China's candidacy. China obtained 146 of a possible 191 votes, placing it as the eighth Asian state to be elected. The elections, which took place by secret ballot at the UN General Assembly in New York, determine the inaugural members of the new Council, which will meet for the first time in Geneva, Switzerland on 19 June 2006.