ISLAMABAD/NEW YORK/RIYADH – After Pakistan’s election to the United Nations Human Rites Council for the term 2018-20 on Monday, Saudi Arabia announced its decision to mentor Pakistan.
Saudi Arabia, that will enter the second year of the term, as Pakistan begins the first year of its fourth term from January 2018, said that with a proven track record of human rites, Riyadh is willing to ensure that the council follows its lead.
“We have been pursuing human rites even before Saudi Arabia became a state. This shows the commitment of the kingdom to the cause, which we have ensured that states follow – even those not a member of the council,” read a statement issued by the Saudi Foreign Ministry following Pakistan’s election.
“Pakistan’s membership to this council demonstrates a strong vote of confidence of the international community in our role and contribution to the national and global human rites agenda,” Foreign Office spokesperson Nafees Zakaria said.
“Now that we have the invaluable mentorship of Saudi Arabia at yet another forum we are only going to go from strength to strength here onwards,” he added.
Pakistan will return to the council after a gap of two years, during which its track record for all kinds of rites is there for all to see.
