Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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168. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the current members of the United Nations Human Rights Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22342/17]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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The Human Rights Council is an inter-governmental body within the United Nations system responsible for strengthening the promotion and protection of human rights around the globe and for addressing situations of human rights violations and make recommendations on them. It has the ability to discuss all thematic human rights issues and situations that require its attention throughout the year. It meets at the UN Office at Geneva. The Human Rights Council comprises 47 member states, with membership based on the equitable distribution of seats across the United Nations’ regional groups. Members are elected by the majority of members of the UN General Assembly through direct and secret ballot. Members of the Council serve for a period of three years and are not eligible for immediate re-election after serving two consecutive terms. The current member states are:

13 African States: Botswana, Burundi, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Togo, Tunisia.

13 Asia-Pacific States: Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Japan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar.

6 Eastern European States: Albania, Croatia, Georgia, Hungary, Latvia, Slovenia.

8 Latin America and Caribbean States: Bolivia, Brazil, Cuba, Ecuador, El Salvador*, Panama, Paraguay, Venezuela.

7 Western Europe and other States: Belgium, Germany, Netherlands, Portugal, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States of America.

*President