In what appears to be a diplomatically balanced stance aligned with Morocco’s policy of neutrality in sensitive international issues, Morocco abstained from voting on a decision put forth by a group of Western countries during the sixtieth session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, which called for the extension of the mandate of the special rapporteur on Russia for an additional year.
The decision, which Moscow deemed “a tool for political pressure,” prompted a clear division within the council, receiving support from only 20 of the 46 countries that participated in the voting session, according to the Russian news agency TASS.
The agency noted that “less than half of the participating delegations” backed the decision, which it described as “anti-Russian,” pointing out that it relied on narratives typically endorsed by Western countries classified by Moscow as “unfriendly states” and used to undermine its policies on the international stage.
According to the same source, European Union countries supported the decision, except for Hungary, along with the United Kingdom and several Western allies, while Bolivia, Burundi, Vietnam, Kyrgyzstan, China, Cuba, Sudan, and Ethiopia opposed it.
Eighteen countries abstained from voting, including Morocco, Algeria, Brazil, Indonesia, Qatar, Mexico, and South Africa, indicating their reluctance to engage in the increasing polarization between Moscow and Western countries within United Nations institutions.
This deep division within the Human Rights Council reflects the ongoing use of human rights issues as a tool for political maneuvering, at a time when calls are growing to neutralize the council from geopolitical conflicts to ensure the credibility of its international mechanisms.
