India on Thursday was re-elected to the United Nations Human Rights Council for the sixth term (2022-24)with an overwhelming majority and vowed to continue to work for the promotion and protection of human rights through “Samman, Samvad and Sahyog.”

In a series of tweets, India’s Permanent Mission to the UN said, “India gets re-elected to the @UN_HRC (2022-24) for a 6th term with overwhelming majority. Heartfelt gratitude to the @UN membership for reposing its faith in India.

“We will continue to work for promotion and protection of Human Rights through #Samman #Samvad #Sahyog #Samman #Samvad #Sahyog.”

The UN General Assembly elected by secret ballot Argentina, Benin, Cameroon, Eritrea, Finland, Gambia, Honduras, India, Kazakhstan, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Montenegro, Paraguay, Qatar, Somalia, UAE and the US.

Though member states were chosen in a secret ballot, the election was a non-contest, with 18 candidate countries standing for 18 seats.

The United States, which had quit the council in 2018 under the previous Donald Trump’s regime, was reelected to the global rights body for a period of  three-and-a-half years. Ahead of its dramatic walkout, the US had accused the UN of hypocrisy and obsession with haranguing Israel. It received 168 votes during Thursday’s vote.

Among other notable entries, the UN General Assembly chose Eritrea, often criticised for alleged rights abuses. The country received 144 votes.

The council is tasked with promoting and protecting human rights worldwide, addressing violations and making recommendations, hence the election of Eritrea again raised the issue of having authoritarian regimes on the body.

(With inputs from agencies)