On 20 June 2011, Mr. Sihasak Phuangketkeow, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Thailand in Geneva and President of the United Nations Human Rights Council, handed over the Council Presidency to Ms. Laura Dupuy, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Uruguay.
Describing the work of the Council during his presidency as “eventful”, “challenging” and “rewarding”, with the review of the work and functioning of the Council added to the normal heavy workload of this main UN human rights body, Ambassador Sihasak was praised by many delegates (the highest number ever taken the floor at the opening session, according to the Secretariat) for his dedication, skillfulness, inclusiveness and transparency, as well as a well-balanced and cooperative approach to facilitate smooth progress and forge consensus on many important and even controversial human rights issues. According to statement by the Indonesian Ambassador, his tenure has left an imprint of tactful and effective Thai and ASEAN style diplomacy in the international arena.
In his farewell statement, Ambassador Sihasak urged the Council to address the challenges of how to make the Council more effective and efficient, being able to make more impact on the ground and being able to deal with urgent human rights situations in a more timely and constructive manner. He highlighted that these were indeed pressing issues for the Council to prove its relevancy and credibility to the world at large and to international public opinion.
Human Rights Council is the main UN body responsible for promotion and protection of human rights worldwide. The membership of the Council consists of 47 states, which are elected by the General Assembly and serve a 3 years term. Thailand became a member of the Council in June 2010 and Ambassador Sihasak was nominated by the Asian Group as the President of the Council for its 5th cycle (June 2010 — June 2011).
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