In establishing the Human Rights Council in 2006, the General Assembly called upon council members to “uphold the highest standards in the promotion and protection of human rights” and “fully cooperate with the Council” (GA Resolution 60/251).

The General Assembly envisioned a process in which states would compete for membership. Resolution 60/251 says that, “when electing members of the Council, Member States shall take into account the contribution of candidates to the promotion and protection of human rights and their voluntary pledges and commitments made thereto.”

To prevent the election of unqualified states, the General Assembly required that a “majority of the members of the General Assembly” (an “absolute majority,” presently 97 members) must affirmatively support a candidate for it to be elected.