The United States did not, however, lose its seat to Sudan, or Pakistan, or any other country with a poor human rights record. It lost its seat to Sweden. But the fact that countries like Sudan gained seats is a testament to the new administration's failed attempts at diplomacy. The United Nations Human Rights Commission has 53 members, who are elected to three-year terms by the members of the Economic and Social Council . Roughly one-third of the seats on the commission are up for election each year.
Countries compete for seats within their geographic categories.
From Asia, five countries competed for three seats. Bahrain, Pakistan, and South Korea defeated Iran and Saudi Arabia in a secret ballot. From Eastern Europe, four countries competed for two seats. Finally, from Western Europe and the rest of the world, four countries competed for three seats. In the last of these elections, France and United States were seeking to retain their seats, and Norway was stepping down from the commission.