The US has announced its withdrawal from United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) terming it hypocritical and self-serving.

• It has blamed UNHRC for bias against Israel and refusing to eject members who are violators of human rights.
• US had opted to stay out of UNHRC before also: The George W. Bush administration had opted against seeking membership when the council was created in 2006. US joined the council only in 2009 under President Barack Obama.

UNHRC is an inter-governmental body within United Nations system.

• It is responsible for strengthening promotion and protection of human rights around globe and for addressing situations of human rights violations and make recommendations on them.
• It was created in March 2006 and replaced former UN Commission on Human Rights.
• It is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland.

UNHRC is made up of 47 UN member states which are elected by UN General Assembly (UNGA) with specific number of seats allocated for each region of the globe. Members serve for three-year terms and can serve only two terms in a row.