New York, New York – Following its withdrawal under former president Donald Trump, the United States will once again become part of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHCR).

The US was elected to the 47-member body based in Geneva by the UN General Assembly in New York on Thursday.

Seventeen other countries will also be part of the council for the period from 2022 to the end of 2024 – including India, Argentina, and Luxembourg, as well as Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Eritrea, which have been criticized for their human rights situation.

There were no competing applicants for any of the seats, which are allocated according to a geographical key.

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"We will work hard to ensure the Council upholds its highest aspirations and better supports those fighting against injustice and tyranny around the world," US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said.

The protection of democratic values, such as freedom, human rights, and the rule of law, is the cornerstone of US President Joe Biden's administration, Blinken said.

The Human Rights Council has repeatedly produced critical reports on the violation of human rights, but it is accused by critics of not sufficiently condemning abuses by major powers such as China.

Some of the countries accused of human rights violations are represented in the council, critics have repeatedly pointed out.

The Trump administration had called the body untrustworthy for this reason, among others.

The US announced its withdrawal from the Human Rights Council in June 2018 under Trump – also because of the council's frequent criticism of Israel.