Zambia intensifies campaign for UN Human Rights Council seat

Zambia has intensified its campaign for election to the United Nations Human Rights Council for the 2027-2029 term.

President Hakainde Hichilema reaffirmed Zambia’s commitment to advancing and safeguarding human rights at the global level.

The Head of State was speaking in a video address to UN member states at a reception held to lobby support for Zambia’s candidature.

According to a statement issued by Charles Tembo, First Secretary for Press and Public Relations at the Embassy of Zambia in Washington, D.C., the election is scheduled for Oct. 13, 2026, at the UN headquarters in New York.

Hichilema said Zambia believed that democracy, good governance, the rule of law and human rights form the bedrock of sustainable development and enduring peace.

Similarly, Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister Mulambo Haimbe, who is leading Zambia’s delegation to the General Assembly, underscored that Zambia’s candidature was grounded in the conviction that the Human Rights Council remained indispensable to the universal promotion and protection of human rights.

“He said Zambia has approached the candidature to the continuing global responsibility to strengthen the promotion and protection of Human Rights,” the statement said.

Haimbe said Zambia sees membership of the Human Rights Council as an opportunity for two-way impact, to bring the council closer to citizens and give the region and developing countries a stronger voice within the council.

The minister noted that Zambia’s ambition was to use Council membership to strengthen human rights at home and contribute to building a council that delivers more effectively everywhere, as he called for support for Zambia’s bid.

Meanwhile, Permanent Secretary for International Relations and Cooperation Etambuyu Anamela Gundersen said Zambia attached great importance to multilateralism, democracy and the rule of law.

Earlier, Zambia’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York, Dr. Chola Milambo, underscored that the three pillars of the UN — peacekeeping, development and human rights — were core to Zambia.

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