China, Russia and Saudi Arabia are among the 14 nations elected to the United Nations Human Rights Council.

 UNITED NATIONS (NOVEMBER 12, 2103) (UNTV) -  China, Russia and Saudi Arabia were among the 14 countries elected to the United Nations Human Rights Council on Tuesday (November 12), despite concerns about abuses and restrictions on freedoms in the countries.

Also elected to the 47-seat Geneval-based council were Algeria, Cuba, France, Maldives, Mexico,Morocco, Namibia, South Africa, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, United Kingdom andVietnam.

The annual election for one third of the council's membership was held in the 193-nation U.N. General Assembly. South Sudan and Uruguay failed to win seats on the council, because of competitive slates in their respective regional groups.

The Human Rights Council is responsible for "the promotion and protection of all human rights around the globe," according to the U.N.

U.K. Ambassador the the U.N. Mark Lyall Grant said every nation elected to the body is expected to "abide by the general ethos and principles of the Human Rights Council."

The newly elected nations will begin their three-year term beginning January 1, 2014.