The correct answer is: A. Five years
India was elected as a member to the United Nations Human Rights Council for a period of five years, from 2019 to 2023. The UN Human Rights Council is an inter-governmental body within the United Nations system responsible for promoting and protecting human rights around the world. It was established in 2006 by the UN General Assembly to replace the UN Commission on Human Rights, which had been widely criticized for its lack of effectiveness. The Council is composed of 47 Member States, elected by the General Assembly for three-year terms. India has been a member of the Council since 2007, and has been re-elected twice.
The Council’s mandate includes:
- Promoting and protecting all human rights, civil, political, economic, social and cultural, including the right to development;
- Addressing human rights violations and abuses;
- Promoting effective implementation of human rights obligations by Member States;
- Undertaking a universal periodic review of the human rights records of all Member States;
- Providing a forum for dialogue and cooperation among Member States on human rights issues;
- Cooperating with other UN bodies and specialized agencies in the field of human rights;
- Promoting the observance of human rights by non-state actors.
The Council has been criticized for its politicization and for its failure to take action on some of the most serious human rights violations in the world. However, it has also played an important role in promoting and protecting human rights around the world.