<p>Saudi Arabia failed in its bid to become a member of the United Nations Human Rights Council on Tuesday as China and Russia were elected to three-year terms.</p>.<p>Human rights groups hailed the snub to Riyadh, which deals a blow to the kingdom's attempts to improve its image in the international community.</p>.<p>"The #HRC elections today delivered a stunning rebuke to #SaudiArabia under Mohammed bin Salman," tweeted Bruno Stagno, a deputy executive director at Human Rights Watch, referring to the country's crown prince.</p>.<p>"Only country not elected, shunned by a majority of the UN. The kingdom reaped what it deserves for its serious violations of human rights and war crimes abroad," he added.</p>.<p>Fifteen positions were up for grabs on the 47-seat body that has been criticized by rights organizations and the United States for electing countries accused of human rights violations.</p>.<p>However, only four of the 15 spots were contested -- all in Asia-Pacific.</p>.<p>Chian received 139 votes in the secret ballot, a dramatic fall from the 180 votes that it received when they were last elected in 2016.</p>.<p>"Shows more states are disturbed by China's abysmal rights record," tweeted Louis Charbonneau, UN director at Human Rights Watch.</p>.<p>Pakistan and Uzbekistan were elected with 169 votes while Nepal was also elected with 150 votes.</p>.<p>Saudi Arabia was the only country up for election that failed to be elected, mustering only 90 votes.</p>.<p>"Unless Saudi Arabia undertakes dramatic reforms to release political prisoners, end its disastrous war in Yemen and allow its citizens meaningful political participation, it will remain a global pariah," said Sarah Leah Whitson, executive director of Democracy for the Arab World Now, which hailed the result.</p>.<p>The organization she represents was founded by Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, who was killed by Saudi agents at country's Istanbul consulate two years ago.</p>.<p>Russia and Cuba were among 11 countries elected unopposed. All 193 UN members were able to vote in each region.</p>.<p>The controversial voting system sees countries strike bargains to agree on who will stand, often unopposed.</p>.<p>President Donald Trump pulled the United States out of the council in 2018.</p>.<p>"Today the UN General Assembly once again elected countries with abhorrent human rights records," Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement.</p>.<p>He slammed the body's membership rules, saying they "allow the election of the world's worst human rights abusers to seats on the council."</p>
<p>Saudi Arabia failed in its bid to become a member of the United Nations Human Rights Council on Tuesday as China and Russia were elected to three-year terms.</p>.<p>Human rights groups hailed the snub to Riyadh, which deals a blow to the kingdom's attempts to improve its image in the international community.</p>.<p>"The #HRC elections today delivered a stunning rebuke to #SaudiArabia under Mohammed bin Salman," tweeted Bruno Stagno, a deputy executive director at Human Rights Watch, referring to the country's crown prince.</p>.<p>"Only country not elected, shunned by a majority of the UN. The kingdom reaped what it deserves for its serious violations of human rights and war crimes abroad," he added.</p>.<p>Fifteen positions were up for grabs on the 47-seat body that has been criticized by rights organizations and the United States for electing countries accused of human rights violations.</p>.<p>However, only four of the 15 spots were contested -- all in Asia-Pacific.</p>.<p>Chian received 139 votes in the secret ballot, a dramatic fall from the 180 votes that it received when they were last elected in 2016.</p>.<p>"Shows more states are disturbed by China's abysmal rights record," tweeted Louis Charbonneau, UN director at Human Rights Watch.</p>.<p>Pakistan and Uzbekistan were elected with 169 votes while Nepal was also elected with 150 votes.</p>.<p>Saudi Arabia was the only country up for election that failed to be elected, mustering only 90 votes.</p>.<p>"Unless Saudi Arabia undertakes dramatic reforms to release political prisoners, end its disastrous war in Yemen and allow its citizens meaningful political participation, it will remain a global pariah," said Sarah Leah Whitson, executive director of Democracy for the Arab World Now, which hailed the result.</p>.<p>The organization she represents was founded by Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, who was killed by Saudi agents at country's Istanbul consulate two years ago.</p>.<p>Russia and Cuba were among 11 countries elected unopposed. All 193 UN members were able to vote in each region.</p>.<p>The controversial voting system sees countries strike bargains to agree on who will stand, often unopposed.</p>.<p>President Donald Trump pulled the United States out of the council in 2018.</p>.<p>"Today the UN General Assembly once again elected countries with abhorrent human rights records," Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement.</p>.<p>He slammed the body's membership rules, saying they "allow the election of the world's worst human rights abusers to seats on the council."</p>