On November 12, 2013, the United Nations General Assembly elected fourteen countries to serve on the United Nations Human Rights Council, including Algeria, China, Cuba, France Maldives, Mexico, Morocco, Namibia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Viet Nam, Russia, and the United Kingdom. According to the news story, these countries will serve for a term of three years beginning on January 1, 2014, and are not eligible for immediate re-election after serving two consecutive terms.  The Council is composed of forty-seven Member States and is “responsible for strengthening the promotion and protection of human rights around the globe.”