UN Human Rights Council. Photo: wiki commons.

While the death toll in Syria has topped 14,000 (according to activists) since the uprising against Bashar al-Assad began, the country is now a candidate for a seat on the United Nations Human Rights Council, UN Watch reported.

UN Watch, an NGO that monitors the international body’s activity, cited a draft resolution in which the U.S. reveals that Syria announced its candidacy for a Human Rights Council seat in 2014. The resolution, which is also supported by the European Union, says Syria “fails to meet the standards” for Human Rights Council membership.

Syria is likley to win a spot on the 47-nation council “due to the prevalent system of fixed slates, whereby regional groups orchestrate uncontested elections, naming only as many candidates as allotted seats,” according to UN Watch.