This report is not from The Onion. Yes, Mubarak’s regime was rewarded a seat on the UN Human Rights Council, for its shiny record in treating the Egyptian people:
Egypt, Angola and Qatar easily won seats on the council despite opposition from human rights groups that said they did not deserve a spot on the council because of their bad human rights records.
Ha!
Rather than members being leaders in HR, it seems to me that membership is considered an incentive that will hopefully lead to improving the status of HM in member countries.
I can’t find another explanation!