U.S. loses voting rights at key U.N. body, UNESCO

Beginning Friday, the United States will no longer be able to cast a ballot in key global matters vetted through the U.N. Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, due to a dispute over dues.

The United States hasn’t paid dues to UNESCO for three years, in protest of that body’s decision to award Palestinians voting rights as a state. The United States had until Friday to start back funding, or send in a written explanation of its late-payment status — but didn’t do either, The Associated Press reported.

That means the United States automatically loses its voting rights, AP said.

The United States provided UNESCO with $80 million each year — or 22 percent of the group’s budget. And while UNESCO has taken a major financial hit from America’s withdrawal of funding, some say the political ramifications to the United States from losing a vote will be significant.

“We won’t be able to have the same clout,” said Phyllis Magrab, the U.S. National Commissioner for UNESCO based in Washington, D.C., in Fox News. “In effect, we [won’t] have a full tool box. We’re missing our hammer.”