GENEVA, June 19 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein on Tuesday night responded that the U.S. withdrawal from UN Rights Council is "disappointing, if not really surprising".

"Given the state of Human Rights in today's world, the U.S. should be stepping up, not stepping back," Zeid said following the United States' latest decision to withdraw from the UN Human Rights Council.

Also right after the announcement of the U.S. withdrawal, the President of the UN Human Rights Council Vojislav Suc stressed that it is essential that we uphold a strong and vibrant Council in times when the value and strength of multilateralism and human rights are being challenged on a daily basis.

In a statement issued late Tuesday night, the UN official said the Council should be recognized as a central part of the United Nations for the 21st century.

He stressed that over the past 12 years, the UN Human Rights Council has tackled numerous human rights situations and issues keeping them in sharp focus.

"In many senses, the Council serves as an early warning system by sounding the alarm bells ahead of impending or worsening crises. Its actions lead to meaningful results for the countless human rights victims worldwide, those the Council serves," he noted.

Earlier in the day, the U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations Nikki Haley announced in Washington that the United States is withdrawing from the UN Human Rights Council.