The United States has once again refused to participate in a United Nations review of its human rights record. Washington’s latest absence marks the second boycott of the process and an unprecedented challenge to an established international accountability mechanism.
The empty US seats at the UN’s European headquarters in Geneva highlighted the administration’s continued withdrawal from the review. Meanwhile, diplomats and human rights organisations questioned Washington’s decision and called for greater accountability.
US Boycotts Universal Periodic Review for Second Time
The United States skipped Tuesday’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR), which examines the human rights records of all 193 UN member states.
The process takes place every four to five years, allowing countries to face international scrutiny over their human rights practices.
As the session prepared to begin, UN Human Rights Council President Sidharto Reza Suryodipuro of Indonesia acknowledged the American delegation’s absence.
Looking towards the empty seats behind the US nameplate, he announced that “the delegation of the United States is not present in the room”.
Washington’s decision followed President Donald Trump’s return to power in January 2025. His administration subsequently halted cooperation with the UN Human Rights Council.
The United States had already boycotted its scheduled review in November last year. Consequently, the council postponed the examination for another year, hoping Washington would reconsider.
However, the administration maintained its position ahead of Tuesday’s session.
Why Has Washington Rejected the UN Human Rights Council?
The US State Department explained the administration’s position in comments provided earlier this week.
It described the council as an “irredeemable body” that “makes a mockery of human rights”.
The statement suggested Washington would avoid participating in all council mechanisms, including the Universal Periodic Review.
Nevertheless, human rights advocates, civil society organisations and American elected officials gathered in Geneva. They aimed to highlight alleged human rights violations in the United States despite the boycott.
Among those attending was Noor Abdalla, wife of prominent pro-Palestinian protest leader Mahmoud Khalil.
Khalil holds a US green card, but the Trump administration sought to deport him last year.
Speaking to reporters, Abdalla stressed the importance of international scrutiny.
“Accountability is important,” she said.
She further warned that powerful governments could avoid consequences without proper oversight.
“When the most powerful government in the world is not held accountable, they think that they can do whatever they want to do… We saw that with my husband’s case.”
US Absence Marks an Unprecedented Move
Washington’s continued refusal to participate represents an unprecedented development in the UPR process.
Before the United States, Israel was the only country to boycott its review. It refused participation in early 2013 but eventually completed a delayed examination later that year.
Since the review mechanism began in 2008, some countries have requested postponements. Nicaragua also partially boycotted the process, but only after completing its latest review.
The American administration’s continued absence therefore sets a different precedent. It has refused to participate without submitting its national report.
Diplomats Criticise US Decision as Human Rights Debate Intensifies
Several diplomats defended the importance of the Universal Periodic Review during Tuesday’s session.
The European Union expressed regret over Washington’s decision to remain absent. Its representative said Brussels “regrets any situation in which full engagement… does not occur, including the decision by the United States again not to participate”.
Meanwhile, Cuban ambassador Rodolfo Benitez Verson strongly criticised the American boycott.
“The United States is the only country in the history of the Human Rights Council which has refused to take part in the UPR cycle without even presenting its national report,” he told the council.
He also accused Washington of maintaining “double standards and hypocrisy”.
Additionally, civil society organisations urged countries to respond more firmly to American non-cooperation. They called on the council to investigate alleged human rights violations in the United States.
Jamil Dakwar, head of the American Civil Liberties Union’s human rights programme, also demanded international action.
He urged the UN Human Rights Council to help “put an end to US impunity and hold the United States accountable”.
UN Postpones US Human Rights Review Until January
Despite mounting criticism, the council decided to postpone the American review once again.
The examination will now take place during the next session in January. However, Washington’s continued absence could have wider consequences for its participation in the international review system.
If the United States refuses to attend by the end of that session, it will miss the entire fourth cycle of Universal Periodic Reviews.
Such an outcome would mark another first for the UN mechanism, further intensifying questions about international accountability and cooperation.
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