The United States (US) has informed the United Nations that it will not participate in its upcoming regular review of human rights.
In a letter sent to UN rights chief Volker Turk, the US mission in Geneva stated, “I write to inform you that the United States of America will not participate in the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) … scheduled to take place in Geneva on November 7.”
UPR is a process in which all 193 UN member states undergo an assessment every four to five years to evaluate their human rights records.
The review offers countries an opportunity to report on the steps they have taken to improve human rights and to receive recommendations from other member states.
The US decision to skip its review is linked to President Donald Trump’s February order withdrawing Washington from several UN bodies, including the Human Rights Council (HRC).
“As with other HRC mechanisms, engagement in UPRs implies endorsement of the council’s mandate and activities and ignores its persistent failure to condemn the most egregious human rights violators,” a US State Department official told AFP.
US to Skip United Nations Regular Rights Review
Thursday’s letter stated that the UPR system, established after the creation of the Human Rights Council in 2006, was intended to be “based on objective and reliable information and conducted in a manner that ensures equal treatment” of all countries.
“However, this is not the case today,” it charged, adding that “the United States objects to the politicisation of human rights across the UN system, as well as the UN’s unrelenting selective bias against Israel.”
The letter also accused the UN of “ignoring human rights abuses in China, North Korea, Cuba, and Venezuela,” saying this had “tarnished the UPR process” and other Human Rights Council mechanisms.
Also Read: Why the United Nations Won’t Intervene in Kenya’s Situation Immediately
Rights Council spokesman Pascal Sim told AFP that “since the inception of the UPR in 2008, the secretariat has occasionally received requests from states to postpone reviews.”
For example, the reviews of Haiti, Sudan, and Ukraine were postponed at different times due to various national crises.
The Human Rights Council, which meets from September 8 to October 8, will discuss how best to proceed on the US review, Sim said.
What Happens at the UN Regular Review
At the UN, a country’s human rights record is reviewed based on three main sources. First, a report submitted by the country itself.
Second, a summary of United Nations information prepared by the UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR).
Third, input from other stakeholders, including civil society groups, national human rights bodies, and regional organizations.
Also Read: Trump Govt Calls for Emergency UN Security Council Meeting Over DRC
The review takes place in Geneva during a session of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) Working Group, which consists of the 47 member states of the UN Human Rights Council.
The process is an interactive dialogue between the country under review and other member and observer states.
After the review, the Working Group issues an outcome document. This document is later considered and formally adopted by the Human Rights Council.
Follow our WhatsApp Channel and X Account for real-time news updates.
