United States skips U.N. human rights review in Geneva
The Trump administration declared the body irredeemable, making the U.S. the first nation to fully avoid the universal periodic review since its inception.
By Martin Reynolds ·
The United States became the first country to fully avoid a regular human rights review at the U.N. on Tuesday in Geneva. This marks the first time a nation has shunned the process since the body was created 20 years ago.
The Trump administration withdrew the U.S. from the Human Rights Council last year. Officials cited an anti-U.S. and anti-Israel bias and claimed the council did not uphold the values it promotes. The U.S. had already missed its scheduled review in November 2025. That date was pushed back to Tuesday in hopes the government would change its mind.
The council examines the rights records of all 193 U.N. member states roughly every four to five years. The process, known as the universal periodic review, requires participation from the country in question. If national representatives are absent, the review cannot proceed. Typically, delegations of up to a dozen officials present their record, face questions, and hear recommendations from other nations.
A State Department spokesperson told The Associated Press that the U.S. gives no credibility to the agency. The spokesperson called the council an irredeemable body that makes a mockery of human rights. They alleged the council consistently fails to uphold its own values while pushing anti-American rhetoric. The administration also noted the council's persistent failure to condemn the most egregious human rights violators.
Jamil Dakwar, director of the ACLU's human rights program, told reporters in Geneva that the administration is saying the U.S. does not care if others review its record. He stated that the U.S. will continue to violate human rights unabashed. Dakwar said the ACLU and allies want the council to hold the United States accountable. The groups have asked the U.N. human rights chief to present an update on U.S. rights early next year.
Eric Tistounet, a visiting professor at the Geneva Graduate Institute and the council's first secretary, warned that the walkout could affect the system's credibility. He noted that the predominant global power has always claimed to adhere to human rights norms. Tistounet said that if that power does not show up and does not justify its absence, the council is in big trouble.
The council is scheduled to continue its operations in Geneva. The U.S. delegation is not present for the Tuesday session. The review process for other nations will proceed as planned.
