U.S. Walkout from U.N. Human Rights Review Sparks Concerns

The United States will become the first nation to fully boycott a regular review of its human rights record at the United Nations’ top rights body. This marks a significant departure since the council’s inception two decades ago.

The Trump administration withdrew the U.S. from the Human Rights Council last year, citing alleged biases against the U.S. and Israel. The administration argued that the council failed to uphold the values it advocates. Despite criticism, including strong-arm deportations and targeted killings of alleged drug runners in the Caribbean and Pacific, the administration stated these actions aimed to safeguard American workers and the nation.

The Human Rights Council examines the rights records of all 193 U.N. member states approximately every four to five years. This procedure is called the universal periodic review. The U.S., under President Trump, skipped its review appointment last year. The November 2025 review was postponed to Tuesday with the hope that the U.S. would reconsider, yet it did not.

A State Department spokesperson remarked, “(W)e give no credibility to the agency,” criticizing the council for anti-American rhetoric and failing to condemn severe human rights violators.

The council requires a country’s participation for the review to proceed. Without national representatives, the review cannot advance.

This review process involves national delegations presenting their records, facing inquiries, and receiving feedback from other envoys. The aim is constructive, enabling governments to enhance their human rights policies.

Critics warn that the U.S. walkout might inspire other countries to avoid scrutiny. Jamil Dakwar, director of the American Civil Liberties Union’s human rights program, expressed concern over the U.S. stance. He stated, “The administration is saying to the world, ‘we don’t care about whether you would review us or not, we’re going to continue to violate human rights unabashed.'”

The ACLU and its allies urge the U.N. human rights chief to provide an update on U.S. rights early next year. Eric Tistounet, a visiting professor at the Geneva Graduate Institute and the council’s former secretary, explained that the U.S. walkout might undermine the council’s review credibility. He emphasized the potential impact of the absence of a powerful nation known for supporting human rights norms.