US Delegation Absent for UN Human Rights Council Review
Geneva session proceeds without American officials after the State Department declared the body lacks credibility.
By Rafael Bailey ·
The United States is absent from its scheduled session at the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva on Tuesday. The nation becomes the first member state to fully skip a universal periodic review since the body launched two decades ago. The session began without American officials present at the venue.
The State Department confirmed the absence via email to The Associated Press. A spokesperson stated the administration gives no credibility to the agency. The official called the council irredeemable, claiming it makes a mockery of human rights. The department alleged the body fails to uphold its own values while pushing anti-American rhetoric.
The Trump administration withdrew the U.S. from the Human Rights Council last year. Officials cited an anti-U.S. and anti-Israel bias within the group. They argued the council did not enforce the standards it promoted to other nations. The withdrawal preceded the current review cycle.
The council examines the rights records of all 193 U.N. member states roughly every four to five years. The U.S. skipped its initial appointment a year ago. Planners delayed the November 2025 session until Tuesday, hoping the government might change its mind. The U.S. did not send representatives for this rescheduled date.
Council rules require participation from the country under review. If no national representatives appear, the process cannot move forward. Typical sessions involve delegations of a dozen or more officials. These groups present their records, answer questions, and hear recommendations from other envoys. The format aims to provide constructive feedback to improve national policies.
Critics argue the absence undermines the review system. Jamil Dakwar, director of the ACLU’s human rights program, spoke to reporters in Geneva on Monday. He said the administration signals a lack of concern about external scrutiny. “We don’t care about whether you would review us or not,” Dakwar quoted the administration as saying. “We’re going to continue to violate human rights unabashed.”
Dakwar added that the council should hold the United States accountable. He stated that enough is enough regarding the current dynamic. The ACLU and allies asked the U.N. human rights chief to present an update on U.S. rights early next year. This request follows the U.S. decision to stay away from the Geneva session.
Eric Tistounet, a visiting professor at the Geneva Graduate Institute, noted the body's first secretary was him. He said the walkout could damage the credibility of the review system. “If the predominant global power doesn’t show up and doesn’t even justify why, then you are in big trouble,” Tistounet said. The session continues in Geneva without the American delegation.
