The United States became the first country in nearly two decades to fully skip a scheduled review of its human rights record before the United Nations Human Rights Council on Tuesday. The absence marked the first time any nation has refused to participate in an entire cycle of the council’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR), a process that examines the human rights records of all 193 U.N. member states approximately every four to five years.
The Trump administration had previously withdrawn the U.S. from the Human Rights Council in 2018, citing what it described as an anti-U.S. and anti-Israel bias within the body. The U.S. had already skipped its scheduled review appointment in 2024, and the November 2025 review was postponed until this week in an attempt to secure participation. The administration confirmed it would not attend, stating in an email to the Associated Press that it ‘gives no credibility’ to the council.
Process and Implications
The UPR requires the participation of the country under review, as national delegations typically present their records, face questions, and receive recommendations from other member states. Without U.S. representatives present, the review could not proceed. A council spokesperson stated that the process is designed to hold all nations accountable, including the U.S., which has faced criticism for policies such as strong-arm deportations and targeted killings in the Caribbean and Pacific, actions the administration has defended as measures to protect national security.
Rationale and Criticism
The State Department spokesperson reiterated the administration’s position in a statement, alleging the council ‘makes a mockery of human rights through consistent failures to uphold its own values’ and accused it of ‘pushing anti-American rhetoric’ while failing to condemn severe human rights violators. Supporters of the council’s mandate argue that the UPR serves as a critical mechanism for global human rights accountability, regardless of a nation’s size or influence.
The U.S. absence follows its 2018 withdrawal from the Human Rights Council, a move that drew international criticism at the time. The council, headquartered in Geneva, has emphasized that the UPR process is a cornerstone of its mission to promote and protect human rights worldwide, with reviews conducted in a collaborative and non-confrontational manner. The U.S. decision to skip the review underscores ongoing tensions between the administration and international human rights institutions.