US Skips UN Human Rights Review Amid Global Criticism

The United States has formally notified the United Nations that it will not participate in the upcoming Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of its human rights record scheduled for November. This decision follows President Donald Trump's executive order to disengage from the UN Human Rights Council, citing concerns over the council's perceived politicization, selective bias against Israel, and failure to address abuses in countries like China, North Korea, Cuba, and Venezuela. The UPR process involves all 193 UN member states submitting reports on their human rights records every four to five years to receive recommendations from other members. Human rights advocates and UN officials have expressed regret and concern over the U.S. withdrawal, viewing it as a retreat from global engagement and a potential weakening of international human rights accountability. Experts warn that the U.S. abstention could encourage other nations with poor human rights records to avoid scrutiny. Despite no direct penalties for skipping the review, the U.S. move marks a notable shift in its participation in international human rights mechanisms.