The United States refused to attend its Universal Periodic Review for the second consecutive year, leaving its seat empty in Geneva. Participating nations had intended to address sensitive issues such as the death penalty, abortion rights, and racial discrimination. Non-governmental groups also provided nearly 200 documents detailing concerns regarding migration, an area where council experts have previously criticized Washington's deportations.
Key points
The United Nations Human Rights Council postponed the formal examination of the American…: The United Nations Human Rights Council postponed the formal examination of the American record until January.
Activists are urging Volker Turk to conduct an independent briefing despite Washington's…: Activists are urging Volker Turk to conduct an independent briefing despite Washington's deliberate absence from the proceedings.
Diplomatic representatives remain reluctant to openly challenge Washington, opting instea…: Diplomatic representatives remain reluctant to openly challenge Washington, opting instead to encourage its future return to the council.
Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1
The meeting was postponed until January after Washington refused to take part, saying participation would imply support for the UN Human Rights Council.
GENEVA: The United States spurned a UN meeting on Tuesday (Nov 10) where its human rights record under US President Donald Trump was due to be examined, drawing criticism from rights groups who say violations have surged to levels not seen in decades.
Washington disengaged from the Geneva-based UN Human Rights Council last year, citing an anti-Israel bias, and this is the second year in a row that it has skipped its own review - a process that even authoritarian states take part in.
The US left its seat on the stage of the UN meeting empty and the council decided to postpone the event until January.
A US State Department spokesperson said participation would imply endorsement of the council's work.
"This irredeemable body makes a mockery of human rights through consistent failures to uphold its own 'values' as it pushes anti-American rhetoric," the spokesperson said, without responding to allegations about the US record.
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