US not included in human rights review by UN body as many countries appeal for its return next year

The United States on Friday rejected a review of its human rights record by a United Nations body ordered by the Trump administration, which has turned its back on the Trump administration. human rights council,

US allies and rights advocates alike were disappointed, as the Council President sought input from the United States – once a staunch partner and defender of human rights around the world – as part of its regular review of all UN member states.

Council members expressed regret that the United States did not participate, urged the Council President to resume its cooperation with the US, and proposed rescheduling the US review for next year: such a review cannot take place without the participation of the “country concerned”. honduras It faced scrutiny early in the day on Friday.

There is no indication whether the Trump administration will participate next year. The US had announced in September itself that it would stay out of Friday’s review.

American Civil Liberties UnionAn advocacy group said the Trump administration is “setting a dangerous precedent that will further undermine universal human rights at home and abroad,” and pointed to rights concerns in the United States.

“From discrimination and violence in ICE raids, to attacks on the freedom of speech of protesters and journalists, to the deployment of.” National Guard “When there is no crisis in American cities, the world is watching the United States government attack the constitutional and human rights of its own people,” said Chandra Bhatnagar, executive director of the ACLU of Southern California, referring to Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

The Council examines the rights records of all 193 UN member states every four or five years. It was the fourth such review of the United States since the creation of the 47-member country council two decades ago.

Council officials have said that in 2013 Israel became the only other country to reject the council’s review process – but joined it nine months later.

us President donald trump In February an executive order was issued announcing that the United States was withdrawing from the council.

The first Trump administration, citing the council’s alleged anti-Israel bias and refusal to reform, pulled the United States out in 2018, before the Biden administration brought the US back in. The United States participated in the review process even during Trump’s first term.

UN human rights chief Volker Turk earlier this year lamented a “fundamental change in direction” in the United States on human rights issues.