In a move that stunned global observers, the United States announced it will not participate in the United Nations’ Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of its human rights record scheduled for November. The UPR mechanism requires all 193 U.N. member states to undergo a review every 4.5 to 5 years. Officials confirmed that the U.S. would neither submit its national report nor engage in peer reviews by other states.
A U.S. State Department official said the decision stemmed from President Donald Trump’s executive order on February 4 to disengage from the U.N. Human Rights Council. “Engagement in UPRs implies endorsement of the Council’s mandate and activities and ignores its persistent failure to condemn the most egregious human rights violators,” the official told Reuters.
This makes the U.S. the first country on record to potentially skip a submission in the history of the UPR, unless it submits before the current cycle ends in July 2027.
What Is the Universal Periodic Review?
The UPR, established in 2006, is one of the few mechanisms where every U.N. member state—big or small—is equally accountable for its human rights track record.
- Each country is reviewed by its peers.
- Reports include assessments by NGOs and U.N. human rights offices.
- Recommendations are non-binding but carry political weight.
The United States has historically participated in this process, including in April–May 2020 during Trump’s first term, even after formally withdrawing from the Human Rights Council in 2018.
Global Criticism of the U.S. Decision
The response from international bodies was swift. Ravina Shamdasani, chief spokesperson for the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), said the U.N. regretted Washington’s decision.
“Constructive engagement with the Council, by the U.S. and all States, has contributed to the promotion and protection of human rights worldwide over the years,” she told Reuters.
Michael Posner, director of the Center for Business and Human Rights at NYU Stern, warned that the U.S. move undermines global accountability.
“By withdrawing from the UPR, the U.S. gives gross human rights abusers like Iran, Russia, and Sudan an excuse to follow suit,” said Posner, who helped direct the UPR process under President Barack Obama.
Phil Lynch, Executive Director of the International Service for Human Rights in Geneva, was even more scathing:
“Under Trump the U.S. is rapidly becoming a human rights pariah state,” he said, adding that the refusal to participate signals “disdain for people facing discrimination.”
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Washington’s Justification
The U.S. State Department pushed back against the criticism, insisting that the country’s leadership on human rights is unquestionable.
“The U.S. is proud of its record and its role in advancing human rights globally,” the official said.
Still, critics argue that refusing to be reviewed contradicts America’s claim of moral leadership. Without participation, the U.S. weakens its leverage in pushing other nations to respect human rights.
Although there are no direct penalties for skipping the UPR, analysts warn of reputational costs. Washington risks creating a precedent that authoritarian regimes could exploit. If the U.S.—a founding member of the U.N., chooses to disengage, others may follow.
Whether the U.S. submits its overdue report before July 2027 remains unclear. For now, its absence in the upcoming November review sets a new and controversial precedent in the global human rights system.
