US Shuns UN Human Rights Review, a First in 20 Years: What Happens Next
The United States will skip its UN Human Rights Council review on Tuesday, becoming the first country in 20 years to refuse the process entirely.
Image: Wikimedia Commons / U.S. Department of State
GENEVA, Nov. 10, 2026 — The United States is set on Tuesday to become the first country to fully refuse a regular review of its human rights record by the United Nations Human Rights Council since the body was created two decades ago.
The Geneva-based council examines the rights records of all 193 United Nations member states, generally every four to five years, under a process known as the universal periodic review. The United States already skipped its appointment a year ago, when the November 2025 review was postponed in the hope that Washington would change its mind.
Key Takeaways
- The United States review was scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2026, in Geneva; no American delegation will attend.
- The council says a review cannot proceed without the country under examination.
- Washington withdrew from the council last year, citing anti-U.S. and anti-Israel bias.
- Rights groups say questions on abortion, the death penalty and deportations go unanswered.
What Is the UN Universal Periodic Review and How Does It Work
The universal periodic review asks every one of the 193 United Nations member states to submit a report on its human rights record every few years. Other states examine the report and offer non-binding recommendations. Fourteen countries are due to take part in Geneva this month.
The process is the council's signature peer-evaluation mechanism, and every member state has taken part since it was created. In President Donald Trump's first term, the United States submitted its own review report. The 47-member council has not directly criticised Washington's record, but its appointed experts have, including over migrant deportations.
Why the US Refuses the UN Human Rights Council Review
The Trump administration pulled the United States out of the Human Rights Council last year, accusing it of anti-U.S. and anti-Israel bias and alleging that it did not uphold the very values it promotes. A State Department spokesperson said participation in the review would imply endorsement of the council's work, and called the council an "irredeemable body."
It is the second consecutive year that Washington has skipped its own review. The November 2025 session was postponed for a year in the hope that the U.S. government would reconsider. It did not, and the council says the review cannot go forward without the country's representatives in the room.
What Happens Next After the US Skips Its Human Rights Review
The U.S. no-show will likely mean the event is postponed until January, according to a draft United Nations document and diplomats in Geneva. The council cannot compel a member state to attend.
No country has ever fully refused a regular review before, and the system depends on universal participation to carry weight. The American Civil Liberties Union has asked the United Nations human rights chief to present an update on conditions in the United States early next year.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 2006 | Human Rights Council created; universal periodic review begins for all 193 member states |
| 2025 | Trump administration withdraws the United States from the council; November 2025 review skipped |
| Nov. 10, 2026 | Rescheduled review in Geneva; United States sends no delegation |
| January 2027 | Review expected to be postponed to January, per a draft United Nations document |
The episode leaves an empty chair where the United States was due to sit. The Supreme Court's recent ruling on the Big Bend border wall and the Senate funding bill that ended the record shutdown show the same administration pressing ahead elsewhere.
Frequently Asked Questions
Has any country ever skipped a UN Human Rights Council review before?
No. The United States is the first country to fully refuse a regular review since the council was created two decades ago, and the session is expected to be postponed until January.
Why did the US leave the UN Human Rights Council?
The Trump administration withdrew the United States from the council last year, accusing it of anti-U.S. and anti-Israel bias. A State Department spokesperson said taking part would imply endorsement of the council's work.
What issues were countries planning to raise about the US?
United Nations documents show countries had planned to raise abortion and the death penalty at Tuesday's session. Experts appointed by the council have also criticised Washington's record, including over migrant deportations.
Will the US human rights review be rescheduled?
The no-show will likely mean the event is postponed until January, according to a draft United Nations document and diplomats in Geneva. No new review date has been set.
