U.S. declines to participate in UN review of its human rights record

A UN official confirmed on Thursday that the United States has informed the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) that it will not participate in the fourth cycle of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of the country, scheduled for November 6 in Geneva.

OHCHR spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani said the Office is aware of and regrets the U.S. decision to withdraw from an important peer review process of the intergovernmental UN Human Rights Council, in which all UN member states regularly participate.

She noted that the Office will continue to engage with the U.S. government, as well as with civil society, academia, businesses and other stakeholders, on human rights issues.

The UPR is regarded as a key platform within the UN framework for countries to exchange views on human rights issues.

Since the first cycle of the UPR began in 2008, all 193 UN member states have undergone three reviews. The fourth cycle, which commenced in 2022, is currently underway. The United States previously underwent reviews in 2010, 2015 and 2020.

(Cover: The UN Human Rights Council holds its 59th regular session at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, from June 16 to July 9, 2025. /VCG)