US Skips UN Human Rights Review for Second Consecutive Year

VoS NEWS DESK | GENEVA | 11 November 2026

The United States has again refused to participate in the United Nations Universal Periodic Review (UPR), an international mechanism designed to assess the human rights records of all 193 UN member states. The American delegation failed to attend the scheduled examination in Geneva on Tuesday, 10 November, marking the second consecutive year Washington has boycotted the process.

The absence came despite an earlier postponement intended to provide the US administration with another opportunity to participate. In November 2025, Washington also failed to attend its scheduled review, prompting the UN Human Rights Council to delay the proceedings for another year.

As the latest session began, the United States' seats remained empty at the UN headquarters in Geneva. The council subsequently agreed to postpone the examination until January 2027, leaving the country's human rights record without the scheduled assessment.

The Trump administration has previously criticised the UN Human Rights Council, arguing that the organisation demonstrates anti-American bias and fails to uphold its stated principles. Washington withdrew from the council in 2025 and has subsequently reduced its engagement with several international institutions.

However, the Universal Periodic Review is a separate mechanism that applies to every UN member state, regardless of whether it holds membership of the Human Rights Council. The process allows governments to examine one another's records and issue recommendations concerning human rights protections, legal standards and civil liberties.

International human rights organisations have expressed concern about the consequences of the American decision. Issues expected to receive attention during the review included migration policies, racial discrimination, abortion access, the death penalty and broader protections for civil liberties.

Nearly 200 submissions from American and international organisations had also been prepared for consideration, highlighting concerns about human rights developments within the country.

The repeated absence has raised questions about whether the international community can maintain a consistent accountability framework when a major global power refuses to participate.

VoS STRATEGIC INSIGHT

The Universal Periodic Review is built on the principle that every country should face international scrutiny under the same standards. The American boycott presents a significant challenge to that principle and could influence how other governments approach international human rights obligations.

For the United Nations, maintaining the credibility of the review process will require continued cooperation, diplomatic engagement and consistent application of its standards. The January 2027 postponement may provide another opportunity for Washington to reconsider its position, although the wider debate over international accountability is likely to continue.