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U.S. Skips U.N. Human Rights Review, First Nation to Fully Opt Out

United States

DENIS BALIBOUSE/Reuters

DENIS BALIBOUSE/Reuters

What Happened

On Nov. 10 the United States declined to participate in its scheduled Universal Periodic Review at the U.N. Human Rights Council, becoming the first country to shun the UPR. Because the council requires a national delegation, the review cannot proceed and is likely to be postponed until January.

What Happened

On Nov. 10 the United States declined to participate in its scheduled Universal Periodic Review at the U.N. Human Rights Council, becoming the first country to shun the UPR. Because the council requires a national delegation, the review cannot proceed and is likely to be postponed until January.

Where Sources Disagree

  • arrows_outputHistorical Precedent of UPR Boycotts: Some reports state the U.S. is the second country to boycott the Universal Periodic Review, citing Israel's 2013 precedent; however, other outlets describe the U.S. as the first country to fully shun a regular review since the council's inception.
  • arrows_outputDrivers of U.N. Boycott: Rights advocates argue the U.S. boycott stems from broader criticism of Trump administration policies, including immigration and reproductive rights. Conversely, the State Department maintains the boycott is a response to the Human Rights Council's alleged anti-American and anti-Israel bias.

Timeline

November 10, 2026

U.S. shuns UPR session: On Nov. 10, the United States spurned a UN meeting to examine its human rights record, becoming the first country to fully shun a regular Universal Periodic Review and marking the country's second consecutive year of non‑participation, drawing strong condemnation from civil society and rights groups.

November 2025

November 2025 review postponed: A scheduled Universal Periodic Review session set for November 2025 was pushed back in hopes Washington might change course, with U.N. documents and diplomats noting the review had been deferred to a later Tuesday meeting.

2025

U.S. withdraws from council: The Trump administration formally pulled the United States out of the U.N. Human Rights Council, accusing it of anti‑U.S. and anti‑Israel bias and saying it did not uphold its proclaimed values, a move reported as having occurred last year.

Summary by Ground AI

A varied selection of sources chosen by Ground to reflect the diversity of this story’s coverage.

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