GENEVA: The United States skipped its scheduled Universal Periodic Review (UPR) on human rights on Friday, marking only the second time a country has ever boycotted this important United Nations process.
During the session’s opening, Jurg Lauber, president of the UN Human Rights Council, noted the absence, stating, “We were supposed to meet today in order to proceed with the review of the United States. Nevertheless, I note that the delegation of the United States is not present in this room.”
The absence was not unexpected, as the U.S. had announced back in August its decision to boycott the review, which all 193 UN member states undergo every four to five years. However, this decision still frustrated various U.S. officials and human rights advocates who had traveled to Geneva to express their concerns about rising issues since President Donald Trump took office in January.
Several countries present at the review voiced their opinions as well. A representative from China criticized the U.S. for its “lack of respect for the UPR mechanism.” Similarly, a delegate from Cuba accused the U.S. of attempting to undermine the Human Rights Council and the overall UN system, suggesting that the U.S. was afraid of what the review could reveal.
