The Biden administration has announced its decision to not pursue a second consecutive term on the U.N. Human Rights Council, as confirmed by the State Department. This move marks a shift from the administration's initial prioritization of U.S. membership on the council upon taking office in 2021, following the withdrawal by former President Donald Trump citing anti-Israel bias.
Since rejoining the council, the administration has frequently expressed concerns over the council's voting patterns, particularly on issues related to the Middle East. State Department spokesman explained that the decision not to seek re-election at this time is part of ongoing discussions with allies on the most effective path forward.
The elections for the 47-member council are conducted by the U.N. General Assembly, with candidates representing various geographic groups. The U.S. geographic group, known as Western Hemisphere and Others (WEOG), will be represented by Iceland, Spain, and Switzerland in the upcoming term. These countries were chosen based on their strong track record of supporting human rights.
The U.N. Human Rights Council was established in 2006 to replace a discredited human rights commission. However, it has faced criticism for similar issues, including the presence of rights-abusing members seeking protection. The U.S. has been a vocal advocate for Israel within the council and has raised concerns about alleged anti-Israel bias.
The decision to withdraw from the council during the Trump administration was reversed by Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who criticized the move as detrimental to fostering meaningful change. The U.S. viewed the council's treatment of Israel as overly critical, leading to the 2018 withdrawal.
While the Biden administration will not seek re-election to the U.N. Human Rights Council, it remains committed to engaging on human rights issues and will continue to work with allies to address these critical matters.
