⏱ 1 min 30 read
Background
The UN Human Rights Council sits in Geneva. Its Universal Periodic Review (UPR) assesses the human rights situation in each country through peer review. Since Donald Trump returned to the White House, the United States no longer takes part in Council meetings. Its boycott of the UPR had been announced for months.
The key points
On Tuesday 10 November 2026, in Geneva, the Council postponed the review of the United States. Its 47 members, including Switzerland, set it for 18 to 29 January 2027, during the next UPR session. The Council regrets Washington’s lack of cooperation and asks it to resume its participation.
According to the Keystone-ATS news agency, this is the first time a State has refused to take part in an entire peer-review cycle. The new timetable coincides with the start of the next US Congress, with a Democratic majority in both chambers.
Who says what
- Human Rights Council (47 member States): regrets the lack of cooperation and asks the United States to resume its participation
- US NGOs : ask High Commissioner Volker Türk to organise a meeting between two sessions on the situation in the United States
Analysis
- According to Keystone-ATS : some observers fear an erosion of the credibility of the UPR, regarded as the main mechanism linked to the Council
What's next
- Review of the United States scheduled between 18 and 29 January 2027, during the next UPR session
Further reading
Sources
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