The United Nations Human Rights Council: Is the United States Right to Leave this Club?

Abstract

The United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council is the world’s key intergovernmental body dealing with human rights. It was created in 2006 to replace the UN Commission on Human Rights.1 Its broad mandate empowers it to address the human rights situation in any State and on any human rights issue.2 Since its creation, it has made significant strides in the development, promotion and protection of human rights.3 Yet, on June 19, 2018, Ambassador Nikki Haley, the then-United States (US) Permanent Representative to the United Nations, announced the US’ withdrawal from the Council.4 Ambassador Haley and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo listed the continued membership of States “with unambiguous and abhorrent human rights records,” the Council’s failure to scrutinize the world’s most inhumane regimes, and its “chronic bias against Israel” as reasons for the withdrawal.5 These criticisms are not new, and they are not without merit.6 Indeed, the same criticisms plagued the Council’s predecessor, the Commission.7