U.S. to rejoin the UN Human Rights Council

Biden administration moves to rejoin the UN Human Rights Council, reversing another key policy of the previous Trump administration.

Context

• Biden administration moves to rejoin the UN Human Rights Council, reversing another key policy of the previous Trump administration.

Background

• Trump administration withdrew from the council, the world’s most important human rights body, in 2018 over what he and his allies called unfair targeting of Israel.
• The departure made the United States the first country to leave voluntarily.

The decision

• Washington is planning to return to the Geneva-based body as an observer to seek electionas a full member.
• The decision is likely to draw criticism from conservative lawmakers and many in the pro-Israel community.
• Although the U.S. will have only nonvoting observer status on the council through the end of 2021, the administration intends to seek one of three full member seats — currently held by Austria, Denmark and Italy — from the “Western Europe and other states group” that come up for electionlater this year.