United States Announces Candidacy for UN Human Rights Council

The Open Society Institute welcomes the candidacy of the United States for a seat on the United Nations Human Rights Council. U.S. reengagement with the human rights mechanisms of the United Nations is a small part of President Obama's ambitious promise in his inaugural address "that America is a friend of each nation, and every man, woman and child who seeks a future of peace and dignity. And we are ready to lead once more."

The council has disappointed many human rights defenders, and it is far from achieving its mandate to "address situations of violations of human rights, including gross and systematic violations" and to be "guided by the principles of universality, impartiality, objectivity and non-selectivity, constructive international dialogue and cooperation, with a view to enhancing the promotion and protection of all human rights" as stated in the council's founding resolution. The council has also achieved some important successes, including creating the Universal Periodic Review process, in which the human rights records of every country in the world are scrutinized.

The Open Society Institute believes that active U.S. leadership can improve the work of the council. If the United States wins a seat, it should work to strengthen the council's resolve to address the world's most pressing human rights abuses and defend long-accepted norms, such as freedom of expression.