September 23, 2025 | Human Rights Press
The Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) has published a new Expert Brief warning that the Trump administration’s decision to withdraw from the United Nations’ Universal Periodic Review (UPR) threatens both U.S. credibility abroad and Americans’ security at home.
Authored by Catherine Powell, Beth Van Schaack, and Desirée Cormier Smith, the brief—titled “Trump’s Boycott of the UN’s Human Rights Process Puts America Last, Not First”—argues that the move represents a sharp retreat from international human rights standards. The UPR is a central mechanism of the UN Human Rights Council, requiring every member state to undergo periodic peer reviews of its human rights record. Until this year, the United States had participated in each cycle.
The authors contend that the withdrawal undermines decades of U.S. leadership in shaping and defending human rights norms, dating back to Eleanor Roosevelt’s role in drafting the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. They warn that the vacuum left by Washington will be quickly filled by authoritarian powers eager to shape global standards.
“Protecting and advancing human rights globally has long been in America’s self-interest,” the authors note, pointing to research linking human rights abuses with instability, poverty, migration, and terrorism. They stress that pulling back not only emboldens dictators abroad but also weakens U.S. national security and prosperity.
The brief highlights the UPR’s effectiveness, citing studies showing that more than three-quarters of its recommendations have been adopted by participating states. By abandoning the process, the United States signals that it considers itself exempt from scrutiny, giving cover to governments that repress their citizens.
The experts call on future U.S. leaders to reverse course, rejoin the UPR process, and reaffirm America’s commitment to human rights as both a moral and strategic priority.
Source: Council on Foreign Relations, Expert Brief by Catherine Powell, Beth Van Schaack, and Desirée Cormier Smith.