The United Nations Human Rights Council is a flawed body, but shaping the world’s perspective on human rights is one of the most consequential roles a nation can pursue.
The United States used to hold a seat on that council but walked away in 2018, decrying the council’s obsession with condemning Israel as well as its inclusion of blatant human rights abusers like China and Russia.
Now, President Joe Biden’s administration has announced that it will reengage with the council as an observer at first, with Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken stating the U.S. will become involved in a “principled fashion,” as the best way to reform and improve the council is to participate, not shun it.
This is the right move. There is a time to take a principled stand and walk away, but when other countries didn’t follow in its footsteps it was the U.S. that lost credibility rather than the council. It’s time to return to the table.
The UNHRC is the only body of its kind on the world stage, and for all its problems, it remains the best vehicle to influence human rights investigations and call for change. The 47-member body currently exercises its power in two ways: passing nonbinding resolutions and overseeing and coordinating investigations in specific countries. The resolutions aren’t effective and are clearly politicized, as the council targets Israel more than any other country, but the U.S. should work to redress this imbalance rather than simply throw up its hands.
The absence of the U.S. on the council also created a power vacuum that has allowed problematic countries like Saudi Arabia and Egypt and Iran to gain leverage and standing. As China amasses economic and political and technological power, this is no time to allow the Chinese to take a more prominent role on the UNHRC. Given the country’s forced detainment of millions of Uyghur Muslims, its leadership role is clearly a sham that makes a mockery of the council, but the U.S. absence didn’t help.
This country’s own human rights record is far from pure, with infractions ranging from illegal detainment and torture and more. Still, the U.S. commitment to democratic ideals remains a shining beacon to the rest of the world, a staunch cry against the false promises of authoritarianism. There is still a reason that Hong Kong residents protesting Chinese annexation waved American flags in the face of aggressors.
As Biden moves to participate in the council once more, he must recognize that progress will be an uphill climb and commit to concrete goals and actions to reform the council. Imagine if it reached its full potential as a global leader that actually elevates human rights issues and infractions to the narrow-eyed scrutiny of the globe. Imagine what nations united could accomplish with such an alliance. Its best chance of doing so involves participation by the United States, and the United States’ best chance of exerting influence comes from participating in the council once more.
— Pittsburgh Post-Gazette