The United States of America has recently made the decision to disengage from its Universal Periodic Review (UPR) before the UN Human Rights Council, marking a deeply troubling retreat from global human rights accountability. By refusing to participate, the U.S.A. denies scrutiny of systemic issues and directly impacts residents of DC, and the Indigenous Chamorro People of Guam, leaving millions without an international forum to raise concerns about political disenfranchisement, health inequities, and environmental harms.
Established in 2006, the UPR provides a unique mechanism for UN Member States to undergo a comprehensive review of their human rights records approximately every 4.5 years. It serves as a vital platform for civil society to highlight rights violations and for states to demonstrate compliance with human rights obligations, particularly where domestic channels are limited or unavailable.
The U.S.A. review was scheduled for 7 November 2025, however, on the day no U.S. delegation appeared, preventing the “peer-reviewed” process from proceeding. This non-cooperation is especially concerning for the over four million residents of DC and U.S.A. territories, including the Indigenous Chamorro people of Guam, who already face systemic political disenfranchisement. These communities are further denied a critical platform to voice their concerns on the international stage.
UNPO’s stakeholder submission highlights ongoing rights violations, including the denial of federal voting rights to 700,000 DC residents and 3.5 million people in U.S.A. territories, and the erosion of the Chamorro people’s right to self-determination. Health and environmental harms persist, from high HIV rates in DC to contamination in Guam linked to military activities, contributing to elevated cancer rates and dozens of unremediated toxic sites. Federal overreach and proposed budget cuts threaten essential services in DC, while policy rollbacks in Guam risk leaving thousands without housing or healthcare. Military occupation of nearly a third of Guam’s land has also driven housing inflation, rising homelessness, and threats to the island’s only freshwater aquifer.
In response to the U.S.A.’ non-attendance, the Human Rights Council has since adopted a formal decision on “non-cooperation,” expressing regret over the U.S.A. delegation’s absence and urging its return to the process. The Council further indicated that UPR of the U.S.A. will be rescheduled to the 53rd session of the Working Group in 2026, emphasising the importance of the country’s engagement.
UNPO remains concerned about the lack of accountability created by the U.S.’ withdrawal, and will continue to monitor developments closely, urging the U.S. government to resume its participation in the UN Human Rights Council, ensuring meaningful engagement and the protection of affected communities.
