In February 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order withdrawing the United States from the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), citing perceived anti-Israel bias and inefficiencies within the organization. Despite this formal disengagement, reports indicate that the U.S. has continued to exert influence over the council’s activities through behind-the-scenes lobbying.
A notable instance of this influence involved a proposal by Pakistan to establish an International, Impartial, and Independent Mechanism (IIIM) to investigate Israel’s actions in the occupied Palestinian territories. The U.S. opposed this initiative, with American lawmakers cautioning that any UNHRC member supporting the measure could face consequences similar to those imposed on the International Criminal Court for its actions against Israeli officials. Subsequently, the proposal was amended to remove the call for the IIIM, instead suggesting that the UN General Assembly consider the idea in the future.
Critics argue that the U.S. is attempting to influence the UNHRC’s decisions without formally participating in its proceedings. Lucy McKernan of Human Rights Watch remarked, “The U.S. seems to be trying to have it both ways. It doesn’t want to pay for or participate in the UN, but it still wants to boss it around.”
This situation underscores broader concerns about the future of international human rights institutions. Phil Lynch, Director of the International Service for Human Rights, warned of a potential future characterized by “lawlessness and raw power,” highlighting the challenges faced by global human rights mechanisms in the current geopolitical climate.