The United Nations Human Rights Council: Issues for Congress Page: 3 of 19
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The United Nations Human Rights Council: Issues for Congress
coalitions and steer the Council toward a more balanced approach to addressing
human rights. Opponents of U.S. participation maintain that the U.S. membership
provides the Council with undeserved legitimacy and that the United States
should not serve on a body that would allow human rights abusers to serve as
members.
" Possible impact of observer status. Members may wish to take into account the
role of Council observer, a status the United States would likely hold if it were to
withdraw from the Council. Council observers are not eligible to vote in the
Council but they may participate in the UPR process and may participate in
regular and special sessions.
" Alternatives to the Council? Some U.S. policymakers and observers have
suggested that if the United States were to withdraw from the Council, it could
pursue its human rights priorities in other U.N. fora such as the General
Assembly or the Security Council. Opponents contend that these bodies do not
focus exclusively on human rights issues like the Council does, and that they lack
key Council mechanisms, such as the UPR process and other related procedures.
" Focus on Israel. Many Members of Congress have expressed concern with what
they view as the Council's disproportionate focus on Israel, including its
inclusion as a permanent agenda item and the number of special sessions
focusing on Israel compared to other human rights situations. The level and
extent of the Council's focus on Israel moving forward is likely to continue to
shape congressional and Administration views on U.S. participation in the
Council.Congressional Research Service
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Blanchfield, Luisa. The United Nations Human Rights Council: Issues for Congress, report, September 27, 2017; Washington D.C.. (https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc1042352/m1/3/: accessed April 24, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, UNT Digital Library, https://digital.library.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.