Country detail - yourHRC.org

United States of America

Regional group:

Western European & Others Group

Council member:

2006-2007

2007-2008

2008-2009

2009-2010

2010-2011

2011-2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024

Council Bureau membership:	–
Coordinator of regional group:	1 (2016)
Voluntary financial contribution to OHCHR (2023) :

Other HRC positions:	–
OHCHR presence:	OHCHR Headquarters
NHRI accreditation status:	–

National Mechanisms for Implementation, Reporting, and Follow-up (NMIRF): Standing - Inter-Ministerial

Engagement with the HRC

Principal sponsorship of HRC resolutions

Addressing attacks on school children in Afghanistan; Assistance to Somalia in the field of human rights; Cooperation between Tunisia and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights; Freedom of opinion and expression; Human rights and preventing and countering violent extremism; Human rights situation in the Syrian Arab Republic; Preventing the deterioration of the human rights situation in Burundi; Promoting reconciliation and accountability in Sri Lanka; Situation of human rights in South Sudan; Situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran; Technical assistance and cooperation on human rights for Kyrgyzstan; Freedom of opinion and expression: mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression; The promotion, protection and enjoyment of human rights on the Internet; The right to a nationality: Women’s Equal Nationality Rights in Law and in Practice; The rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association; The role of freedom of opinion and expression in women’s empowerment.

Voting record

Since it first became a member of the Council in 2009, the USA has either voted in favour of or has joined consensus on every resolution tabled under item 4 (situations that require the Council’s attention), and country-specific resolutions under item 2. For item 7 resolutions (human rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territories), the USA has voted against every resolution. On item 10 resolutions (capacity-building), the USA has joined consensus on all resolutions except for the two that were voted on (during its time as member): both of which dealt with cooperation with Ukraine (with the US voting in favour). For thematic resolutions dealing with civil and political rights, the USA has mainly either voted in favour or joined consensus. Resolutions that it usually (or always) votes against include: defamation of religions; Cuba’s resolutions on right to peace; some African Group resolutions on racism; the Russian Federations’s resolution on the integrity of the judicial system; Egypt’s resolution on the effects of terrorism on human rights; and Pakistan’s resolution on drones. For thematic resolutions dealing with economic, social and cultural rights, the USA has joined consensus on a majority of texts. Resolutions that it tends to vote against include: Cuba's resolutions on the effects of foreign debt; Cuba's resolutions on international solidarity; NAM resolutions on unilateral coercive measures; NAM resolutions on the right to development (though sometimes it abstains on these texts); and African Group resolutions on the non-repatriation of funds of illicit origin.

HRC participation

During HRC general discussions, panel debates and interactive dialogues with the Special Procedures, during the past three years, either as an HRC member or not, the State has joined:

Regional
group statements

Average of statements for all countries: 78

Subregional
group statements

Average of statements for all countries: 50

Political group
statements

Average of statements for all countries: 109

Cross-regional
group statements

Average of statements for all countries: 96

Other joint
statements

Average of statements for all countries: 5

HRC member empty chair?

Overall, as a HRC member, has participated in more than 10% of panel discussions, general debates and interactive dialogues.

Cooperation with international human rights system

Special Procedures

Standing invitation

Communications responded to / received

131

Visits requests status

Completed
Invitation sent by the State not (yet) accepted by the SP
Accepted / date set
Visit request by the SP and not (yet) accepted by the State
Postponed / cancelled

Longest visit request not (yet) accepted by the State >
SR on torture, 2010

Treaty Bodies

Ratified

Reporting Status

Ratification status
Party Not Party
Individual complaint procedure accepted.
Reporting status

Submitted on time
Submitted late
Not applicable

On schedule
Overdue (outstanding)

CAT

ICCPR

CED

CEDAW

CERD

ICESCR

CRC

CRPD

Most overdue report

None overdue

OP-CAT

Ratified

NPM established

Universal Periodic Review

Reported

(2010, 2015, 2020)

Mid-term report

Level of delegation

Ambassador and Acting Legal Adviser

Participation in other reviews
1^st cycle: 129 / 192

2^nd cycle: 192 / 192

Cooperation with the UN, its representatives and mechanisms in the field of human rights

Cited in the Secretary General’s reports on 'alleged reprisals for cooperation with the United Nations, its representatives and mechanisms in the field of human rights' (2010-2023)?

Fulfilment of past voluntary pledges & commitments

Specific voluntary pledges: 35

The United States of America presented commitments and pledges supporting its candidature for membership of the Council for the period 2017-2019 in December 2015. In the document, the United States committed to:

Work for a balanced, credible and effective Council.
Continue to cooperate with and support the work of the human rights mechanisms, including Special Procedures and the UPR.
Support States with the implementation of their human rights obligations through dialogue, exchange, technical cooperation, and support for civil society.
Consider ratification of CEDAW and CRPD.
Strengthen international mechanisms to advance the rights of women.
Address stigma and discrimination against persons based on their sexual orientation or gender identity.
Continue to promote the rights of persons with disabilities.
Combat racial and ethnic discrimination, domestically and internationally.
Promote the active involvement of CSOs in the work of the Council.
Work in a spirit of consultation to address situations of concern.
Continue to support OHCHR financially.
Support implementation of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, and the Secretary-General’s Plan of Action on Counter-Violent Extremism.
Promote ratification and implementation of the Protocol to prevent, suppress and punish trafficking in persons.
Promote freedom of religion, support the implementation of Council resolution 16/18, and contribute to the Istanbul Process.
Support economic, social and cultural rights, and support the achievement of the SDGs.
Continue to play a leadership role in promoting business and human rights.
Continue to champion freedom of expression and the protection of journalists.

An analysis of the steps taken by the United States to fulfil its pledges and commitments shows that it did continue to support OHCHR financially. The United States joined consensus on all resolutions on business and human rights adopted during the time it was a member. However, the United States did not move to ratify the CEDAW or CRPD, and is yet to complete around 30% of Special Procedures visit requests.

United States of America

Western European & Others Group

Engagement with the HRC

Principal sponsorship of HRC resolutions

Voting record

HRC participation

HRC member empty chair?

Cooperation with international human rights system

Special Procedures

Standing invitation

Communications responded to / received

Visits requests status

Treaty Bodies

Ratified

Reporting Status

Universal Periodic Review

Participation in other reviews 1st cycle: 129 / 192

2nd cycle: 192 / 192

Cooperation with the UN, its representatives and mechanisms in the field of human rights

Fulfilment of past voluntary pledges & commitments

Specific voluntary pledges: 35

Participation in other reviews
1^st cycle: 129 / 192

2^nd cycle: 192 / 192