By Jia Chunyang
On Tuesday, local time, US President Donald Trump signed an executive order to withdraw the US from and end the funding to the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC).
During Trump's first term, the US frequently withdrew from international organizations and treaties. In June 2018, Trump announced US withdrawal from the UNHRC. Back then, the US also withdrew from organizations and agreements such as the Paris Agreement, the Iran Nuclear Deal, the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF Treaty), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Now, after announcing US withdrawal from the WHO and the Paris Agreement on January 20, 2025 , the very day of assuming office, Trump once again sounded the horn of withdrawal.
Regarding US withdrawal from the UNHRC this time, Trump's excuses are that "some of the UN's agencies and bodies have drifted from this mission and instead act contrary to the interests of the United States while attacking our allies and propagating anti-Semitism," and that "UNHRC has protected human rights abusers by allowing them to use the organization to shield themselves from scrutiny." In the so-called Fact Sheet published on the White House website on the same day, the US labeled the UNHRC as "an anti-American organization," accusing that it "has not fulfilled its purpose and continues to be used as a protective body for countries committing horrific human rights violations," and claimed that it "has demonstrated consistent bias against Israel, focusing on it unfairly and disproportionately in council proceedings." The US also once again accused countries like Iran, China, and Cuba of "human rights violations and abuses."
Apparently, the excuses given by the White House for US withdrawal, especially the so-called "scrutiny," are filled with US-style "arrogance and prejudice." As an intergovernmental body within the UN system, the UNHRC is made up of 47 member states, and its main responsibility is to strengthen the promotion and protection of human rights worldwide, address human rights violations, and make recommendations on these issues. While the UNHRC is not perfect in its operations, it serves as an important platform for countries to engage in candid exchanges, constructive dialogue, and cooperation on human rights issues. It is also an important mechanism for promoting the common development of various countries and mutual learning among civilizations.
The US only recognizes organizations like the UNHRC as the "embodiment of international rules" and acknowledges their "important roles" when they suit US interests. That's also a prerequisite for the US to participate in related activities. Clearly, human rights issues are merely a tool for the US to engage in international political struggles. The US uses organizations like the UNHRC and the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) as instruments to launch public opinion attacks and besiege other countries in diplomacy. When the US feels that the UNHRC is no longer under its control or has "violated US interests," it would put the blame on the organization and even labels it as "anti-American," fabricating flimsy excuses to justify its withdrawal.
Protecting and promoting human rights is a common cause for humanity, which requires active participation and concerted efforts from all countries. As a founding member of the UN and a permanent member of the UN Security Council, the US should shoulder its responsibility as a major country, play a positive role in the protection and development of human rights worldwide, and work with other countries to ensure that mechanisms like the UNHRC operate impartially and objectively. Constantly withdrawing from international organizations and treaties or turning bodies like the UNHRC into arenas for political manipulation and bloc confrontation is an irresponsible approach.
(The author is a research fellow at the Institute of American Studies, China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations.)
Editor's Note: Originally published on china.com.cn, this article is translated from Chinese into English and edited by the China Military Online. The information and opinions in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of eng.chinamil.com.cn.
