JBI's new briefing paper, Game-Changer: the U.S. at the UN Human Rights Council, presents data and analysis demonstrating how the U.S. presence on the Human Rights Council has led to results in key U.S. priority areas, including on the body’s performance with respect to country-specific scrutiny and its treatment of Israel.
Noting that further reforms to address the Council’s enduring flaws are both necessary and achievable, the briefing paper puts forward recommendations on how the U.S. can work with allies to achieve these reforms in the years ahead. It also concludes, with an eye to the Council's record of performance during the years prior to U.S. engagement, that a U.S. withdrawal from the world body would result in negative consequences for multilateral efforts to protect and advance human rights.
Key findings include:
- The U.S. presence on the Human Rights Council has resulted in scrutiny of many of the world’s worst human rights violators.
- The Council has promoted universal human rights principles as a result of U.S. engagement.
- U.S. participation has improved the Human Rights Council’s treatment of Israel.
- The Council’s membership is more rights-respecting as a result of U.S. leadership.
- U.S. engagement with the Human Rights Council has been a “game changer” for the world body, and redoubled commitment to reform could bring significant improvements.
The full text of the briefing paper is available for download here: JBI Briefing Paper - Game Changer - US on UNHRC