U.S. Boycotts U.N. Human Rights Review for Second Year Running

The United States is becoming the first nation to refuse a review by the U.N. Human Rights Council, according to a CBS News report. The network cited a State Department spokesperson, who said, "This irredeemable body makes a mockery of human rights."

According to CBS News, the spokesperson also said the council pushes anti-American rhetoric. The CBS News account does not describe the review in detail, and it does not include a response from the council.

A separate NPR report, written by Imogen Foulkes, said the United States has skipped a key U.N. human rights review for the second year running. NPR describes the absence as a continuation of a previous year's decision rather than a first-time step.

NPR also reported that rights groups warn the absence risks undermining global accountability. Those groups are described only in that general way in the report summary.

The two reports frame the decision differently. CBS News describes it as a refusal that would make the United States the first nation to take that step, while NPR describes it as a boycott now in its second year. The available reports do not say whether the United States will take part in future reviews.

Neither account gives further detail on the timing of the review or on reasons beyond the State Department statement cited by CBS News.

Sources: CBS News: U.S. becoming first nation to refuse U.N. Human Rights Council review; NPR: U.S. boycotts U.N. human rights review for second year running.