US withdraws from key UN human rights review, drawing criticism

The US will not participate in a UN review of its human rights record, officials said, a move that rights advocates called a worrying retreat from Washington's global engagement on rights and justice issues.

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The Universal Periodic Review (UPR) expects all 193 UN member states to submit reports on their human rights records every 4 1/2 to five years. The reports are reviewed by other member states, which provide non-binding recommendations.

A US State Department official told Reuters that the US will not participate in the UPR mechanism or submit its report in November, when it and 13 other countries are due to be reviewed.

This followed an executive order by President Donald Trump on Feb 4 to disengage from the UN Human Rights Council, the official said.

"Engagement in UPRs implies endorsement of the (Human Rights) Council's mandate and activities and ignores its persistent failure to condemn the most egregious human rights violators," the official said.