Former President Donald Trump had called the US off the body. Now the country wants to participate again and “defend human rights worldwide”.
The US will return to the UN Human Rights Council as an observer. This was announced by a US spokesman at the United Nations. “We do this knowing that the most effective way to improve and reform the work of the UN Human Rights Council is a commitment in a principled form,” said Chargé d’affaires Mark Cassyre.

In June 2018, the United States announced that it would withdraw from the body under President Donald Trump. Trump considered the Council with its 47 member states to be biased, among other things because of its frequent criticism of Israel. The US itself came under criticism of the Council for accusations of racism.

The new administration of Trump’s successor Joe Biden is now withdrawing this decision of its previous government. After returning the Paris climate protection agreement and stopping the World Health Organization’s exit, it is another commitment by the new US President to the role of international bodies and obligations.