Rights Abusers Poised to Win Seats on UN Human Rights Council

Rights Abusers Poised to Win Seats on UN Human Rights Council

Egypt and Vietnam are on track to secure seats on the United Nations Human Rights Council despite being widely viewed as unfit for membership. The UN General Assembly will elect members to the UN’s premier rights body in a non-competitive vote on 14 October 2025.

These two countries are among 14 member states seeking three-year terms on the 47-nation Human Rights Council starting in January 2026. Vietnam, currently a Council member, is seeking re-election.

“Non-competitive UN votes allow abusive governments like Egypt and Vietnam to join the Human Rights Council, threatening to make a mockery of the institution,” said Louis Charbonneau, UN Director at Human Rights Watch. “Member states should stop handing Council seats on a silver platter to serial rights violators.”

Egypt, along with Angola, Mauritius, and South Africa, is running for four African seats. India, Iraq, and Pakistan are competing with Vietnam for the four Asian seats. For Latin America and the Caribbean, Chile and Ecuador are unopposed for two seats.

In the Western group, Italy and the United Kingdom are running for two available seats, while Estonia and Slovenia are standing for two seats representing Central and Eastern Europe.

General Assembly Resolution 60/251, which established the Human Rights Council in 2006, urges states voting for members to “take into account the contribution of candidates to the promotion and protection of human rights.” Council members are required to “uphold the highest standards in the promotion and protection of human rights” and to “fully cooperate with the Council.”

Candidates only need a simple majority in the secret-ballot vote in the 193-member General Assembly to secure a seat, making it highly unlikely that any candidates will fail to be elected. Nevertheless, UN member states are urged not to support abusive governments that are demonstrably unqualified for Council membership.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi’s government continues widespread repression, systematically detaining and punishing peaceful critics and activists while effectively criminalising dissent. Security forces have committed serious human rights abuses with near-total impunity, including the killing of hundreds of largely peaceful protesters and widespread torture of detainees — acts that likely amount to crimes against humanity.

The government also prevents its citizens from engaging with the Geneva-based Human Rights Council and punishes those who do so through reprisals. It has repeatedly ignored UN experts’ requests to visit the country.

The ruling Communist Party of Vietnam maintains a monopoly on political power and allows no challenge to its leadership. Basic rights are severely restricted, including freedoms of expression, peaceful assembly, association, and religion. Activists and bloggers face police intimidation, harassment, travel restrictions, and arbitrary arrests.

Mauritius and the UK, among the countries running, signed a treaty recognising Mauritius’ sovereignty over the Chagos Islands but failed to address ongoing crimes against humanity against Chagossians and their right of return.

The UK forcibly displaced the Chagossian people between 1965 and 1973 to allow the US to build a military base. Both Mauritius and the UK should comply with their international human rights obligations, including recognising the Chagossians’ right of return and providing reparations.

Angolan President João Lourenço has pledged to protect human rights, though security forces have used excessive force against activists and peaceful protesters. South Africa has taken strong stances for accountability on Palestine and other issues but should be equally firm regarding rights violations by Russia and China.

The Bharatiya Janata Party government in India, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has refused access to UN experts. Party leaders and supporters have repeatedly vilified and attacked Muslims and Christians with impunity, while authorities often punish those who protest this campaign of Hindu majoritarianism.

Pakistan should end its use of draconian counterterrorism and sedition laws to silence peaceful critics and repeal its blasphemy laws. The government should prosecute those responsible for inciting or carrying out attacks on minorities.

In 2024, Iraq passed a law criminalising same-sex relations and transgender expression. Violence and discrimination against LGBT people are widespread, and no perpetrators are held accountable. Iraqi authorities have also increased repression of activists and journalists.

In Ecuador, the government has undermined judicial independence, and security forces have committed serious abuses since President Daniel Noboa declared an “internal armed conflict” in January 2024.

In Chile, President Gabriel Boric’s administration has taken a leading role in condemning human rights abuses worldwide, but domestic challenges persist, including racism and violations against migrants.

In the UK, authorities should end their crackdown on freedom of assembly. Many peaceful protesters supporting Palestinian rights or climate action have been arrested and some imprisoned.

Italy should stop criminalising and obstructing sea rescues and enabling Libyan forces to intercept migrants and return them to Libya, where they face arbitrary detention and severe abuse. Italy also failed to comply with a 2025 International Criminal Court warrant by sending a wanted suspect back to Libya instead of The Hague.

The Human Rights Council plays a vital role in investigating abuses in Syria, Myanmar, North Korea, Russia, Ukraine, and Israel-Palestine. It has also launched investigations into crimes in Afghanistan and extended its fact-finding mission for Sudan.

Council members should support probes into abuses by major powers, including China’s crimes against humanity against Uyghurs in Xinjiang, and address extrajudicial killings by the US of alleged narcotics traffickers at sea.

For Council investigations to remain credible, adequate funding is essential. Countries must pay their UN dues and increase voluntary contributions to prevent human rights monitoring from becoming a casualty of the UN’s financial crisis, exacerbated by the Trump administration’s halted payments and delayed contributions from others.

“The Human Rights Council has saved countless lives through investigations that deter governments and armed groups from committing abuses,” said Charbonneau. “All governments should recognise that it is in their interests to promptly pay their UN dues so the Council can do its job.”