Why U.S. is withdrawing from UN Human Rights Council and UNRWA

Donald Trump has signed an executive order withdrawing the United States from the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), Kazinform News Agency correspondent reports.

U.S. and UN flags
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UNHRC 

The United Nations Human Rights Council is an intergovernmental body within the UN system, responsible for promoting and protecting human rights worldwide. Established in 2006, it addresses human rights violations and makes recommendations on various issues.

One of Washington's key criticisms of UNHRC is bias. U.S. officials have long argued that the organization is biased, especially regarding Israel. American representatives point out that the UNHRC consistently condemns the actions of Israeli authorities while ignoring human rights violations in other countries.

“In 2018, the year President Trump withdrew from the UNHRC in his first administration, the organization passed more resolutions condemning Israel than Syria, Iran, and North Korea combined,” says the Executive Order.

The Trump administration believes that membership in the Council is not in line with U.S. national interests. Washington argues that, instead of focusing on the global protection of human rights, the UNHRC continues to serve as a body that defends countries committing human rights violations.

UNRWA

UNRWA is a UN agency established in 1949. It offers services such as education, healthcare, and emergency aid to millions of Palestinian refugees in the Middle East. The U.S. has been a significant donor to UNRWA but has criticized the agency for alleged biases and inefficiencies. The Trump administration also accused the organization of having an anti-Israel and anti-Semitic bias.

"America First" Policy

The withdrawal from the UNHRC and UNRWA fits into the broader foreign policy course of the Trump administration. Washington has consistently distanced itself from international organizations it perceives as not serving American interests. Prior to this, the U.S. had already exited the Paris Climate Agreement and the World Health Organization.

Trump also called for a review of the U.S.'s participation in UNESCO, which, according to the U.S. authorities, demonstrated anti- Israel bias.

“The UN Educational, Science, and Cultural Organization, in particular, will undergo a review under an expedited timeline due to its history of anti-Israel bias,” reads the White House’s Executive Order.

Earlier, Kazinform News Agency reported that the White House criticized USAID projects for waste and fraud.

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