All 15 candidates for the Human Rights Council secured their seats on October 13, 2026, without a single challenger. The United Nations General Assembly confirmed the new members for the 2027–2029 term despite criticism from advocacy groups who argue that the lack of competition prevents voters from rejecting candidates with poor human rights records.
UN General Assembly Confirms Uncontested Slate
The 193-member General Assembly voted on October 13, 2026, to fill 15 seats on the 47-nation Human Rights Council. Seats are allocated by regional groups to ensure geographical balance.
Every regional group provided a “clean slate” of candidates for the second consecutive year. This 2026 vote marks the sixth time since 2008—alongside 2008, 2009, 2018, 2021, and 2025—that all regional slates have been uncompetitive.
🗳️ TODAY ! The #UN Member States will elect 15 new members to the Human Rights Council @UN_HRCThey should only vote for candidates that uphold the highest human rights standards 🌍🔗 https://t.co/JCsPK6XfwiUN Photo/Jean-Marc Ferré pic.twitter.com/BVz0WYhgEA
The newly elected members for the 2027–2029 term are:
- African States: Burundi (160 votes), Ghana (173 votes), Nigeria (172 votes), and Zambia (177 votes).
- Asia-Pacific States: Japan (166 votes), Jordan (171 votes), Kuwait (173 votes), and Nepal (173 votes).
- Latin American and Caribbean States: Brazil (170 votes), Dominican Republic (170 votes), and Uruguay (165 votes).
- Western European and Other States: Germany (163 votes) and Ireland (165 votes).
- Central and Eastern European States: Moldova (168 votes) and Ukraine (162 votes).
Advocacy Groups Criticize Election Process
Louis Charbonneau, the United Nations director at Human Rights Watch, condemned the process as a failure of the electoral standard. His organization expressed concern that the lack of competition prevents member states from filtering out candidates with poor records.
The group specifically challenged the records of three incoming members. It noted that Burundi has not carried out meaningful reform to address longstanding concerns related to governance, justice or accountability.
In Nigeria, it cited the need for accountability for crimes committed during the conflict with Boko Haram, including by security forces.
Regarding Brazil, the organization stated the country needs to investigate and curb police abuse
after law enforcement officers killed more than 6,500 people in the previous year, the vast majority of them Black. Madeleine Sinclair, director of the New York office of the International Service for Human Rights, added that states should ensure the body includes members that uphold the highest human rights standards.
The @UN General Assembly has elected #Zambia to the United Nations Human Rights Council (@UN_HRC) for a three-year term, beginning on 1 January 2027. pic.twitter.com/AfPCrEeb9r
Geneva Council Reviews Human Rights Records and Appoints Investigators
The Geneva-based council reviews human rights records, appoints independent investigators to report on torture, and sends fact-finding missions to investigate violations. Since 2008, the Council has referred to the responsibility of states to protect their populations in at least 98 thematic and country resolutions.
Since its inception in 2006, the Council has established 42 investigative bodies to respond to serious human rights violations and abuses.
Individual members have already outlined their objectives. Nepal, which secured 173 of 180 votes cast, stated it looks forward to working with partners to safeguard human dignity and promote social justice after previously serving two consecutive terms from 2018 to 2023.
Highly repressive Burundi is set to win re-election to the United Nations Human Rights Council because the African group didn't nominate any competitors. https://t.co/kNpAAvdBsM