UN Human Rights Council fills 15 seats without competing candidates
The UN General Assembly elected 15 countries to the Human Rights Council after every regional group put forward exactly as many candidates as available seats. ISHR described it as the second consecutive fully uncontested election. The organisation urged competitive lists and assessable membership pledges, while its own review found that six candidates met a majority of its criteria.
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Regional lists leave no competing candidates
The United Nations General Assembly elected 15 countries to the Human Rights Council on 13 October. Each regional group put forward exactly as many candidates as seats available, leaving no competitive regional race.[1], [2]
The International Service for Human Rights (ISHR), a non-governmental human rights organisation, described this as the second consecutive wholly uncontested election. It listed earlier such votes in 2008, 2009, 2018, 2021 and 2025.[1]
Fifteen countries gain Council membership
Burundi, Ghana, Nigeria and Zambia were elected from Africa; Japan, Jordan, Kuwait and Nepal from Asia-Pacific. Brazil, the Dominican Republic and Uruguay won the Latin American and Caribbean places. Germany and Ireland represented Western Europe and other states, while Moldova and Ukraine won Eastern Europe’s seats. The published results gave Zambia 177 votes, Ghana, Kuwait and Nepal 173 each, Nigeria 172 and Jordan 171. Brazil and the Dominican Republic received 170 each.[1]
Rights organisation calls for competitive lists
ISHR reviewed the candidates against 17 criteria concerning human rights contributions, cooperation with UN mechanisms and membership commitments. Only 6 of the 15 met a majority of those criteria in its assessment. The organisation urged states to nominate competitive lists and make meaningful, assessable membership pledges. It argued that uncontested slates narrow voting states’ choices. New York director Madeleine Sinclair nevertheless emphasised the importance of the Council’s work for human rights defenders and civil society.[1]
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