On September 4, 2025, candidates vying for seats on the United Nations Human Rights Council (CDH) participated in an online forum to present their commitments and planned initiatives, should they be elected. The event, organized by the International Service for Human Rights (ISHR), saw participation from nine of the fourteen states nominated, while five others – Egypt, India, Iraq, Tunisia, and Vietnam – declined to attend or did not respond to the invitation.
The forum highlighted a concerning trend identified by Pooja Patel, Deputy Executive Director (Programmes and Advocacy) at ISHR: this year’s election is considered a “closed list” election. Patel explained that such non-competitive elections undermine the core purpose of the process, which is to allow member states to select the most qualified candidates based on public commitments, willingness to undergo human rights record reviews, and demonstrated progress during potential mandates.
Chile’s representative emphasized his country’s commitment to multilateralism, even amidst complex human rights discussions, asserting that We see the sole path to long-term peace and security. Ecuador’s representative similarly underscored his nation’s full commitment to upholding human rights under international law, and expressed a desire for a strong CDH capable of effectively addressing global challenges while respecting human dignity and the principle of leaving no one behind.
The event comes as the European Parliament debated a new strategy for EU-Africa relations in February 2021, focusing on a partnership for sustainable and inclusive development. The report, authored by Chrysoula Zacharopoulou, referenced the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its seventeen Sustainable Development Goals (ODDs), as well as the Addis Ababa Action Agenda on financing for development and the Paris Agreement.
Simultaneously, Services aux Autochtones Canada is engaged in a consultation process regarding the reform of the Indian Act, specifically addressing issues of second-generation exclusion and voting thresholds. This process aims to address ongoing inequalities in registration and affiliation for First Nations individuals, and seeks input from First Nations and Indigenous organizations on potential solutions. The consultation plan outlines the approach for engaging with communities to resolve critical issues related to membership and voting rights under the Act.
Pact Monde, an organization with experience in conducting Human Rights Impact Assessments (HRIAs) and community engagement, has been working with both enterprises and affected communities. Details of their specific work were not publicly available at the time of publication.
As of today, the outcome of the Human Rights Council elections remains pending, and the consultation process regarding the Indian Act continues. No further dates for the CDH elections have been announced.
