China, Iran join queue to scrutinize US at UN rights body

United States is facing its first review in five years at U.N.’s main human rights body, with detentions of migrant children and killings of unarmed Black people during Trump ministration’s tenure among issues high on minds.

Foes from countries like Iran, Syria, Venezuela, Russia and China were among those seeking to question and scrutinize United States as Human Rights Council gave U.S. its turn Monday in a regular examination of every U.N. member state’s record on human rights kwn as Universal Periodic Review.

Nearly 120 countries lined up for slots to raise questions in 3 1/2-hour session that follows up on an August report about U.S. rights record over past several years — and what steps U.S. authorities are taking to improve it.

U.S. Ambassor Andrew Bremberg said strength of U.S. democratic system is that “it allows for continued scrutiny, vocacy and debate, which fuels progress and reform,” and said “we are willing to openly ackwledge our shortcomings.”

“As we witness a time of unprecedented degration of human rights by authoritarian governments around world, it is more important than ever to stand up to defend human rights and fundamental freedoms, and we do so by demonstrating we welcome transparency and constructive criticism," Bremberg said in opening remarks.

A sampling of some of questions sent in vance suggested intensity scrutiny of U.S. record on human rights.

China asked how many migrant children h been detained and how many migrants h died in detention in U.S. over past four years; Iran asked if U.S. will end its “unlawful practice” of imposing sanctions on or countries; Syrian government asked what measures U.S. authorities h taken to end “occupation” of its territory by U.S. forces.

“Does United States plan to end military intervention in or countries and stop killing ir civilians wantonly,” asked China’s delegation.

Envoys — most of m beaming into Geneva session via videoconference because of COVID-19 pandemic — were to be granted less than a minute to air ir questions and comments, while an array of U.S. officials were on hand in person and virtually to take part.

United States last came up for its turn for such a review in 2015. Trump ministration pulled United States out of Human Rights Council two years ago, accusing it of an anti-Israel bias and of being too accepting of autocratic regimes that regularly abuse human rights as members.