Nov 9-10 in Geneva: U.S. Civil Society Holds Side Events, Public Briefing at UN Human Rights Review as Trump Admin Refuses to Participate

November 09, 2026

The U.S. is the first country ever to refuse periodic review; advocates to address the human rights crisis in the U.S.

In April 2026, the United States withdrew from the United Nations Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review, becoming the first country to do so since its inception in 2008. An array of civil society organizations, elected officials, and directly affected people is stepping in to engage with the process and hold side events that highlight some of the most urgent human rights problems in the United States:

9 November, 12:30-14:00, Room V

The State of Human Rights in the United States

Streaming here

Panelists will discuss, among other issues, attacks on bodily autonomy and reproductive justice, the right to housing, freedom of speech, and mass incarceration.

Introduction: Jamil Dakwar, ACLU

Moderator: Cindy Soohoo,, Human Rights and Gender Justice Clinic at CUNY Law

Panelists: Alton Lee, Release Again People in Prison;; Sanjay Sethi, Artistic Freedom Initiative, Lilian Medina Romero, Ipas US, Kadeem Roberts, Connecticut State Representative (Dist. 1370)

9 November, 14:00-15:00, ACANU Room

ACANU Press Briefing

This event is closed and will not be streamed.

For accredited members only. This briefing will address the impact of U.S. withdrawal from this core pillar of human rights protection and global governance by highlighting an escalation in violations of freedom of speech, the weaponization of immigration enforcement, mass incarceration and death by incarceration sentences (life without parole), the looming threats to democracy, elections, reproductive rights, and more.

Speakers: Dr. Noor Abdalla, an American dentist and advocate for immigrant communities and freedom of speech whose husband, Mahmoud Khalil was targeted and imprisoned by the Trump administration for his advocacy for Palestine; Kendra Brooks, Philadelphia City Council Member; Jamil Dakwar, director of the American Civil Liberties Union’s Human Rights Program; and Joseph Bell, former life-without-parole prisoner, Drop LWOP.

9 November, 15:00-16:30, Room VII

U.S. Violations of the Human Rights of Immigrants and Refugees I: Voice of the Impacted

The Trump administration’s assault on the human rights of immigrants has devastated individuals, families, and communities. This panel features people harmed by – and resisting – this brutal campaign.

Moderator: Kerry McLean, National Lawyers Guild

Panelists: Rodney Taylor; FC; Santcha Etienne, Black Alliance for Just Immigration; Kathy Kruger, Al Otro Lado; Dr. Noor Abdalla, Center for Constitutional Rights

9 November, 16:30-18:00, Room VII

U.S. Violations of the Human Rights of Immigrants and Refugees II: Systems and Policies

Streaming here

The Trump administration has carried out attacks on refugees, asylum seekers and immigrants, developing an aggressive project of criminalization, detention, enforced disappearances, denial of due process, and mass deportation, including to third countries.

Moderator: Jennifer Presthold, Advocates for Human Rights

Panelists: Uzra Zeya, Human Rights First; Jamil Dakwar, ACLU Human Rights Program, Jennifer Prestholdt, Advocates for Human Rights

10 November, 13:00-14:30, Concordia 1

Challenging U.S. Impunity and the Security State

Streaming here

On issues ranging from migrant rights to Palestinian solidarity to criminal legal reform, the US is exploiting “counterterrorism: to deny due process and suspend human rights.

Moderator: Samer Araabi, the Center for Constitutional Rights

Panelists: Amanda Klasing, Amnesty International USA; Dr. Noor Abdalla; Brad Parker, Center for Constitutional Rights; Saleem Holbrook, Abolitionist Law Center; Joseph Bell, Drop LWOP; Joel Pruce, University of Dayton Human Rights Center

10 November, 15:30-17:00, Concordia 1

Responses to U.S. Human Rights Violations by State and Local Officials and Members of Congress

Streaming here

Amid the Trump administration’s disengagement from international institutions and rejection of human rights obligations, state and local leaders are speaking out and taking action.

Introduction: Amanda Klasing, Amnesty International USA

Moderator: Jamil Dakwar, ACLU

Panelists: U.S. Representative  Delia Ramirez (virtual); Jennifer Presholdt, Minnesota Truth Council; Connecticut State Rep. Laurie Sweet; Philadelphia City Councilmember Kendra BrooksRep. Laurie Sweet, Connecticut House of Representatives (Dist. 91), Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson (virtual); New York City Deputy Mayor Julie Su (virtual)

10 November, 17:00, ISHR Building Rue de Varembe 1, ground floor conference room

U.S. Impunity and the Crisis of International Accountability

This will be a public debrief of the events of the previous two days. It will be open to the public in person, and a recording of this event will be available here by the following day.

 

AVAILABILITY:

The following people will be available to interview 8-11 November and may be reached via Jen Nessel (jnessel@ccrjustice.org):

Dr. Noor Abdalla, an American dentist and advocate for immigrant communities and freedom of speech whose husband, Mahmoud Khalil was targeted and imprisoned by the Trump administration for his advocacy for Palestine. Topics: Weaponization of immigration enforcement (ICE, detention, deportation); freedom of expression.

Joseph Bell, Drop LWOP. Topics: Prisoner issues, extreme sentencing.

Saleem Holbrook and Bassel El-Rewini, Abolitionist Law Center. Topics: Prisoner issues, criminal legal system, Death by Incarceration.

Alton Lee, Release Aging People in Prison (RAPP). Topics: Prisoner Issues, Death by Incarceration.

Samer Araabi, Center for Constitutional Rights. Topics: Counterterrorism, war crimes, authoritarianism.

Brad Parker, Center for Constitutional Rights. Topics: Prisoner issues, counterterrorism, war crimes, authoritarianism, ICC sanctions, constitutional authority/separation of powers/unitary executive – U.S. elections.

The following people will be available to interview 8-11 November and may be reached out to directly:

Mr. Sanjay Sethi: sethi@sethimaz.com
Topics: freedom of expression (freedom of the media and artistic freedom); immigration.

Sethi is the Co-Executive Director of the Artistic Freedom Initiative, where he leads the organization’s global policy, advocacy, and protection work in support of freedom of artistic expression. With over two decades of experience at the intersection of international human rights, immigration law, and nonprofit leadership, he has built and led initiatives focused on protecting vulnerable populations and expanding legal pathways to safety for artists and cultural workers at risk.

City Councilwoman Kendra Brooks (please contact lilian.medinaromero@thebridgesisters.com)
Topics: local approaches to protecting reproductive freedom and restricting ICE activity
Councilmember Kendra Brooks is the Minority Leader of Philadelphia City Council, representing the Working Families Party. She leads the city’s Reproductive Freedom Task Force and recently passed the strongest local legislation in the country to restrict ICE activity.

Bethany Van Kampen Saravia, Ipas US: Vankampensaraviab@ipas.org (available virtually)
Head of Policy and External Relations at Ipas US, where she leads their policy and advocacy work, with a focus on human rights. Ipas US convenes a regional human rights coalition of reproductive justice organizations from states throughout the Southeast, including states with complete abortion bans.

Lilian Medina Romero, Ipas US: lilian.medinaromero@thebridgesisters.com
Human rights advocate with Ipas US who brings 15+ years of experience working at the intersection of gender and migration justice in the United States and speaks on behalf of a human rights coalition of over a dozen reproductive justice organizations based in Southern states.

Cindy Soohoo, Human Rights and Global Justice Clinic: cynthia.soohoo@law.cuny.edu
Topics: Reproductive Justice, human rights in the U.S.

Amanda Klasing, Amnesty International USA: aklasing@aiusa.org

Uzra Zeya, Human Rights First: zeyau@humanrightsfirst.org
Topics: Third country transfers; immigrant detention; FOE issues involving immigrants.

Jennifer Prestholdt, Advocates for Human Rights and Minnesota Truth Council: jprestholdt@advrights.org
Topics: Migrant rights (especially refugees, asylum, due process denial, and immigration court); Metro Surge, especially widespread racial profiling, warrantless arrests, and harmful impacts.