# Why U.S. Withdrawal From The Human Rights Council Is A Dangerous Leadership Mistake

1 Opinion June 19, 2018 Forbes ![Michael Posner](/sites/default/files/styles/246w/public/assets/images/con_046658.jpg?itok=t24nqftK) By Michael Posner > International action on human rights has always been a challenge, reflecting deep political divisions among governments. This is especially true in today’s sharply polarized world.

The Trump administration’s decision to withdraw from the United Nations Human Rights Council is yet another step in the administration’s retreat from the world stage. Once widely viewed as a global leader on issues like human rights, the U.S. is now a marginal player, in headlong retreat from the leadership position it has occupied since World War II.

In the postwar era, the U.S. played a major role as an architect of the UN system and other international organizations and agreements that have dramatically advanced the country’s security and its economic and political interests. There is a direct link between the development of this international order and our prosperity and success over the last 70 years. That’s why the withdrawal from the UN Human Rights Council is such a mistake.

U.S. leadership in human rights has benefited the country and its allies. In the security realm, the U.S. military led the effort to create the four Geneva Conventions of 1949. These accords have protected American service members for almost seven decades.

Read the full article as published by [Forbes](https://www.forbes.com/sites/michaelposner/2018/06/19/u-s-withdrawal-from-the-un-human-rights-council/#1f2b4bede2ba).

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*Michael Posner is a Professor of Business and Society and Director of the NYU Stern Center for Business and Human Rights.*## More Opinions from Michael Posner

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