#HRCelections2025: Ask your questions to the candidate States for the Human Rights Council!

This year, 14 countries are candidates for election to the UN's main human rights body. All countries must improve their records. Join our campaign for the Human Rights Council elections!

For many victims and activists, the Human Rights Council is a vital platform for denouncing abuses of power and achieving progress in their countries. Its success depends on its membership and each Member State’s commitment to promoting and protecting human rights both at home and abroad. Each year, in October, all 193 UN Member States renew nearly one-third of the Human Rights Council seats. In 2025, 14 candidates will run for 14 seats. Therefore, the process is not competitive and can hardly be considered an election.

Who is running this year?

To date, these are the candidates [please note that the list of candidates is subject to change and will be updated as new information becomes available]:

African States: Mauritius, Tunisia, South Africa, and Egypt (4 candidates for 4 seats: closed list)
Asia-Pacific States: Pakistan, Iraq, Vietnam, and India (4 candidates for 4 seats: closed list)
Latin American and Caribbean States: Chile and Argentina (2 candidates for 2 seats: closed list)
Western European and Other States: Italy and the United Kingdom (2 candidates for 2 seats: closed list)
Central and Eastern European States: Slovenia and Estonia (2 candidates for 2 seats: closed list)

No candidate has a perfect human rights record: all must improve.

Read our scorecards for candidate States!

ISHR has published scorecards for all Human Rights Council candidates for the 2026-2028 term in order to help voting States make their decision at the upcoming election.

What do we want?

We want all candidate States to voluntarily commit to improving the human rights situations both at home and abroad, as well as to enhancing their interaction with the Council.

We also want UN Member States to cast informed votes and vote only for candidates who uphold the highest standards in the promotion and protection of human rights and who cooperate fully with the UN.

We urge all regional groups of UN Member States to nominate more candidates than the number of seats available to ensure competitive elections to the Human Rights Council.

How do we achieve this?

We strengthen the transparency of elections. ISHR publishes scorecards that provide information on candidate States’ record of cooperation and engagement with UN mechanisms. These scorecards help UN Member States cast informed votes.

We are create spaces where civil society and States can interact with candidates about their record and candidacy. On September 4, 2025, ISHR and Amnesty International will host an online Pledging Event where civil society can interact directly and constructively with candidate states by asking them questions. Candidates will also be able to detail the human rights pledges and commitments they made as part of their candidacy.

We engage with States through meetings, letters, and appeals, asking them to base their votes on the Council’s membership criteria and to vote only for candidates who uphold the highest standards in the promotion and protection of human rights and who cooperate fully with the United Nations.

What can you do?

Take part in our online Pledging Event

Ahead of the Human Rights Council elections, Amnesty International and ISHR will organise an online event on 4 September to record candidate State's commitments. This event will allow Council candidates to present their vision and the priorities they will work on if elected. Representatives of Sates and civil society are invited to participate in this event and ask candidate questions about their human rights record and commitments. To participate, please register.

Send your questions tocandidate States

Do you have questions for any of the candidates? You can submit them before the event.

Send your questions

Get in touch with us!

We would gladly explore other opportunities for awareness-raising activities or campaigns. If you'd like to participate, please reach out!

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