For too long, the Human Rights Council
has been a protector of human rights abusers
and a cesspool of political bias.
Regrettably, it is now clear that our call for reform
was not heeded.
Therefore, as we said we would do a year ago, if we did not
see any progress, the United States
is officially withdrawing from the Human Rights Council.
In doing so, I want to make it crystal clear
that this step is not a retreat from human rights commitments.
On the contrary, we take this step because our commitment
does not allow us to remain a part of a hypocritical
and self-serving organisation that makes a mockery of human
rights.