Press Releases

Results of the Election of the members of the United Nations Human Rights Council

October 14, 2026
Japanese

On October 13 (local time), the election of the members of the United Nations Human Rights Council was held at the United Nations General Assembly in New York and Japan was elected as a member in the first round of voting. As a result of this election, Japan will serve as a member of the Human Rights Council for a period of three years beginning on 1 January, 2027 (7th term).

Japan has consistently contributed to the advancement and promotion of international human rights norms and to the improvement of the human rights situation around the world through international forums such as the Human Rights Council, bilateral dialogues, and economic cooperation, with a view to protecting and promoting human rights. Japan intends to continue to play a constructive role in the Human Rights Council.

(Reference1) Result of the election

  1. To be elected, a candidate must receive an absolute majority of all Member States of the General Assembly (97 votes or more) and rank among the top vote-getters within the number of seats available.
  2. The following countries were elected as members of the Human Rights Council in this election:
    1. Asia-Pacific Group (4 seats up for election) (Valid Votes: 181)
      Kuwait (173 votes), Nepal (173 votes), Jordan (171 votes) ,Japan (166 votes)
    2. African Group (4 seats up for election) (Valid Votes: 181)
      Zambia (177 votes), Ghana (173 votes), Nigeria (172 votes), Burundi (160 votes)
    3. Eastern European Group (2 seats up for election) (Valid Votes: 181)
      Moldova (168 votes), Ukraine (162 votes)
    4. Latin American and Caribbean Group (3 seats up for election) (Valid Votes: 181)
      Brazil (170 votes), Dominican Republic (170 votes), Uruguay (165 votes)
    5. Western European and Others Group (2 seats up for election) (Valid Votes: 181)
      Ireland (165 votes), Germany (163 votes)

(Reference2) Human Rights Council

  1. The Human Rights Council was established in Geneva in March 2006 as a subsidiary body of the United Nations General Assembly as part of UN reform. It was established to replace the former Commission on Human Rights in order to strengthen the UN's capacity to address human rights issues, in line with the trend toward the mainstreaming of human rights within the United Nations. Its main functions include the protection and promotion of human rights and fundamental freedoms and the making of recommendations to Member States thereof, as well as addressing and making recommendations on situations of human rights violations, including large-scale and systematic violations.
  2. The Council consists of 47 members. The term of office is three years. Regional allocation is as follows: Group of Asia-Pacific States 13, Group of African States 13, Group of Latin American and Caribbean States 8, Group of Eastern European States 6, and Group of Western European and other States 7. Members are elected directly and individually by an absolute majority of all Member States of the General Assembly. Re-election after two consecutive terms is not permitted.
  3. The Council meets regularly throughout the year (at least three sessions per year, in March, June, and September, for a total of no less than 10 weeks).
  4. Japan’s terms on the Human Rights Council
    Term1~2:
    Since the establishment of the Human Rights Council in 2006 to June 2011
    Term3:
    from early 2013 to the end of 2015
    Term4:
    from early 2017 to the end of 2019
    Term5:
    from early 2020 to the end of 2022
    Term6(running):
    from early 2024 to the end of 2026
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