Egypt and Vietnam are on track to secure seats on the United Nations Human Rights Council despite being woefully unfit for membership, Human Rights Watch said today. The UN General Assembly will elect members to the UN’s premier rights body in a noncompetitive vote on October 14, 2025.

The 2 countries are among 14 member states seeking three-year terms on the 47-nation Human Right Council starting in January 2026. Vietnam, currently a Council member, is seeking re-election.

“Noncompetitive UN votes permit abusive governments like Egypt and Vietnam to become Human Rights Council members, threatening to make a mockery of the Council,” said Louis Charbonneau, UN director at Human Rights Watch. “UN member states should stop handing Council seats on a silver platter to serial rights viola

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