Pakistan has secured a seat on the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) for the 2026–2028 term, winning by a strong majority. This achievement reaffirms Pakistan’s role as an active participant in promoting and advancing the global human rights agenda.
The election took place at the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Tuesday. Alongside Pakistan, thirteen other countries, including Angola, Chile, Ecuador, Egypt, Estonia, India, Iraq, Italy, Mauritius, Slovenia, South Africa, the United Kingdom, and Viet Nam, were elected to the 47-member council.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar announced the news on his official X (formerly Twitter) account, expressing gratitude to UN member states for their overwhelming support. He said, “With the Grace of Allah Almighty, Pakistan has been elected to the UN Human Rights Council for the term 2026–28 with an overwhelming majority.”
Dar emphasized that Pakistan’s election reflects the international community’s recognition of the country’s significant contributions toward strengthening the global human rights framework. He reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to work under the principles of TRUCE — tolerance, respect, universality, consensus-building, and engagement.
The UN Human Rights Council, consisting of 47 member states, is responsible for overseeing the promotion and protection of human rights worldwide. Pakistan’s tenure will officially begin in January 2026 and continue through December 2028, marking a milestone in Pakistan’s diplomatic engagement with global human rights institutions.
Pakistan’s Increasing Role in the United Nations System
In addition to its election to the UNHRC, Pakistan has been appointed to several key positions within the UN Security Council in 2025:
-
Chair of the UN Security Council Committee established under Resolution 1988 (2011), which oversees sanctions on the Taliban.
-
Vice Chair of the Counter-Terrorism Committee, monitoring the implementation of Resolution 1373 (2001).
-
Co-Chair of the Security Council Informal Working Group (IWG) on Documentation, focused on improving transparency, efficiency, and inclusiveness.
-
Co-Chair of the newly established IWG on Sanctions, tasked with reviewing and enhancing UN sanctions regimes.
These appointments highlight Pakistan’s active and constructive engagement with the United Nations system and recognize its efforts in counter-terrorism and international peacekeeping.
