During Tuesday’s elections held on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly session in New York, the Dominican Republic has won re-election to the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) for the 2027 to 2029 term, marking a renewed endorsement of the Caribbean nation’s human rights commitments by the global community.
Dominican Republic Foreign Minister Víctor “Ito” Bisonó emphasized that this successful re-election outcome is far more than a procedural result: it demonstrates the widespread trust UN member states hold in his country’s ongoing dedication to upholding human rights, advancing democratic governance, strengthening the rule of law, and advancing inclusive multilateral cooperation.
Bisonó extended his gratitude to all UN member nations that cast their support for the Dominican Republic’s candidacy. He affirmed that over the coming term, the country will maintain its active efforts to reinforce global human rights governance frameworks, amplify the voice and participation of small island developing states in global human rights discussions, and center the unmet needs of vulnerable populations across the globe in HRC deliberations.
This re-election follows the Dominican Republic’s first tenure on the 47-member intergovernmental body, which runs from 2024 to 2026. During its first term, the country prioritized a series of people-centered initiatives spanning access to education, peacebuilding, the expansion of rights for people living with disabilities, economic empowerment for women, and targeted protection for marginalized groups. It also drew urgent international attention to two pressing underaddressed issues: the negative impacts of climate change on the full enjoyment of human rights, and the complex, multifaceted crisis unfolding in neighboring Haiti.
The Dominican Republic will take its 2027–2029 seat alongside Brazil and Uruguay, the other two successful candidates elected to represent the Group of Latin America and the Caribbean (GRULAC) regional grouping at the HRC.
First established in 2006, the UN Human Rights Council is the leading intergovernmental body tasked with the global mandate to promote, protect, and advance human rights around the world, as well as to respond systematically to situations of fundamental human rights violations that require international attention.