GENEVA >> The drastic decision to withdraw from the United Nations Human Rights Council is counterproductive, and a clarion call to the world that the United States is walking away from universal values it spearheaded to shape after nationalism and racism ravaged the globe in World War II.

While the U.S. government is gone, we the people persist. We will be present for the foreseeable future standing in solidarity with directly impacted peoples around the planet and speak truth to power.

On the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which the U.S. chaired the process to create, this latest action is an abomination of moral character of a founding country of the United Nations. We can criticize the multilateral mechanism, but it was created in San Francisco under our leadership. The UN Charter begins with three words common to the conscience of America: We the People.

What positive result comes from the pullout? Does withdrawal create a more effective council?

We have a responsibility to the vulnerable and voiceless that share our values. We must use our voice for a better world. We will continue to speak out because it saves lives and silence kills.

I was there on June 19, 2006, commemorating the UN Human Rights Council creation after a year of negotiations where many ideas to improve the institution were proposed by civil society and countries championing human rights. U.S. was absent when it was needed most and will return to that status with last week’s withdrawal announcement.

However, throughout our tenure, civil society and countries elevated important issues such as LGTBQ, religious freedom, and ending trafficking. The U.S. spearheaded commissions to provide proof of genocidal practices by bad governments at the Human Rights Council when the Security Council veto killed protection of the people. Now, enemies of equality are emboldened to weaken human rights around the world even more. Russia already decided to throw in its hat for the next election. China continues to harass and haunt human rights activists around the halls of Palais des Nations. In two weeks it will be even more evident when the votes will be counted and violations will be committed with impunity.

Forfeiting our responsibility and our role at the top-level forum results in forces of fear running more rampant. Withdrawal is inexcusable and an ineffective way to defend human rights. U.S. has played its trump card of a vote on the council and has lost even more influence to have an impact on international institutions and, more important, individual lives desiring liberty and freedom.

Around the globe, America let down its allies committed to civil liberties. People struggling to survive in repressive regimes cannot count on our vote for freedom. Ally states sharing common concerns are forced to fend alone.

While the seat was empty this week, the American civil society was engaged. At the UN Human Rights Council, a delegation of human rights defenders mobilized with panels presenting reality from the ground to Geneva. We are Still In.

When the federal government flees global promises to its people, cities and states are taking the lead for resilience and rights.

More important, with every poorly planned policy by the current administration, more citizens rise up to protect our planet and people. When Donald Trump pulled out of the Paris Agreement for climate change, nearly 300 cities and counties signed the “We are Still In” declaration led by Hawaii. Many cities have joined the National Human Rights Cities Alliance, adopting the international bill of rights for women at the local level due to national inaction.

Hawaii is at the forefront, becoming the first state of human rights in the union with a resolution by the late U.S. Rep. Mark Takai promoting a path for peace and justice in the Pacific. Local governments and grassroots communities are exercising political engagement for equality everywhere in the world.

Next week at the conclusion of the UN Human Rights Council, civil society will take the floor on an agenda item sharing a proactive participatory plan for continued campaigning. A Peoples Embassy will be launched in Geneva to mobilize a U.S. human rights movement mission to attend all future sessions. We the people will participate to set the standards, by example and engagement, for social justice.

Joshua Cooper, a lecturer at the University of Hawaii, is U.S. Human Rights Network national co-chairman.