As part of its candidature for the Council, Paraguay submitted a "pledge" to protect human rights. Here's what a large majority of UN states evidently took seriously:
- "Convinced that the protection and exercise of human rights is the foundation of an effective democracy, in particular when all vulnerable groups are included, the Government of Paraguay has continuously stepped up its efforts to institutionalize human rights in the country."
- "Security forces committed human rights abuses. The principal human rights problems were impunity in the judicial sector, together with lengthy pretrial detention and trial delays, harsh and at times life-threatening prison conditions, and police involvement in criminal activities, including unlawful killings by persons associated with the security forces. Other human rights problems included the killing and intimidation of journalists by organized-crime groups, corruption, discrimination, and violence in the society and in government against women and indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) persons, and trafficking in persons. Problems with child labor and violations of worker rights occurred often."