<
https://www.npr.org/2025/04/18/nx-s1-5357511/state-department-human-rights-report-cuts>
'The Trump administration is substantially scaling back the State Department's
annual reports on international human rights to remove longstanding critiques
of abuses such as harsh prison conditions, government corruption and
restrictions on participation in the political process,
NPR has learned.
Despite decades of precedent, the reports, which are meant to inform
congressional decisions on foreign aid allocations and security assistance,
will no longer call governments out for such things as denying freedom of
movement and peaceful assembly. They won't condemn retaining political
prisoners without due process or restrictions on "free and fair elections."
Forcibly returning a refugee or asylum-seeker to a home country where they may
face torture or persecution will no longer be highlighted, nor will serious
harassment of human rights organizations.
According to an editing memo and other documents obtained by NPR, State
Department employees are directed to "streamline" the reports by stripping them
down to only that which is legally required. The memo says the changes aim to
align the reports with current U.S. policy and "recently issued Executive
Orders."
Officially called "Country Reports on Human Rights Practices," the annual
documents are required, by statute, to be a "full and complete report regarding
the status of internationally recognized human rights."
Human rights defenders say the cuts amount to an American retreat from its
position as the world's human rights watchdog.
"What this is, is a signal that the United States is no longer going to
[pressure] other countries to uphold those rights that guarantee civic and
political freedoms — the ability to speak, to express yourself, to gather, to
protest, to organize," said Paul O'Brien, executive director of Amnesty
International, USA.
A spokesperson for the State Department declined to comment on the memo or the
human rights reports.
NPR confirmed the memo's authenticity with two sources
close to the process.'
Via Joyce Donahue, who wrote "Not even hiding the retreat from decency."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
