The Trump administration has decided to abolish criticism of various rights abuses globally in the State Department’s annual Country Reports on Human Rights Practices, according to report published by American broadcaster National Public Radio (NPR).
The reports, usually released in March or April, annually aim to inform congressional debate on foreign aid allocations and security assistance and routinely highlight declining freedoms in various states. In a recent editing memo seen by NPR, however, State Department employees have been directed to “streamline” the reports and align them with current U.S. policy by only including legally required information.
The legally required information the reports will continue to include are war crimes and genocide, antisemitism, worker rights and child marriage. Attacks on freedom of the press have to be reported, but not those on freedom of expression for regular citizens. Even for the required categories, says NPR, the editing memo says that there should not be more than one cited example.
Among rights that would no longer be highlighted under the new policy are denials of freedom of movement and peaceful assembly; retaining political prisoners without due process; restrictions on “free and fair elections”; or serious harassment of human rights organizations.
Speaking to NPR, Amnesty International Executive Director Paul O’Brien said this amounted to the U.S. signaling it would no longer pressure other countries to uphold rights guaranteeing civic and political freedoms. The organization said it had reviewed documents indicating the removal of reports of violence and discrimination against LGBTQ+ people; involuntary or coercive medical or psychological practices; arbitrary or unlawful interference with privacy; serious restrictions to internet freedom; extensive gender-based violence; violence or threats of violence targeting people with disabilities.
Another human rights defender said this effectively sent a message that such rights were no longer important for the U.S.