Photo credit: UN
The authorities in the US are 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 reports that the reports are meant to inform congressional decisions on foreign aid allocations and security assistance. Governments will no longer be called out for such things as denying freedom of movement and peaceful assembly. Retaining political prisoners without due process or restrictions on “free and fair elections” will no longer be condemned.
Forcibly returning a refugee or asylum-seeker to a home country where they may face torture or persecution will no longer be highlighted. Serious harassment of human rights organizations will not be criticized.
In an editing memo and other documents obtained by NPR,State Department staff 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 reports with current US policy and “recently signed Executive Orders.”
The annual documents are officially called “Country Reports on Human Rights Practices.” They are required by law, 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.
