The Trader Harbor
  • Business
  • Politics
  • World News
  • Stocks
  • Business
  • Politics
  • World News
  • Stocks

The Trader Harbor

Politics

State Dept defends human rights abuse report changes, says streamlined process eliminates ‘political bias’

by admin April 22, 2025
April 22, 2025
State Dept defends human rights abuse report changes, says streamlined process eliminates ‘political bias’

The State Department is pushing back against criticism of its changes to the process of reporting human rights abuses. 

NPR reported last week that the Trump administration was scaling back annual reports meant to inform congressional decisions on allocating foreign aid to countries, claiming the State Department was ‘changing its mind on what it calls human rights.’ 

Fox News Digital is told the 2024 Human Rights Report has been restructured to remove redundancy, increase readability, and return the focus to human rights abuses – instead of a ‘laundry list of politically biased demands and assertions.’ 

‘NPR’s report that the State Department is scaling back the Human Rights Report is misleading and misguided,’ a senior State Department official told Fox News Digital. ‘This year’s modifications are critical for removing report redundancy, increasing readability, maintaining consistency to U.S. statutes, and returning focus to human rights issues rather than political bias.’

Fox News Digital is told the restructuring of the reports ‘will be more responsive to legislative mandates that underpin the report’ and ‘does not reflect a change in U.S. policy on promoting respect for human rights around the globe or in any particular country.’ The State Department notably has attempted to streamline the reports to better align with statutory requirements under both Republican and Democratic administrations.

NPR and Politico reported on an internal memo that purportedly showed the 2024 Human Rights Report, which was finished in January but has been adjusted under the new administration, will no longer include references to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) or sections on discrimination or abuse against the LGBTQ+ community. 

The annual reports – known as ‘Country Reports on Human Rights Practices’ – normally come out in March or April. NPR said sections that called out countries for ‘forcibly returning a refugee or asylum-seeker to a home country’ or the ‘serious harassment of human rights organizations’ would be absent this year. NPR also stressed that prior reports had sections detailing countries’ ‘involuntary or coercive medical or psychological practices,’ ‘arbitrary or unlawful interference with privacy,’ ‘serious restrictions to internet freedom,’ ‘extensive gender-based violence,’ and ‘violence or threats of violence targeting people with disabilities,’ but the new report would not.

Paul O’Brien, executive director of Amnesty International, USA, criticized the changes under the Trump administration. He told NPR: ‘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.’ 

During President Donald Trump’s first term, former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo cited what he categorized as a ‘proliferation of human rights’ on the global stage. 

‘We wanted to go back to first principles, back to our founding documents, our Declaration of Independence, our Bill of Rights to focus on those things that are central to the understanding of rights here in America,’ he said in July 2020. 

Secretary of State Marco Rubio is overseeing changes at the department during Trump’s second term. Last week, he announced the closure of the State Department’s Counter Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (R/FIMI), formerly known as the Global Engagement Center (GEC), which he accused of costing taxpayers more than $50 million per year and spending ‘millions of dollars to actively silence and censor the voices of Americans they were supposed to be serving.’ 

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS

0
FacebookTwitterGoogle +Pinterest
previous post
Pandemic, price tags and privacy concerns: Why it took 20 years to implement REAL ID
next post
Pope Francis and US presidents: A look back at his legacy with the nation’s leaders

Related Posts

Biden insists ‘I made the decisions’ as Republicans...

June 5, 2025

Key Bolsonaro lieutenant blasts Biden for silence on...

September 8, 2024

Biden missing in action as Turkey inches closer...

December 21, 2024

Biden sets economy-wide climate target: reducing emissions 66...

December 19, 2024

Inside Putin’s mindset: What team Trump can expect...

January 6, 2025

Elon Musk warpath against Trump’s ‘big, beautiful bill’...

June 5, 2025

Elbridge Colby clears hurdle, moves to final vote...

April 8, 2025

Biden pardons late Black activist Marcus Garvey, 4...

January 19, 2025

Elon Musk may speak to Trump aides in...

June 6, 2025

Trump’s first vice president urges his old boss...

May 9, 2025

    Stay updated with the latest news, exclusive offers, and special promotions. Sign up now and be the first to know! As a member, you'll receive curated content, insider tips, and invitations to exclusive events. Don't miss out on being part of something special.


    By opting in you agree to receive emails from us and our affiliates. Your information is secure and your privacy is protected.

    Latest

    • Apple reveals complex system of App Store fees to avoid E.U. fine of 500 million euros

      June 30, 2025
    • Breakdown of NVDA’s Stock Price and S&P 500: Actionable Technical Insights

      June 30, 2025
    • Thom Tillis announces retirement from Senate after clash with Trump

      June 30, 2025
    • SCOOP: House Republican eyes bid for Thom Tillis Senate seat after Trump attack

      June 30, 2025
    • Dem delay tactic ends, debate begins on Trump’s ‘big, beautiful bill’

      June 30, 2025
    • GOP, Dem senators remain divided over Medicaid after Trump’s ‘big, beautiful bill’ vote

      June 30, 2025

    Categories

    • Business (1,272)
    • Politics (3,873)
    • Stocks (1,477)
    • Uncategorized (45)
    • World News (1,265)
    • About us
    • Contact us
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms & Conditions

    Disclaimer: TheTraderHarbor, its managers, its employees, and assigns (collectively “The Company”) do not make any guarantee or warranty about what is advertised above. Information provided by this website is for research purposes only and should not be considered as personalized financial advice. The Company is not affiliated with, nor does it receive compensation from, any specific security. The Company is not registered or licensed by any governing body in any jurisdiction to give investing advice or provide investment recommendation. Any investments recommended here should be taken into consideration only after consulting with your investment advisor and after reviewing the prospectus or financial statements of the company.

    Copyright © 2025 thetraderharbor.com | All Rights Reserved