The reports on #Hungary & #ElSalvador are among 20 countries whose reports, the memo directs, must be flagged for special review by a "Senior Advisor" in the #State dept — a political appointee. The other countries flagged include #Argentina, #Egypt, #SouthAfrica, #Russia, #Ukraine, #Serbia, #Italy, the #Philippines, #Canada, #Mexico & the #UnitedKingdom.

The reports will still include #HumanRights matters that are specifically required by #law, including #WarCrimes & #genocide, #antisemitism, worker rights & child marriage. Attacks on #freedom of the #press have to be reported, although not those on freedom of expression for *regular* citizens.

As secretary of #state, #Rubio is now responsible for the reports. He's the person who, traditionally, would promote their release to the public. But under his stewardship, those violations he cited — #SexualExploitation of #women & #children & the denial of #PoliticalRights to minorities — are being deleted from the reports.

In 2013, then-Sen. #MarcoRubio underscored the importance of these audits, saying they shed light on "foreign governments' failure to respect" citizens' fundamental rights … from the #SexualExploitation of #women & #children to the denial of #PoliticalRights to *#minorities*."

He said the reports show that "the #UnitedStates will stand with #freedom-seeking people around the world."

Pompeo formed a Commission on Unalienable Rights that focused on Revolution-era & post-WWII notions of rights, de-emphasizing issues like #discrimination & #ReproductiveRights, putting more focus on religious freedom & the right to private property.

The memo reviewed by NPR outlines changes that are far more sweeping.

"You also can't overstate the damage it will do to that credibility if the #Trump administration's edits are seen to diminish — not just the scope of what are defined as #HumanRights, but also if those edits are seen to play favorites."

Fmr Secy of #State #MikePompeo complained during the first Trump admin about what he called "a proliferation of human rights," & he moved to pare them back.

People who specialize in #HumanRights work told NPR they worry about the effect the cuts will have on the documents' influence within the #international community.

"You can't overstate the value in the real world of the annual #State Dept human rights reports being credible & impartial," said Christopher Le Mon, until Jan a dpty asst secy in State Dept's Bureau of #Democracy, Human Rights & Labor.

András Lederer from #Hungary's oldest & largest #HumanRights group, the Hungarian Helsinki Cmte, told NPR that the #State Dept's new policy weakens the position of human rights defenders in countries that have a problematic track record on these issues.

"You're removing pressure, & it definitely sends the message to the perpetrators that this is not important for [the US] anymore," Lederer said.

In the report on #Hungary, a marked-up version of which was distributed as a model for how to apply the new directives, the section titled "#Corruption in Government" is struck out. Hungary's PM Viktor #Orban has been called an #authoritarian, & previous reports have noted restrictions to civil liberties. #Trump has called him "a great man & a great leader in #Europe."

In a draft of the forthcoming report on that country reviewed by NPR, the #ElSalvador section on #prison conditions is ERASED. The only remnants of those violations are reports on prison deaths that fall into the category of "extrajudicial killings" & a mention of #abuse by prison guards in a legislatively mandated section on "#Torture & #Cruel, #Inhuman, or #Degrading Treatment or Punishment."

Among other topics ordered to be struck from the reports:

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.

The documents NPR reviewed confirm reporting by Politico that reports of #violence & #discrimination against #LGBTQ+ people will be removed, along with all references to “#DEI”.

#HumanRights #Trump #TerrorState #UnitedStates #Authoritarianism #Dictatorship #Autocracy #Tyranny #MafiaState #Freedom #law #InternationalLaw #GenevaConvention
https://www.politico.com/news/2025/03/19/trump-human-rights-report-00238581

"What this is, is a signal that the #UnitedStates is no longer going to [pressure] other countries to uphold those rights that guarantee civic & political #freedoms — the ability to speak, to express yourself, to gather, to protest, to organize," said Paul O'Brien, executive director of #AmnestyInternational, USA.

Officially called "Country Reports on #HumanRights Practices," the annual documents are required, by statute, to be a "full & 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.

Despite decades of precedent, the reports, which are meant to inform congressional decisions on #ForeignAid allocations & #security assistance, will no longer call govts out for such things as denying #freedom of movement & #peaceful #assembly. They won't condemn retaining #PoliticalPrisoners without #DueProcess or restrictions on "free & fair #elections."