

The State Department is changing its mind about what it calls human rights
Apr 18, 2025
Graham Smith, a member of NPR's investigations team, delves into alarming changes made by the Trump administration to the State Department’s human rights reports. He highlights how critical critiques of human rights abuses have been stripped away, raising concerns about credibility and accountability. Insight from a Hungarian human rights advocate showcases the repercussions on authoritarian regimes like Hungary. The conversation underscores the potential normalization of human rights violations and how these shifts affect perceptions both globally and domestically.
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Trump Cuts Human Rights Reporting
- The Trump administration is removing many long-standing human rights concerns from State Department reports.
- This includes erasing critiques on harsh prison conditions, government corruption, and political repression.
Civil Rights Vanish From Reports
- Essential civil and political rights like free assembly and fair trials are being omitted from reports.
- The edits signal a shift away from upholding freedoms such as protest and political participation globally.
Hungarian Prison Critique Erased
- The revised report on Hungary removes criticism of prison conditions documented by local human rights groups.
- Hungarian Helsinki Committee's evidence on institutional abuses is being erased, reflecting political favoring.