Trump's Terms
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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Quick takeaways
- The State Department's human rights reports have been significantly altered to exclude numerous violations, undermining their credibility.
- Changes in reporting may improve relations with authoritarian governments like Hungary, raising concerns about global human rights accountability.
Deep dives
Changes to Human Rights Reports
Significant modifications have been made to the U.S. State Department's human rights reports, impacting their coverage of various violations. A recent memo instructed editors to omit references to over 20 human rights violations, including peaceful assembly and fair trial rights. This shift is seen as an indication that the current administration is willing to downplay the importance of fundamental human rights in the documentation, which could damage the reports' credibility. Stakeholders, like Amnesty International, express concern that these deletions signal a broader disregard for civil liberties and may also shape how the administration upholds rights within the United States.
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