US Eases Human Rights Criticism for Allies, Targets Europe, Brazil, South Africa

Report by “Safarti Tarjuman” International News Desk

Washington, D.C. — The Trump administration has significantly altered the U.S. State Department’s annual Human Rights Report, easing criticism of close allies such as Israel and El Salvador while amplifying concerns about Europe, Brazil, and South Africa.

According to officials familiar with the drafting process, the 2024 report underwent substantial changes after Trump-appointed officials revised earlier drafts to align with the administration’s “America First” foreign policy. The revisions removed or reduced mentions of alleged human rights violations by allied governments, while increasing accusations against nations with strained relations with Washington.

Key Changes in the 2024 Human Rights Report

• Israel: The section was significantly shortened, omitting references to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where the Gaza Health Ministry reports over 61,000 deaths since Israel’s military operations began in October 2023.
• El Salvador: The report stated there were “no credible reports of significant human rights abuses,” a stark contrast to the 2023 edition that documented unlawful killings, torture, and harsh prison conditions. Washington’s ties with President Nayib Bukele have deepened as the U.S. provides $6 million to support migrant detention in the country’s mega-prison.
• Europe: Increased criticism over what the report describes as a “suppression of right-wing leaders” and censorship of anti-immigration views in countries such as Germany, France, and Romania.
• Brazil: Alleged judicial suppression of free speech, particularly targeting supporters of former President Jair Bolsonaro, who faces charges of conspiring to overturn the 2022 election.
• South Africa: The report accuses the government of racial discrimination against Afrikaners and advancing land expropriation policies, marking a shift from last year’s finding of “no significant changes.”

Strategic Policy Shift

The 2024 report introduces new categories such as “Life,” “Liberty,” and “Security of the Person” while removing or downplaying references to LGBTQ+ rights that featured prominently under the Biden administration. Officials also replaced the term “Russia’s invasion of Ukraine” with the more neutral “Russia-Ukraine war.”

Secretary of State Marco Rubio has defended the changes, saying the State Department’s Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor had been “captured by left-wing activists” and needed reorientation toward “Western values.” Hundreds of staff members were dismissed during the bureau’s restructuring.

Critics argue the shift represents a selective application of human rights advocacy, prioritizing political alignment over universal standards. Human rights organizations warn that the credibility of the U.S. as a global rights advocate is at stake.

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