"Deterioration" of human rights: when the United States points the finger at Europe

On Tuesday, Washington's accusing eyes turned to Europe. According to the US State Department's 2024 report, some European countries, including the United Kingdom, France, and Germany, are restricting freedom of expression and leading to what the United States calls a "deterioration" of human rights.

The US State Department's 2024 report serves as a reference document but has sparked much debate regarding its direction, which is very (too) close to US President Donald Trump's the priorities.

In this report, Washington refers to "credible reports of serious restrictions on freedom of expression" and states that it has noticed an increase in anti-Semitic acts in France. As for the United Kingdom, the United States fears the arrival of a new online safety law, which aims to protect minors but is the target of harsh criticism on X, Elon Musk's social network. As for Germany, the White House is concerned about the "backsliding" of freedom of expression. The situation highlighted by Vice President J.D. Vance during a speech in Munich.

According to a US official, Washington wants to engage in "frank discussions with our partners and allies about what we consider censorship or disfavoring certain voices, whether political or religious".

A Problematic Edition

The US report, mandated by Congress, is published annually in the spring. According to the media outlet 20 Minutes, it reports on the human rights situation around the world.

And the 2024 edition is getting special attention, as it has been amended to align with the Trump administration's policies and priorities, emphasizing the importance of the fight against abortion rights and diversity policies. "This year's reports have been simplified to be more useful and accessible [...] and to align with the administration's executive orders," the document states.

Credibility Under Attack

NGOs and Democratic elected officials are unhappy with this simplification and realignment, fearing the possibility of politicization. "The Trump administration's actions to water down and politicize these reports undermine their very purpose and damage the State Department's credibility," said US Senator Chris Van Hollen.

While El Salvador, a close Trump ally, is spared, Brazil and South Africa, whose relations with Washington are not at their best, are under harsh scrutiny. Brasilia, for example, is under fire for "excessive and disproportionate measures" that limit access to certain content published on the internet. Such actions carried out by Washington particularly reflect the current state of tension.

(MH with Manon Pierre - Source : 20 Minutes - Illustration : ©Unsplash)