The US Department of State released its annual Country Reports on Human Rights Practices on Monday, amidst the seventy-fifth anniversary of the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights, or UDHR. The report emphasized “several new commitments, including to renew investments around the world in democracy and human rights, to help protect human rights defenders online, and to advance racial and gender justice in the United States.”
The report’s preface highlighted the human rights violations by the regime in Iran in its suppression of protests and the Taliban’s “systemic mistreatment of and discrimination against Afghanistan’s women and girls.” The report also includes China’s labor violations and alleges genocide of the Muslim minority Uyghurs and other ethnic minorities. Additionally, the report highlighted Cuba’s detention of over a thousand prisoners and their unfair treatment, as well as Nicaragua’s holding of a hundred prisoners in “appalling” conditions was also featured.
The report also detailed Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and its subsequent human rights violations in using “violence against civilians as a deliberate tool of warfare.” The Israel-Hamas conflict also factored heavily in the report and raised “deeply troubling concerns for human rights” as Israel waged war after the October 7 attacks by Hamas. The report stated, “We repeatedly have pressed concerns about Palestinian civilians’ access to humanitarian assistance, displacement of the majority of the population of Gaza, and the unprecedented number of journalists killed.”
At Monday’s press conference, Secretary of State Antony Blinken emphasized that the need for human rights protections for vulnerable groups such as women, LGBTQ+ people and those with disabilities is “as necessary as ever.” Multiple reporters lodged questions at the press conference about reconciling the perceived “double standard” that the US has regarding the way Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and its civilians is treated versus the way Israel has treated Palestinian civilians. One reporter asked what the difference was between Russia’s cutting off of food and fuel to Ukranian civilians and Israel’s cutting off of food and fuel to the people of Gaza. Ultimately, the distinguishing difference came down to the “nature of the conflict” and Russia’s actual targeting of civilians.
Multiple questions about potential violations of the Leahy Law also arose during the conference, including whether Israel’s conduct towards Palestinians rose to the level of prohibiting funds to Israel based on human rights violations. Under the Leahy law, if the Secretary of State finds gross human rights violations, the Department of Defense may not appropriate funds “for any training, equipment, or other assistance.” If human rights are violated and there is a finding of a lack of accountability, then funding can be suspended.
A former Democratic senator from Vermont sponsored the Leahy Law. Current Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders released a statement yesterday about “offering amendments tomorrow to cut billions in offensive military funding to Israel from the proposed national security supplemental package and protect essential humanitarian operations.”
