By Emma Farge
GENEVA(Reuters) – U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s return to the White Home subsequent week threatens freedoms at dwelling and overseas, the pinnacle of Human Rights Watch mentioned on Thursday, warning that his second time period may very well be extra damaging than his first.
The remarks from Tirana Hassan, the Government Director of the New York-based unbiased rights group, come because it launches its World Report reviewing rights practices in over 100 states.
“The Trump administration’s first time period confirmed us what they’re able to and significantly confirmed their lack of dedication to human rights,” Hassan informed Reuters forward of the annual report launch.
“However Undertaking 2025 and the statements that we have heard from the (incoming) President have already begun to display that there will likely be an all-out assault basically on migrant rights,” she mentioned, referring to a set of conservative coverage proposals and plans to launch a mass deportation operation for immigrants.
Hassan, an Australian lawyer who has represented asylum seekers, added that the tone set by Trump’s administration might embolden autocrats around the globe to cross repressive insurance policies.
Trump’s staff didn’t instantly reply to a request to touch upon her remarks.
Hassan additionally criticised outgoing President Joe Biden’s insurance policies for offering arms to Israel within the Gaza battle regardless of what she known as clear proof they had been getting used to commit atrocities. A ceasefire between Israel and Hamas was introduced on Wednesday.
“2024 was not a proud second for the outgoing administration,” she informed Reuters, saying its failure to guard civilians in Gaza and provision of arms was a “blight” on Biden’s legacy.
Israel denies committing atrocities in Gaza. Final month HRW mentioned Israel had dedicated an act of genocide by depriving Gaza of water, an accusation Israel rejects.
Thursday’s 546-page HRW report mentioned that conflicts and humanitarian crises had uncovered the fraying of worldwide protections over the previous 12 months in locations corresponding to Sudan, Ukraine and Haiti.
In 2024 some authoritarians corresponding to Russia’s President Vladimir Putin and leaders throughout Africa’s Sahel have tightened their grip on energy, it mentioned, however elsewhere there was resistance to such tendencies corresponding to in South Korea.
“It simply exhibits that it’s doable to face up when there may be an all-out assault on human rights,” mentioned Hassan.
