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President Donald Trump was prominently featured in Human Rights Watch’s 2018 World Report — and not in a good way.
The report, which meticulously documents human rights abuses from all over the world, singled out a number of Trump’s domestic and foreign policies for harsh criticism. Characterizing his election as the product of « surge of authoritarian populists, » the authors proceeded to describe how Trump’s presidency has eroded the foundations of American democracy.
« The strong civil society and democratic institutions of the United States were tested in the first year of the administration of President Donald Trump, » the report explained. « Across a range of issues in 2017, the U. S. moved backward on human rights at home and abroad. Trump has targeted refugees and immigrants, calling them criminals and security threats; emboldened racist politics by equivocating on white nationalism; and consistently championed anti-Muslim ideas and policies. »
« His administration has embraced policies that will roll back access to reproductive health care for women; championed health insurance changes that would leave many more Americans without access to affordable health care; and undermined police accountability for abuse, » Human Rights Watch said. The report also condemned Trump’s « expressed disdain for independent media and federal courts, » his discriminatory attitudes toward groups from Mexicans and Muslims to the transgender community and his doubling down of policies involving criminal justice, immigration and national security that » continued to violate internationally recognized human rights. »
The report paid particular attention to Trump’s habit of embracing dictators throughout the world, such as his admiration for Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and Chinese President Xi Jinping. The report also criticized Trump’s attempt to reimpose sanctions on Iran, his exacerbation of America’s already-tense relationship with North Korea and his expansion of United States military operations in Afghanistan.
This is the second report in a week from a human rights organization that has condemned Trump. Freedom House, an organization that focuses on the promotion of democracy throughout the world, expressed concern that Trump’s political movement had « targeted traditional notions of collective global security and mutually beneficial trade » and promoted « hostility and skepticism toward binding international agreements on the environment, arms control, and other topics. »
