LGBTQ+ Rights

The recent release of the United States Department of State annual human rights report revealed a sharp change in how the U.S. assesses violations abroad. For the 2024 report the entries are drastically shorter, some major issues like gender-based violence and persecution of LGBTQ+ people have been trimmed or removed, and reports on traditional allies favor them more than in past years.  This shift raises concerns about weakening global standards of accountability and makes it harder for civil society to call out abuses when reports are inconsistent or incomplete.

Meanwhile the rights of vulnerable populations within the U.S. remain under pressure. For instance, discrimination and violence against LGBTQ+ people are still widespread; Congress has not passed legislation addressing reparations for slavery; and Indigenous women continue to suffer disproportionate levels of gender-based violence. These domestic issues highlight that human-rights challenges are not only “elsewhere” but also present in advanced democracies, and that weakening reporting or oversight mechanisms can have ripple‐effects on rights protection everywhere.

What can be done? Transparency and independent monitoring are key. When governments scale back reporting or slim down oversight, civil society and international actors must step in and demand accountability. Also, protecting the rights of minorities, ensuring legislation keeps pace with evolving threats, and maintaining free media and strong courts are crucial in safeguarding human rights. The shifting U.S. reporting practices serve as a warning: unless rights frameworks are upheld everywhere, they can erode broadly.