• The U.S. State Department's 2024 Human Rights Report has softened criticism of key ally nations, including El Salvador and Israel.
• The report has been criticized for omitting detailed allegations of abuses, raising concerns about political bias.
• Critics, including former officials, view the report as reflecting a shift towards partisan political agendas.
• While backing Trump allies, the report increases criticism of Brazil and South Africa, highlighting freedom of speech issues.
• No references to serious humanitarian crises or LGBTQI rights have been included in this version of the report.

The U.S. State Department has recently released its 2024 Human Rights Report, which notably softens criticism of key partner nations such as El Salvador and Israel. The alterations come amid accusations that the report has been shaped to align with President Donald Trump's "America First" values, departing significantly from previous editions. Critics have expressed discontent with the report's omission of serious allegations of human rights abuses, especially concerning El Salvador, where the language has shifted from acknowledging "credible reports of significant human rights abuses" to a complete absence of such claims, according to trtglobal.

The report's section on Israel has also faced backlash, as it fails to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where over 61,500 fatalities have been reported since the beginning of Israel's military operations following an attack by Hamas in October 2023. Instead, the section is abbreviated compared to past editions, focusing less on issues of civilian casualties and more on "Life," "Liberty," and "Security of the Person," according to Reuters and Channel News Asia.

Critics have labeled the report politically driven, stating that its findings reflect a suppression of facts to favor Trump's administration. Josh Paul, a former State Department official, remarked, "The report demonstrates what happens when political agendas take priority over the facts," characterizing the final product as akin to "Soviet propaganda" due to its selective criticism. Such sentiments highlight the frustration surrounding the prioritization of political narrative over comprehensive human rights advocacy, as reported by trtglobal, Reuters, and Channel News Asia.

The restructured report marks a significant pivot from the traditional focus on promoting democracy and human rights, which was often viewed as interference in other countries' affairs under Trump's administration. The current report largely omits references to LGBTQI rights—a notable difference from previous versions that highlighted such issues—thereby reflecting a shift towards selective criticism and prioritizing relationships with certain nations, according to Reuters and Channel News Asia.

Furthermore, the report has ramped up criticism of Brazil and South Africa, noting a decline in human rights in these nations. For Brazil, the findings highlighted a disturbing trend in judicial actions that undermine freedom of speech, particularly against supporters of former President Jair Bolsonaro. In South Africa, the report stated worsening conditions regarding land expropriation and other abuses against racial minorities. These critiques indicate U.S.-Brazilian tensions and continued scrutiny regarding South Africa's treatment of its racial groups, according to trtglobal, Reuters, and Channel News Asia.