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August 7, 2025

Report: U.S. Plans to Weaken Criticism of Human Rights Abuses in El Salvador, Israel, and Russia
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The Washington Post is reporting the State Department's forthcoming
human rights report will dramatically scale back U.S. criticism of
several countries, including Israel, El Salvador and Russia. The report
also removes references to gender-based violence or violence against
LGBTQ+ people. A leaked draft says there have been "no credible reports
of significant human rights abuses" last year in El Salvador. Previous
State Department reports on El Salvador had condemned
government-sanctioned killings, torture and "life-threatening prison
conditions." The draft report on Israel is just 25 pages, down from 100
in the previous report. Sections removed include a line criticizing
Israel's "experimental facial recognition system to track Palestinians
and enforce movement restrictions."


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