State Department to focus on freedom of speech in next human rights report, likely targeting European governments – CNN

US Human Rights Report Shifts Focus: Implications for Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction: A New Emphasis on “Natural Rights”

• The United States State Department has announced a strategic redirection for its annual Country Reports on Human Rights Practices.
• The forthcoming report will prioritize “natural rights,” with a significant emphasis on freedom of speech.
• This policy institutionalizes changes observed in the 2024 report and will guide future data collection by US diplomatic missions worldwide, which have been instructed to commence preparations.

Alignment with SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

• The report’s new direction directly engages with Sustainable Development Goal 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions), particularly Target 16.10, which aims to “ensure public access to information and protect fundamental freedoms.”
• The administration’s stated goal is to utilize the report as a diplomatic tool to influence government behavior and uphold its interpretation of fundamental freedoms.
• The process involves a clear operational plan:

1. Diplomats are tasked with gathering field data specifically related to freedom of expression.
2. The report will prioritize analysis of countries where these freedoms are perceived to be in decline.
3. This approach is intended to promote transparent and accountable institutions (Target 16.6) by assessing nations against specific standards of free speech.

Scrutiny of European Allies and Digital Regulation

• A primary area of focus for the report is Western Europe, with the 2024 edition having already cited “serious restrictions on freedom of expression” in allied nations including the United Kingdom, France, and Germany.
• This scrutiny challenges traditional diplomatic partnerships, potentially impacting the collaborative spirit essential for achieving SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).
• The European Union’s Digital Services Act (DSA) is explicitly identified by a senior official as a “regulatory regime that restricts speech online,” placing it in direct conflict with the US administration’s interpretation of SDG 16.10.

Methodological Shift and Impact on SDG 5 and SDG 10

• The State Department has confirmed a methodological shift away from reporting based on “group identities” to focus on individual persecution, framing it as a promotion of “individual freedom.”
• This change has significant implications for monitoring progress on goals related to equality and non-discrimination.

1. SDG 5 (Gender Equality): The previous report was noted for the removal of specific sections on violence against women, a core indicator for Target 5.2 (Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls).
2. SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities): Reporting on abuses based on sexual orientation and systemic racial or ethnic violence was also excised, diverging from the principles of Target 10.2 and 10.3, which call for the inclusion and equal opportunity for all irrespective of status.

• This new focus on individual freedom, while de-emphasizing group-specific vulnerabilities, represents a notable departure from established international human rights monitoring frameworks that underpin the SDGs.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The article primarily addresses issues related to fundamental freedoms, human rights, and international relations, which connect to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The most relevant SDGs are:

• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions: This is the most central SDG, as the article’s main focus is on freedom of speech, human rights reporting, and the role of government institutions (the US State Department) in monitoring and influencing these rights globally.
• SDG 5: Gender Equality: This SDG is relevant because the article explicitly mentions that the latest human rights report was “stripped of specific sections of reporting on alleged abuses based on… violence toward women.” This directly relates to the goal of eliminating violence against women.
• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities: This goal is connected through the article’s statement that the report also removed sections on “systemic racial or ethnic violence” and abuses based on “sexual orientation.” These topics are core to reducing inequalities and ensuring the rights of all individuals, regardless of their identity.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the issues discussed, the following specific SDG targets can be identified:

1. SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

   • Target 16.10: Ensure public access to information and protect fundamental freedoms, in accordance with national legislation and international agreements.
     
     Explanation: The entire article revolves around this target. The US State Department’s focus on “natural rights like freedom of speech” and its criticism of European allies for “serious restrictions on freedom of expression” directly address the protection of fundamental freedoms. The article mentions the “Country Reports on Human Rights Practices” as a tool to monitor and promote these freedoms.

2. SDG 5: Gender Equality

   • Target 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres.
     
     Explanation: The article connects to this target by highlighting a change in how it is being monitored. It states that the latest human rights report “had already been stripped of specific sections of reporting on alleged abuses based on… violence toward women.” This indicates a shift in the institutional approach to tracking and reporting on progress toward this target.

3. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

   • Target 10.3: Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome, including by eliminating discriminatory laws, policies and practices.
     
     Explanation: This target is relevant due to the article’s mention that the report was stripped of sections on “systemic racial or ethnic violence” and “abuses based on sexual orientation.” The removal of dedicated reporting on these issues impacts the ability to monitor and address discriminatory practices and violence against marginalized groups, which is a key component of reducing inequalities.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Yes, the article mentions or implies several indicators that can be used to measure progress:

1. Indicators for SDG Target 16.10

   • Existence and content of national human rights reports: The article is centered on the “Country Reports on Human Rights Practices,” which serves as a primary indicator of a government’s effort to monitor and report on fundamental freedoms.
   • Laws and regulations that restrict freedom of expression: The article explicitly points to the EU’s “Digital Services Act (DSA)” as a “regulatory regime that restricts speech online.” The existence and enforcement of such laws can be used as an indicator to measure the protection of free speech.
   • Number of countries with reported restrictions on freedom of expression: The article notes that the 2024 report alleged “significant human rights issues” in the UK, France, and Germany over “serious restrictions on freedom of expression.” This count of countries with such issues serves as a direct indicator.

2. Indicators for SDG Targets 5.2 and 10.3

   • Inclusion or exclusion of specific monitoring categories in human rights reports: The article’s key point that the report was “stripped of specific sections of reporting on alleged abuses based on sexual orientation, violence toward women and systemic racial or ethnic violence” is a powerful indicator. The presence or absence of dedicated sections for monitoring violence and discrimination against specific groups in official reports measures the institutional priority given to these issues.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: cnn.com