What The Human Rights Watch 2024 World Report Said About The United States Of America
In 2023, the United States grappled with persistent human rights challenges, including escalating racism, anti-immigrant sentiments, and threats to democracy.
In 2023, the United States grappled with persistent human rights challenges, including escalating racism, anti-immigrant sentiments, and threats to democracy. The national poverty rate surged after discontinuing a pandemic-era child tax credit, exacerbating economic inequality and sustaining a high racial wealth gap. Despite having one of the world’s highest incarceration rates, the US witnessed an increase, disproportionately affecting Black individuals. While the US demonstrated commitment to holding human rights abusers accountable through targeted sanctions and supporting international justice mechanisms, contradictions arose with military assistance provided to rights-violating states. President Joe Biden’s administration took steps to address racial equity in climate change efforts and banned abusive commercial spyware, but a surge in restrictive laws limiting reproductive care and LGBT rights occurred. The federal response to global warming fell short, and authorities pursued asylum-deterrence policies, violating international human rights laws. Additionally, a federal task force highlighted the urgent need for better protection of election officials from harassment and misinformation.
Racial Justice
The persistently stark racial wealth gap in the United States, with Black and Hispanic families having 24 and 23 cents, respectively, for every US$1 of white family wealth, remained largely unchanged over the past 50 years.
There are still ongoing racial disparities in health, nutrition, education, employment, and housing.
In May, Representative Cori Bush introduced a resolution urging federal reparations for enslavement, aligning with existing proposals like H.R. 40, a bill proposing a federal commission on reparations.
Despite state-level progress, federal efforts stalled, as neither the new resolution nor H.R. 40 was brought to a floor vote.
California’s reparations task force submitted proposals in May, and Washington enacted a program addressing past racist housing covenants.
In June, New York passed a bill studying the economic impacts of enslavement.
However, a lawsuit seeking reparations for survivors of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre was dismissed in July, with an appeal later granted by the Oklahoma Supreme Court in August.
Economic Justice
After experiencing historic declines in poverty over two years due to expanded social protection amid the Covid-19 pandemic, the US Supplemental Poverty Measure saw a dramatic rise, surging to 12.4 percent in 2022 from 7.8 percent in 2021.
Income inequality in the United States is high, with the top 10 percent of earners capturing nearly half of all income, while the bottom 50 percent receives only 13 percent.
When factoring in taxes and government transfers, the Gini index, a measure of income inequality, has increased by 3.2 percent since 2021.
Wealth inequality remains stark, as the poorest 50 percent of the US population owns just 1.5 percent of the country’s private wealth.
Criminal Justice
The United States grapples with one of the highest incarceration rates globally, holding approximately 2 million individuals in state and federal jails, prisons, and immigration detention facilities, with millions more on parole and probation.
Despite some reductions in incarceration rates for Black people, they remain disproportionately represented in the criminal justice system. In 2021, the rate of incarceration increased nationwide for the first time since 2005, though it remained below pre-pandemic levels. Despite calls for reducing reliance on policing and investing in housing, healthcare, and education to address societal issues, such appeals faced opposition advocating for increased police funding and the rollback of police reforms. Persistent misinformation and misleading narratives about crime rates undermined efforts for meaningful reform and community investments, with local governments criminalizing unhoused communities and expanding forced or coerced treatment for individuals living on the streets. The lack of comprehensive police use-of-force data, with over 800 people killed by the police in 2023, underscores ongoing challenges and racial disparities in law enforcement practices.
Youth Justice
Children in the United States continue to face being tried as adults in all 50 states, contrary to international standards opposing this approach.
The disproportionate transfer of youth of color to the adult system is evident, with racial and ethnic disparities persisting across various stages of the justice system, including arrests, pre-disposition detention, and post-adjudication incarceration.
In 2023, three states took measures to eliminate the sentence of life without parole (LWOP) for children, bringing the total to 33 states and Washington, DC, that have either banned LWOP for juveniles or currently have no individuals serving such sentences.
Despite this progress, the US remains the only country in the world to sentence children convicted of crimes to die in prison.
Child Labor
In February, the US Department of Labor highlighted a significant surge in child labor violations, with media investigations uncovering instances of children, particularly unaccompanied migrants, engaged in hazardous and exploitative work conditions.
These children, sacrificing their health, safety, and education, were found facing exploitation.
Alarmingly, certain states took steps to diminish child labor protections.
Notably, enduring exemptions in US labor laws permit children as young as 12 to engage in legal employment in agriculture, a sector known for being the most perilous for child workers.
Drug Policy
Overdose deaths in the United States persisted in their upward trajectory, reaching a new record level of 111,355 in the 12-month period ending April 2023, following the initial surpassing of 100,000 in the period ending April 2021.
Notably, racial disparities in overdose deaths continued to widen, with the rate of Black deaths surpassing those of white individuals. This discrepancy is attributed in part to racial bias in policies and limited access to treatment.
Despite the Biden administration’s historic investment in harm reduction in 2022, the reliance on criminalization by federal and state authorities remains substantial, highlighting the need for more robust and health-centered approaches to address harmful drug use.
In a positive development, the US Food and Drug Administration approved naloxone in March, marking the first over-the-counter drug for reversing opioid overdose.
Immigrants’ Rights and Border Communities
The expiration of the 2020 Title 42 summary expulsions policy in May marked a significant development, but it was replaced by a complex asylum rule.
Initially implemented as a response to the Covid-19 pandemic, Title 42 led to the summary expulsion of individuals 2.3 million times without proper asylum screening. The new asylum rule subjects many asylum seekers to expedited removals, arbitrary detention, prosecution, and a five-year ban on reentering the US, contingent on using the challenging “CBP One” phone app.
This process exposes asylum seekers to risks such as kidnapping, extortion, and sexual assault.
Despite President Biden’s pledge to end private immigration detention, as of July, 90 percent of the approximately 30,000 daily detainees were held in private facilities.
Additionally, Texas Governor Greg Abbott intensified border measures, employing razor wire and buoys with circular saws under Operation Lone Star, resulting in safety concerns, accidents, and harm to both migrants and residents.
Human Rights Watch documented at least 74 deaths and 189 injuries since the policy’s inception in March 2021.
Democracy
In a significant move, the US Supreme Court, in Allen v. Milligan, invalidated Alabama’s gerrymandered congressional maps, emphasizing the illegality of racial discrimination in voting laws and practices.
Another ruling, Moore v. Harper, upheld the right to seek remedies for voting rights violations in state courts.
However, despite these legal victories, at least 14 states passed laws in 2023 that make voting more challenging.
Democracy faced additional threats as state-level lawmakers restricted classroom discussions on race, history, sexual orientation, and gender and banned certain books, potentially eroding civic participation.
On a positive note, movements for universal suffrage achieved successes, with New Mexico and Minnesota allowing voting upon release from prison.
However, challenges persisted, highlighted by a federal court overturning Mississippi’s lifetime voting ban, labeling it cruel and unusual.
The year marked a historic moment as a former president faced significant sanctions, including criminal and civil charges, for attempting to overturn the 2020 elections.
Investigations into threats against election workers revealed vulnerabilities in US democracy, emphasizing the need for enhanced protection.
14 investigations into attempts to threaten election workers have been initiated
They also identified a need to address the spread of misinformation through social media platforms.
Climate Change Policy and Impacts
Despite being one of the leading greenhouse gas emitters globally, the Biden administration took steps to address environmental justice by directing federal agencies to integrate it into their missions.
Initiatives such as the creation of a policy committee to combat global plastics pollution were announced, recognizing the interconnectedness of environmental issues with public health, economic development, and equity.
However, the US is projected to lead the world’s largest expansion in oil and gas extraction from 2023 to 2050.
Women’s and Girls’ Rights
The aftermath of the June 2022 US Supreme Court decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, which overturned the constitutionally protected right to abortion, has had far-reaching, negative consequences for women, girls, and others who can become pregnant in the United States.
By September 15, 22 states had implemented abortion bans or restrictions, and 14 states had enacted laws criminalizing healthcare providers involved in performing abortions. Some states went further, making it a crime for anyone, including healthcare providers, to assist individuals in obtaining an abortion.
In August 2023, a federal appeals court issued a ruling limiting access to mifepristone, a safe and effective drug used for medical abortions, particularly when prescribed via telemedicine.
The decision exacerbated racial disparities in healthcare, leaving millions of women of color, especially Black women in the South, at heightened risk of preventable and treatable diseases like cervical cancer.
Disability Rights
People with disabilities face significant employment challenges, being three times less likely to secure jobs and often earning less than their peers for equivalent work. Public spaces, including transit systems and voting locations, frequently lack accessibility features.
Mental health crises are often mishandled, with police wellness checks posing fatal risks for individuals with mental health conditions.
Authorities have been sluggish in adopting alternative approaches that involve non-police emergency response teams, exacerbating the harmful consequences associated with mental health interventions.
Older People’s Rights
In January, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) took steps to address the inappropriate use of antipsychotic drugs in nursing homes by initiating audits on schizophrenia diagnoses.
This move aimed to curb the misuse of these medications, often referred to as “chemical restraints,” for behavioral control.
However, in August, CMS proposed minimum staffing levels for nursing homes at 3 hours of direct care per resident per day, falling short of the recommended 4.1 hours daily according to a CMS-funded study and the Institute of Medicine, raising concerns about potential impacts on resident care.
Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity
At the state level, 2023 witnessed a surge in legislative efforts aimed at restricting the rights of LGBT people, surpassing previous years in both the number and impact of enacted bills.
The primary targets of these efforts were transgender individuals, particularly transgender children in educational settings.
As of September 2023, 22 states have implemented restrictions on best-practice medical care for transgender children, with five criminalizing such care as a felony. Additionally, 23 states prohibit transgender children from participating in sports aligned with their gender identity, while 11 states ban discussions of sexual orientation and gender identity in schools.
Nine states restrict transgender individuals from using bathrooms consistent with their gender identity in K-12 schools, extending some of these bans to other public facilities.
Amidst these restrictive measures, Michigan stood out as the sole state to adopt a comprehensive LGBT-inclusive nondiscrimination law in 2023.
Technology and Human Rights
The United States doesn’t have a comprehensive federal data protection law. leaving personal data vulnerable to exploitation.
Various federal agencies are currently deliberating on the regulation of emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI).
Workers engaged by digital labor platforms for services like ride-hailing and delivery continue to face challenges, including low and unpredictable wages and unsafe working conditions.
In March, the Biden administration took a step by issuing an executive order prohibiting government agencies from using commercial spyware known for its misuse in targeting political dissent and perpetuating discrimination.
However, the persistent presence of commercial spyware poses a global threat to human rights, affecting individuals and organizations, including Human Rights Watch staff.
Guantanamo
As of the current status, 30 foreign Muslim men remain detained at the US military facility in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, including five individuals charged with involvement in the September 11, 2001 attacks.
Negotiations for a plea deal, where the five accused would plead guilty in exchange for life sentences, faced an impasse after President Biden rejected their requests for care to address the aftermath of Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) torture and the avoidance of serving sentences in solitary confinement. One of the 9/11 defendants was found not mentally competent to stand trial.
Two detainees from Malaysia opted to plead guilty before Guantanamo’s problematic military commissions, relating to the 2002 Bali bombings and a 2003 Jakarta Marriott Hotel bombing. Their transfer to Malaysia was expected after sentencing in January 2024.
Two other individuals awaited trial, one awaited sentencing, and nineteen detainees have never faced charges. Only one person held at Guantanamo has been convicted through a military commission.
Foreign Policy
In 2023, President Biden strongly condemned the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel, expressing increased support for Israel’s defense.
The U.S. provided military aid and arms transfers to Israel, despite concerns that such support violated domestic laws and policies. The U.S. urged Israel to minimize civilian harm and allow humanitarian aid into Gaza.
The U.S. continued supporting Ukraine against Russia’s invasion, sharing evidence of international crimes with the International Criminal Court (ICC) and approving the transfer of cluster munitions to Ukraine.
The U.S. imposed sanctions related to the conflict in Sudan, supported resolutions at the UN, and abstained from voting on some resolutions concerning Israel and Palestine.
The U.S. Secretary of State determined war crimes in northern Ethiopia, and in June, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi received a state dinner despite increasing human rights abuses.
The Biden administration’s new Conventional Arms Transfer Policy and the creation of the Civilian Harm Incident Response Group aimed to address civilian harm concerns related to U.S. military aid.
Despite congressional conditions on military aid to Egypt, a national security waiver allowed $235 million to go to President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi’s government, with another $85 million withheld due to Egypt’s poor record on political prisoners.
The U.S. facilitated the release of Americans imprisoned in Iran, allowing access to frozen Iranian oil revenue for humanitarian use but reportedly blocking access following Hamas attacks in Israel.
In Latin America and the Caribbean, the Biden administration prioritized restricting migrant flows, taking actions on voting rights in Brazil and Guatemala, and addressing deforestation in the Amazon, but responses to other human rights situations often prioritized domestic implications and politics.
Link to Human Rights Watch World Report 2024 info page
