By Emma Farge
GENEVA (Reuters) – U.S. President Donald Trump's return to the White House next week threatens freedoms at home and abroad, the head of Human Rights Watch said on Thursday, warning that his second term could be more dangerous than his first.
The words from Tirana Hassan, Executive Director of the New York-based independent rights group, come as it launches a Global Report reviewing human rights practices in more than 100 countries.
“The first term of the Trump administration showed us what they can do and show their lack of commitment to human rights,” Hassan told Reuters ahead of the launch of the annual report.
“But the 2025 Project and the statements we heard from the (incoming) President have begun to show that there will be a total attack on the rights of immigrants,” he said, referring to a set of policy proposals and plans to start work on deporting people from other countries.
Hassan, an Australian lawyer who represents asylum seekers, added that the tone set by the Trump administration could embolden autocrats around the world to pass repressive policies.
Trump's team did not immediately respond to a request for comment about his remarks.
Hassan also criticized outgoing President Joe Biden's policies of providing weapons to Israel in the Gaza war despite what he called clear evidence that they were being used to commit atrocities. On Wednesday a ceasefire was announced between Israel and Hamas.
“2024 was not a proud moment for the outgoing administration,” he told Reuters, saying their failure to protect the people of Gaza and provide weapons was “a problem” for Biden's legacy.
Israel denies wrongdoing in Gaza. Last month, HRW said Israel committed genocide by blocking water in Gaza, a charge Israel denies.
Thursday's 546-page HRW report said conflicts and humanitarian crises have exposed the deterioration of international security over the past year in places like Sudan, Ukraine and Haiti.
By 2024 some authorities such as Russian President Vladimir Putin and leaders across the Sahel have strengthened their power, it said, but in other places there was opposition to these conditions such as South Korea.
“It just goes to show that it's possible for someone to stand up when there's an all-out attack on human rights,” Hassan said.