WASHINGTON, D.C. November 28 (C-Fam) Starting next year [2026] , the annual U.S. human rights reports on other governments will include criticism of state funded abortions, transgender procedures for minors, and restrictions on freedom of speech.
Since the 1970s, the U.S. Department of State is required by law to generate annual reports on the human rights situations in each UN member state. However, what the reports contain have become contested political issues in recent years. The understanding of human rights has diverged greatly between Republican and Democrat administrations
The U.S. Department of State is the federal government’s main agency responsible for directing the country’s foreign policy. It functions as the American equivalent of a Ministry of Foreign Affairs and is led by the Secretary of State, one of the most influential members of the President’s Cabinet. Its importance lies in its role in managing diplomatic relations with other nations, negotiating treaties and international agreements, overseeing U.S. embassies and consulates, and representing the United States in global organizations such as the United Nations. The Department also plays a key role in national security, the promotion of democracy and human rights abroad, and the coordination of international crisis responses. For these reasons, the Department of State is essential to shaping U.S. global strategy and maintaining the country’s influence on the international stage.