Briefing on the State Department’s Human Rights Reports

Briefing on the State Department’s Human Rights Reports
Wednesday, September 17, 2025 | 12:00–1:00 PM ET

Join Uzra Zeya, President and CEO of Human Rights First, and Scott Busby, Senior Advisor, for a briefing on the integrity and future of the State Department’s annual Country Reports on Human Rights Practices.

For decades, these reports have been among the most trusted and widely read sources of information on the state of human rights worldwide—guiding U.S. foreign policy, shaping asylum and refugee decisions, and informing governments, international institutions, and civil society. Recent politically driven revisions and omissions under the Trump administration raise urgent concerns about their credibility, transparency, and role in safeguarding human rights.

Featuring:

• 
  Uzra Zeya, President and CEO, Human Rights First
  
• 
  Scott Busby, Senior Advisor, Human Rights First
  

They will discuss:

• How the reports have historically supported U.S. policy and global human rights efforts
• The impact of recent changes on U.S. credibility, security, and diplomacy
• Glaring omissions and inaccuracies in the 2024 reports based on Human Rights First research and reporting
• Assessing the impact of the reports on asylum and related immigration cases and issues
• Why restoring integrity to these reports is critical for Congress, policymakers, and the international community

Register to join this briefing.