WASHINGTON—Representative Eliot L. Engel, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, today made the following statement regarding the release of the State Department’s annual human rights report:

“I am extremely alarmed by the Trump Administration’s decision to censor key facets of the State Department’s annual human rights report. This move sends a clear and unambiguous message: this Administration believes that some human rights violations don’t matter. 

“The report eliminated descriptions of reproductive rights violations, ignoring abuses that make it impossible to achieve a more stable and prosperous world. There is a well-documented link, for example, between improved access to contraception and women’s economic empowerment. Women who are able to plan their families are more likely to receive an education, raise their standards of living, and climb out of poverty.

“This is just the latest in a disturbing pattern wherein this Administration does not prioritize the rights of women and other marginalized populations. It is also a sign that the Trump Administration is stepping back from the United States’ obligation to address the full range of human rights violations around the world.”

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