Latest news with #MandeepTiwana
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
U.S. added to int'l human rights watchlist
May 11 (UPI) -- The United States was added to an international human rights watchlist on Sunday over Trump administration attacks targeting civic freedoms. CIVICUS, an international human rights monitor, said it added the United States due to "the Trump administration's assault on democratic norms and global cooperation." As reason, it listed President Donald Trump's "unprecedented executive orders designed to unravel democratic institutions, rule of law and global cooperation" as well as its slashing of federal funding for organizations supporting those in need, the dismantling of USAID and reversals on justice, inclusion and diversity. It also highlighted the Trump administration's crackdown on pro-Palestine protests through arbitrary arrests and student visa cancelations "This is an unparalleled attack on the rule of law in the United States, not seen since the days of McCarthyism in the 20th century," Mandeep Tiwana, interim co-secretary general of CIVICUS, said in a statement. "Restrictive orders, unjustifiable institutional cutbacks and intimidation tactics through threatening pronouncements by senior officials in the administration are creating an atmosphere to chill democratic dissent, a cherished American ideal." The United States being added to the watchlist comes as the Trump administration has come under mounting criticism over its attacks on American democratic institutions. It has been accused of ignoring due process rights in arresting and shipping hundreds of migrants to a notorious mega prison in El Salvador and has been condemned for its repeated attacks of the judicial system -- from calling for judges who rule against it to be impeached to arresting another on allegations of impeding an immigration-related arrest. CIVICUS also highlight the Trump administration's attacks on press freedom as reason for its inclusion the list. It pointed to the White House now determining which media outlets have access to presidential briefings and banning reporters covering political sensitive topics as proof. "The Trump administration seems hellbent on dismantling the system of checks and balances, which are the pillars of a democratic society," Tiwana said.
Yahoo
10-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
US added to human rights watchlist over Trump moves
The United States has been added to CIVICUS's monitor list of potential human rights threats, a move the global nonprofit says is directly linked to President Trump's actions since his return to the White House in January. 'Restrictive executive orders, unjustifiable institutional cutbacks, and intimidation tactics through threatening pronouncements by senior officials in the administration are creating an atmosphere to chill democratic dissent, a cherished American ideal,' CIVICUS interim co-Secretary General Mandeep Tiwana said in a statement. 'The Trump administration seems hellbent on dismantling the system of checks and balances which are the pillars of a democratic society.' The U.S. joins Congo, Italy, Pakistan and Serbia in CIVICUS's first watch updates for 2025. 'Gross abuses of executive power raise serious concerns over the freedoms of peaceful assembly, expression and association,' the group wrote of the U.S. rating. CIVICUS specifically pointed to Trump's push for mass firings of federal workers, the dismantling of foreign aid programs, his treatment of the media and efforts across the country to tamp down pro-Palestinian protests. 'Americans across the political spectrum are appalled by the undemocratic actions of the current administration,' Tiwana said. According to CIVICUS, the monitor list 'draws attention to countries where there is a serious decline in respect for civic space, based on an assessment by CIVICUS Monitor research findings, our research partners and consultations with activists on the ground.' 'CIVICUS calls upon these governments to do everything in their power to end the ongoing crackdowns immediately and ensure that perpetrators are held to account,' the organization said in its news release on the update. The U.S. is among 42 countries that CIVICUS rates as 'narrowed' on freedom, which is the group's second tier after 'open' and used to signify countries where citizens face occasional violations of basic rights. 'Closed,' 'repressed,' and 'obstructed' are the most restrictive tiers. Thirty countries, including Russia, North Korea and Iran, are categorized as 'closed.' Other countries rated 'narrow' include France, Germany and Argentina. Countries deemed 'open' include Taiwan, Canada, Japan and Denmark. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Hill
10-03-2025
- Politics
- The Hill
US added to human rights watchlist over Trump moves
The United States has been added to CIVICUS's monitor list of potential human rights threats, a move the global nonprofit says is directly linked to President Trump's actions since his return to the White House in January. 'Restrictive executive orders, unjustifiable institutional cutbacks, and intimidation tactics through threatening pronouncements by senior officials in the administration are creating an atmosphere to chill democratic dissent, a cherished American ideal,' CIVICUS interim co-secretary general Mandeep Tiwana said in a statement. 'The Trump administration seems hellbent on dismantling the system of checks and balances which are the pillars of a democratic society.' The U.S. joins the Democratic Republic of Congo, Italy, Pakistan and Serbia in CIVICUS's first watch updates for 2025. 'Gross abuses of executive power raise serious concerns over the freedoms of peaceful assembly, expression and association,' the group wrote of the U.S. rating. CIVICUS specifically pointed to Trump's push for mass firings of federal workers, the dismantling of foreign aid programs, his treatment of the media and efforts across the country to tamp down pro-Palestinian protests. 'Americans across the political spectrum are appalled by the undemocratic actions of the current administration,' Tiwana said. According to CIVICUS, the monitor list 'draws attention to countries where there is a serious decline in respect for civic space, based on an assessment by CIVICUS Monitor research findings, our research partners and consultations with activists on the ground.' 'CIVICUS calls upon these governments to do everything in their power to end the ongoing crackdowns immediately and ensure that perpetrators are held to account,' the organization said in its news release on the update. The U.S. is among 42 countries that CIVICUS rates as 'narrowed' on freedom, which is the group's second tier after 'open' and used to signify countries where citizens face occasional violations of basic rights. 'Closed,' 'repressed,' and 'obstructed' are the most restrictive tiers. Thirty countries, including Russia, North Korea and Iran, are categorized as 'closed.' Other countries rated 'narrow' include France, Germany and Argentina. Countries deemed 'open' include Taiwan, Canada, Japan and Denmark.
The Guardian
10-03-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
US added to international watchlist for rapid decline in civic freedoms
The United States has been added to the Civicus Monitor Watchlist, which identifies countries that the global civil rights watchdog believes are currently experiencing a rapid decline in civic freedoms. Civicus, an international non-profit organization dedicated to 'strengthening citizen action and civil society around the world', announced the inclusion of the US on the non-profit's first watchlist of 2025 on Monday, alongside the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Italy, Pakistan and Serbia. The watchlist is part of the Civicus Monitor, which tracks developments in civic freedoms across 198 countries. Other countries that have previously been featured on the watchlist in recent years include Zimbabwe, Argentina, El Salvador and the United Arab Emirates. Mandeep Tiwana, co-secretary general of Civicus, said that the watchlist 'looks at countries where we remain concerned about deteriorating civic space conditions, in relation to freedoms of peaceful assembly, association and expression'. The selection process, the website states, incorporates insights and data from Civicus's global network of research partners and data. The decision to add the US to the first 2025 watchlist was made in response to what the group described as the 'Trump administration's assault on democratic norms and global cooperation'. In the news release announcing the US's addition, the organization cited recent actions taken by the Trump administration that they argue will likely 'severely impact constitutional freedoms of peaceful assembly, expression, and association'. The group cited several of the administration's actions such as the mass termination of federal employees, the appointment of Trump loyalists in key government positions, the withdrawal from international efforts such as the World Health Organization and the UN Human Rights Council, the freezing of federal and foreign aid and the attempted dismantling of USAid. The organization warned that these decisions 'will likely impact civic freedoms and reverse hard-won human rights gains around the world'. The group also pointed to the administration's crackdown on pro-Palestinian protesters, and the Trump administration's unprecedented decision to control media access to presidential briefings, among others. Civicus described Trump's actions since taking office as an 'unparalleled attack on the rule of law' not seen 'since the days of McCarthyism in the twentieth century', stating that these moves erode the checks and balances essential to democracy. 'Restrictive executive orders, unjustifiable institutional cutbacks, and intimidation tactics through threatening pronouncements by senior officials in the administration are creating an atmosphere to chill democratic dissent, a cherished American ideal,' Tiwana said. In addition to the watchlist, the Civicus Monitor classifies the state of civic space in countries using five ratings: open, narrowed, obstructed, repressed and closed. Currently, the US has a 'narrowed' rating, which it also had during the Biden administration, meaning that while citizens can exercise their civic freedom, such as rights to association, peaceful assembly and expression, occasional violations occur. For part of Trump's first term, Tiwana said, the US had been categorized as 'obstructed', due to the administration's response to the Black Lives Matter protests and restrictive state laws that were enacted limiting the rights of environmental justice protesters, and other actions. Sign up to Headlines US Get the most important US headlines and highlights emailed direct to you every morning after newsletter promotion Under Joe Biden, the classification went back to 'narrowed', Tiwana, said, but as of Monday, the US has been placed on the watchlist as the group says it sees 'significant deterioration' in civic freedoms occurring. Tiwana noted that the US is again seemingly headed toward the 'obstructed' category. While the Trump administration often say they support fundamental freedoms and individual rights, like free speech, Tiwana believes that the administration seem 'to be wanting to support these only for people who they see as agreeing with them'. Historically, Tiwana said, the US has been 'considered the beacon of democracy and defense of fundamental freedoms'. 'It was an important pillar of US foreign policy, even though it was imperfect, both domestically and how the US promoted it abroad,' he added. But Tiwana believes that the recent actions and statements made by this US administration could empower authoritarian regimes around the world, undermine constitutional principles, and embolden those who 'want to accumulate power and increase their wealth and their ability to stay in power for as long as possible'. Tiwana says that he and the organization want to draw attention to the fact that those in power in the US are, in his view, engaging in a 'zero-sum politics game' that is eroding 'constitutional principles and frankly, engaging in, anti American behavior'. 'We urge the United States to uphold the rule of law and respect constitutional and international human rights norms,' said Tiwana.
