“The Trump administration’s refusal to cooperate with the UN Special Procedures system is a jarring exercise in hypocrisy. These investigators shed light on critical human rights issues which the Trump administration itself claims to champion, including freedom of religion and the exploitation of children. Halting cooperation with UN investigators threatens the rights of vulnerable communities within the US and around the world.
“If the US government can demand impunity for its own human rights record, other governments could follow suit. To that effect, the administration’s decision to end cooperation with UN investigators sets a profoundly irresponsible precedent and risks undermining a critical human rights instrument. It is a gift for authoritarians and human rights abusers worldwide. The US must immediately reengage with the United Nations and cooperate with investigators.”