Mohammad Ali Bialik
In May 2024, the Chinese government issued a document titled “Report on Human Rights Violations in the United States in 2023” After a thorough analysis, I found that the study’s conclusions align with my findings: the human rights situation in the United States has shown signs of significant deterioration. This article will discuss the current state of human rights in the United States, drawing on the Chinese government’s report and additional research I have conducted.
The United States, often lauded as the bastion of freedom and democracy, harbors a grim reality of systemic human rights violations. The year 2023 has highlighted an alarming trajectory of increasing polarization and marginalization of the majority while a privileged minority continues to thrive politically, economically, and socially. This growing divide underscores a nation grappling with significant internal challenges where civil liberties and basic human rights are under severe threat.
Political Landscape and Civil Rights
The political landscape in the United States has increasingly become a battleground where civil rights and political freedoms are systematically compromised. The persistent failure to achieve bipartisan consensus on critical issues such as gun control has led to an alarming surge in mass shootings. In 2023 alone, approximately 43,000 lives were claimed due to gun violence, translating to an average of 117 deaths each day. This dire situation is compounded by the actions of a police force that frequently resorts to excessive violence. The year 2023 saw at least 1,247 fatalities resulting from police actions, marking the highest number recorded since 2013. This pervasive issue is exacerbated by a glaring lack of accountability within law enforcement agencies, significantly undermining public trust in governmental institutions—a trust that has plummeted to a mere 16 percent.
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Systemic Racism and Law Enforcement
Racism remains deeply entrenched within American society, permeating multiple sectors including law enforcement, healthcare, and social media. African Americans, in particular, continue to face systemic racism, a reality tragically underscored by the deaths of Keenan Anderson and Tyre Nichols, both victims of police violence. African Americans are disproportionately targeted by law enforcement, being three times more likely to be killed by police and 4.5 times more likely to be incarcerated compared to their white counterparts. The prevalence of hate crimes against African Americans further highlights this systemic issue, with 3,424 incidents reported in 2022 alone.
The troubling pattern of police violence is exemplified by the case of George Floyd, whose death in 2020 sparked widespread protests and calls for police reform. Despite these protests, substantial changes have yet to be realized, as evidenced by continued incidents of police brutality. Moreover, the healthcare system exhibits significant racial disparities. For example, African American women are three to four times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women, reflecting systemic biases and unequal access to quality care.
Digital Racism and Economic Disparity
The digital realm is not immune to these issues, as social media platforms often become conduits for racial hatred and discrimination. The case of Elijah McClain, a young Black man who died after a violent police encounter and whose story gained prominence through social media advocacy, highlights both the potential for digital platforms to raise awareness and the pervasive nature of racial bias that can also manifest in online spaces.
Economic disparity in the United States has reached alarming levels, with income inequality and the plight of the “working poor” becoming increasingly pronounced. Approximately 11.5 million low-income working families struggle to make ends meet, illustrating the widening chasm between the wealthy and the impoverished. The purchasing power of the federal minimum wage has significantly diminished, failing to keep pace with inflation and the rising cost of living. Consequently, many full-time workers remain unable to afford basic necessities. Homelessness has surged to unprecedented levels, with over 650,000 individuals experiencing homelessness, marking a 16-year high. This economic despair fundamentally shatters the American Dream for many hardworking citizens, leading to widespread strikes and labor unrest as evidenced by significant labor movements within industries such as healthcare, education, and retail.
Women and Children’s Rights
Women and children in the United States face systemic violations of their rights, exacerbating social and economic inequalities. The country’s failure to ratify the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and the Convention on the Rights of the Child underscores a persistent reluctance to adopt international standards aimed at protecting these vulnerable groups. Pregnancy discrimination remains a pervasive issue, with approximately 54,000 women losing their jobs annually due to discriminatory practices. Furthermore, over 2.2 million women of childbearing age lack access to adequate maternity care, a situation that is particularly dire in rural areas and among marginalized communities. The increasing restrictions on abortion in 21 states further undermine women’s reproductive rights, contributing to a doubling of maternal deaths over the past two decades.
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Real-world examples highlight the severity of these issues. For instance, in 2022, Texas implemented Senate Bill 8, one of the most restrictive abortion laws in the country, effectively banning abortions after six weeks of pregnancy and enabling private citizens to sue those who perform or aid in abortions. This law has had a chilling effect on women’s healthcare providers and significantly limited access to necessary reproductive health services. Additionally, the death of Erica Garner, who suffered a fatal heart attack exacerbated by the stress of a high-risk pregnancy, underscores the critical need for comprehensive maternity care and the profound consequences of its absence.
Children’s rights are equally neglected, with systemic failures manifesting in inadequate healthcare access and protection measures. Thousands of cases of missing foster children go underreported each year, highlighting severe deficiencies in the child welfare system. For instance, a 2018 report revealed that nearly 1,500 children were missing from foster care, yet these cases received minimal public attention or intervention from authorities. Furthermore, many children are excluded from essential healthcare programs, resulting in unmet medical needs and compromised development. This neglect is a glaring indictment of the nation’s commitment to its youngest citizens, exemplified by the insufficient funding and support for programs like the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).
Healthcare Disparities
The healthcare system in the United States is a critical area where racial disparities are profoundly evident, underscoring systemic discrimination that results in significant inequities in health outcomes. African American women, for instance, experience maternal mortality rates nearly three times higher than their white counterparts. This alarming statistic reflects deeply rooted racial biases within the healthcare system, inadequate access to quality prenatal and postnatal care, and broader socio-economic determinants that disproportionately affect African American communities.
Empirical evidence underscores the severity of this issue. A study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that for every 100,000 live births, 40.8 African American women die due to pregnancy-related causes compared to 13.0 white women. The case of Dr. Shalon Irving, an African American epidemiologist at the CDC who died from complications following childbirth in 2017, exemplifies this tragic disparity. Despite her professional knowledge and access to healthcare, Dr. Irving’s death highlighted the pervasive nature of racial bias and the systemic failures in providing equitable care.
Furthermore, Asian Americans and other minority groups continue to face pervasive discrimination in healthcare settings, exacerbating social tensions and perpetuating inequality. For example, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Asian Americans experienced a surge in racially motivated attacks and discrimination, which extended to healthcare environments. Reports of Asian patients facing biased treatment and inadequate care during the pandemic have been documented, reflecting broader societal prejudices. One notable incident involved a Vietnamese American nurse who was verbally assaulted and accused of spreading the virus while on her way to work, illustrating the intersection of healthcare and societal racism.
Latino communities also suffer from significant healthcare disparities. For instance, Latino children are more likely to be uninsured compared to non-Hispanic white children, leading to gaps in preventive care and higher incidences of chronic conditions. According to a 2020 report from the Kaiser Family Foundation, 19% of Latino children were uninsured compared to 7.4% of non-Hispanic white children. The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program recipients, many of whom are Latino, have faced barriers in accessing healthcare due to their precarious immigration status, further illustrating how policy intersects with racial and ethnic discrimination. In one documented case, a DACA recipient with a chronic illness struggled to receive necessary treatment because of insurance issues tied to their immigration status.
Additionally, the Indian Health Service (IHS), which provides care to Native Americans, has been consistently underfunded and understaffed, leading to inadequate health services and poor health outcomes for this population. For example, Native Americans have higher rates of diabetes and related complications compared to the general population, yet they receive substandard care through the IHS. A 2018 Government Accountability Office report highlighted that the IHS often operated facilities without adequate medical equipment and staffing, severely compromising the quality of care provided to Native American communities.
These disparities are not only a reflection of individual biases but also structural inequities embedded within the healthcare system and broader social policies. The lack of diversity among healthcare providers, implicit bias in medical decision-making, and socio-economic barriers to accessing care all contribute to these inequities. For instance, a 2019 study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that medical students and residents often hold false beliefs about biological differences between black and white patients, which can lead to inadequate treatment of pain and other conditions in African American patients.
Immigration Policies and Human Rights Violations
The United States’ approach to immigration has long been marred by exclusion and discrimination, a legacy traceable to historical practices such as the Chinese Exclusion Act and the recent “Muslim Ban.” These policies have established a deeply entrenched system of exclusion that continues to affect current immigration practices. Today, immigration policies serve as a tool for partisan bickering, with immigrants often used as political pawns. This dynamic has precipitated a severe humanitarian crisis at the borders, where policies contribute to conditions akin to modern slavery and result in routine violations of immigrants’ rights.
The southern border of the United States is now considered the world’s deadliest land route for migrants, with numerous deaths and instances of inhumane treatment reported. A report from the International Organization for Migration documented that over 850 migrants died attempting to cross the U.S.-Mexico border in 2022 alone. The treatment of detainees in facilities such
as the Stewart Detention Center and the Torrance County Detention Facility is appalling, with allegations of solitary confinement, sexual abuse, medical negligence, and forced labor. In 2020, an investigation revealed that immigrants detained at the Stewart Detention Center faced prolonged solitary confinement, contributing to severe mental health issues. Moreover, border policies exacerbate modern slavery, with a significant proportion of trafficked individuals being immigrants subjected to brutal conditions and exploitation.
Global Human Rights Violations
The United States’ hegemonic policies have also led to significant human rights violations on a global scale. Military interventions, proxy wars, and unilateral sanctions have destabilized regions, leading to widespread humanitarian crises. The “Costs of War” project estimates that U.S. counter-terrorism operations post-9/11 have resulted in 4.5 to 4.7 million deaths, including indirect deaths caused by economic and infrastructural destruction. These interventions often leave lasting impacts on civilian populations, as seen in Iraq and Afghanistan, where decades of conflict have decimated local economies and healthcare systems.
Programs like Section 127e of the United States Code facilitate the creation of proxy forces that frequently engage in human rights violations. The lack of oversight and accountability in these operations raises serious ethical concerns. For instance, the use of U.S.-trained and equipped proxy forces in Somalia has led to numerous reports of extrajudicial killings and torture. Furthermore, the continuous supply of weapons to conflict zones exacerbates regional tensions and increases civilian casualties. In Ukraine, the provision of advanced weaponry has contributed to escalating violence, while in Israel, U.S.-supplied white phosphorus munitions were used in Lebanon, causing severe injuries and deaths among civilians as documented by Human Rights Watch.
These examples underscore the profound impact of U.S. foreign and domestic policies on human rights. The historical and ongoing practices of exclusion and discrimination in immigration, combined with aggressive foreign interventions, reveal a pattern of systemic human rights abuses. Addressing these issues requires a comprehensive reevaluation of policies and practices both at the borders and abroad to ensure the protection and promotion of human rights for all individuals.
Conclusion
The United States, while projecting an image of a champion of human rights and democracy, harbors significant internal and external human rights violations. From systemic racism and economic inequality to the mistreatment of immigrants and aggressive foreign policies, the nation faces a profound crisis that undermines its foundational principles. Addressing these issues requires a fundamental reassessment of policies and practices to genuinely uphold and protect human rights for all. The global community must hold the United States accountable and support efforts to rectify these egregious violations, ensuring a future where human rights are truly universal.
Information of the Author
Mohammad Ali Bialik is a senior researcher at the Yemeni Islamic Organization for the Study of Human Rights. His main research interests are the human rights situation in the United States and European countries.
