By Emma Farge

GENEVA (Reuters) – U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s return to the White House next week threatens freedoms at home and abroad, the head of Human Rights Watch said on Thursday, warning that his second term could be more damaging than at first.

The comments from Tirana Hassan, the Executive Director of the New York-based independent rights group, come as it launches its World Report that reviews rights practices in more than 100 states.

“The first term of the Trump administration showed us what they can do and especially showed their lack of commitment to human rights,” Hassan told Reuters ahead of the launch of the annual report.

“But Project 2025 and the statements we have heard from the (future) President are beginning to show that there is a full-scale attack on migrant rights,” he said, referring to a set of conservative policy proposals and plans to launch a mass deportation operation for immigrants.

Hassan, an Australian lawyer who represents asylum seekers, added that the tone set by the Trump administration could encourage autocrats around the world to pass repressive policies.

Trump’s team did not immediately respond to a request for comment on his comments.

Hassan also criticized the policies of outgoing President Joe Biden in providing weapons to Israel in the Gaza war despite what he called clear evidence that they were used to commit atrocities. A ceasefire between Israel and Hamas was announced on Wednesday.

“2024 will not be a proud moment for the outgoing administration,” he told Reuters, calling the failure to protect civilians in Gaza and the provision of arms a “blight” on the legacy. said Biden.

Israel denies committing atrocities in Gaza. Last month HRW said Israel had committed an act of genocide by depriving Gaza of water, an accusation Israel has rejected.

The 546-page HRW report on Thursday said conflicts and humanitarian crises exposed the breakdown of international protections last year in places like Sudan, Ukraine and Haiti.

In 2024 some authoritarians like Russian President Vladimir Putin and leaders across Africa’s Sahel are tightening their grip on power, it seems, but elsewhere there is resistance to such trends like South Korea .

“It just goes to show that it’s possible to stand up when there’s an all-out attack on human rights,” Hassan said.