White House refuses to attend international meeting to discuss human rights

The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights was established to protect human rights across the Americas

The meeting was to consider possible abuses as a result of Mr Trump executive orders (AP)

The US pulled out of a international meeting that was to examine the potential impact on human rights of Donald Trump’s executive orders targeting refugees and immigrants.

The hearing of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) was called following concerns about the impact of three executive orders signed by Mr Trump, including a plan to build a wall on the US-Mexico border.

But Reuters said the US announced it would not take part in the meeting, which was held in Washington DC on Tuesday.

Maria Isabel Rivero, a spokeswoman for the IACHR, said the US advised the commission on Monday that it would not attend the panel, which includes representatives from regional human rights and immigration groups.

“If the member state doesn’t want to be represented there is nothing we can do about it but the hearing goes ahead anyway,” Ms Rivero said.

The IACHR was created by the 35-nation Organisation of American States (OAS) to protect human rights in the Americas.

State Department spokesman Mark Toner said government lawyers felt it would not have been appropriate to discuss the executive orders while some are under review by US courts.

“We did inform the IACHR of our inability to attend these particular hearings because of ongoing litigation around some of these executive orders,” Mr Toner told a conference call with reporters. “We did not feel we could address concerns in an open hearing.”

But critics said the decision may be a worrying indication of the attitude of the Trump administration.

Jamil Dakwar of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), said the hearings have enjoyed enjoyed the support of every US administration since its founding.

“In the past, when US governments have sought to express displeasure at having their records scrutinised, they have occasionally protested by sending lower-level officials,” he added.

“But today’s refusal to engage the commission at all is a deeply troubling indication of its disrespect for human rights norms and the institutions that oversee their protection.”

Marselha Goncalves Margerin, advocacy director at Amnesty International, said the lack of US representation at the panel showed “a total disregard of its commitment to human rights”.

“The US has attended these hearings for the last eight years,” she said. “By failing to be present at this hearing, the US joins Cuba and Venezuela in turning its back on people in the Americas who seek justice for human rights abuses.”