Will Human Rights Survive a Trumpian World?

Authoritarian Advances Threaten Rules-Based Order

The global human rights system is in peril. Under relentless pressure from US President Donald Trump, and persistently undermined by China and Russia, the rules-based international order is being crushed, threatening to take with it the architecture human rights defenders have come to rely on to advance norms and protect freedoms. To defy this trend, governments that still value human rights, alongside social movements, civil society, and international institutions, need to form a strategic alliance to push back.

To be fair, the downward spiral predated Trump’s reelection. The democratic wave that began over 50 years ago has given way to what scholars term a “democratic recession.” Democracy is now back to 1985 levels according to some metrics, with 72 percent of the world’s population now living under autocracy. Russia and China are less free today than 20 years ago. And so is the United States.

Of course, democracy is not a panacea for human rights violations; the US and other longtime democracies have their own histories of colonial crimes, racism, abusive justice systems, and wartime atrocities. More recently, authoritarian leaders have exploited public mistrust and anger to win elections and then dismantled the very institutions that brought them to power. Democratic institutions are crucial to represent the will of the people and keep power in check. It’s no surprise that whenever democracy is undermined, rights are too, as evident in recent years in India, Türkiye, the Philippines, El Salvador, and Hungary.

In this context, 2025 may be seen as a tipping point. In just 12 months, the Trump administration has carried out a broad assault on key pillars of US democracy and the global rules-based order, which the US, despite inconsistencies, was, with other states, instrumental in helping to establish.

In short order, Trump’s second-term administration has undermined trust in the sanctity of elections, reduced government accountability, gutted food assistance and healthcare subsidies, attacked judicial independence, defied court orders, rolled back women’s rights, obstructed access to abortion care, undermined remedies for racial harm, terminated programs mandating accessibility for people with disabilities, punished free speech, stripped protections from trans and intersex people, eroded privacy, and used government power to intimidate political opponents, the media, law firms, universities, civil society, and even comedians.

Claiming a risk of “civilizational erasure” in Europe and leaning on racist tropes to cast entire populations as unwelcome in the US, the Trump administration has embraced policies and rhetoric that align with white nationalist ideology. Immigrants and asylum seekers have been subjected to inhumane conditions and degrading treatment; 32 died in US Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody in 2025, and as of mid-January 2026, an additional 4 have died. Masked immigration enforcement agents have targeted people of color, using excessive force, terrorizing communities, wrongfully arresting scores of citizens, and, most recently, unjustifiably killing two people in Minneapolis, whose deaths Human Rights Watch has documented.

The US president of course has the authority to tighten US borders and enforce stricter immigration policies. The administration is not, however, entitled to deny legal process to asylum seekers, mistreat undocumented migrants, or unlawfully discriminate. In a well-functioning democracy, no electoral mandate should supersede domestic legislation, constitutional protections, or international human rights law. Trump’s team has repeatedly bypassed these guardrails.

The violations have not stopped at the border. The Trump administration used a 1798 law to send hundreds of Venezuelan migrants to an infamous prison in El Salvador, where they were tortured and sexually abused. Its blatantly unlawful strikes on boats in the Caribbean and the Pacific extrajudicially killed more than 120 people whom Trump claims were drug traffickers.

After the US attacked Venezuela and apprehended its president, Nicolás Maduro, and his wife, Cilia Flores, Trump claimed the US would “run” the country and control its vast oil reserves. Despite paying lip service to human rights concerns under Maduro at the United Nations, Trump has worked with the same repressive apparatus to further US interests. Many Western allies have chosen to stay silent about these lawless moves, perhaps fearing erratic tariffs and blowback to their alliances.

Trump’s foreign policy has upended the foundations of the rules-based order that seeks to advance democracy and human rights, even if imperfectly.

Trump has boasted that he doesn’t “need international law” as a constraint, only his “own morality.” His administration has politicized the US State Department’s annual human rights report, stepped away from the global prohibition on antipersonnel landmines, voiced support for rewriting international rules on asylum, and skipped the UN’s Universal Periodic Review of the US’ human rights record.

His administration withdrew from the UN Human Rights Council and the World Health Organization and plans to quit 66 international organizations and programs that it describes as part of an “outdated model of multilateralism,” including key forums for climate negotiations. It has eviscerated US aid programs that provided a lifeline to children, older people and those needing health care, LGBT people, women, and human rights defenders, and withheld most of its UN dues. 

Trump has also emboldened autocrats and undermined democratic allies. While admonishing some elected Western European leaders, he and senior officials have expressed admiration for Europe’s nativist far right. He has favored autocrats such as Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban, Türkiye’s President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, and El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele, while continuing decades of US support to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.

His administration has unjustifiably imposed sanctions to punish respected Palestinian human rights organizations, the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) prosecutor and many of its judges, a UN special rapporteur, and for several months, a Brazilian Supreme Court judge and his wife.

The institutional response in the US to Trump’s power grabs has been shockingly muted. Much of Congress, controlled by his own party, has not challenged his supercharged expansion of executive power. The leaders of the US’ most powerful technology companies have made significant donations and sought to placate the president. Some big law firms and prestigious universities have made deals rather than assert their independence, and some media organizations seem afraid to attract the president’s ire.

Has the US switched sides on the human rights playing field? While US engagement with human rights institutions has always been selective, China and Russia have long pursued an illiberal agenda. They stand much to gain from a US government that now expresses open hostility to universal rights. China and Russia remain strategic rivals of the US, but all three countries are now led by leaders who share open disdain for norms and institutions that could constrain their power.

Together, they wield considerable economic, military, and diplomatic power. If they were to consistently act as allies of convenience to erode global rules, they could threaten the entire system. Already, a loose international network of countries such as North Korea, Iran, Venezuela, Myanmar, Cuba, and Belarus work in concert with Russia and China. These leaders share very little ideologically but align in undermining human rights and promoting a regressive international agenda. In word and in practice, the US government is now helping them in this endeavor.

The US’ weakening of multilateral institutions also dealt a serious blow to global efforts to prevent or stop grave international crimes. The “never again” movement, born from the horrors of the Holocaust and reignited by the Rwandan and Bosnian genocides, spurred the UN General Assembly to embrace the Responsibility to Protect (R2P) in 2005. Meant to guide international intervention to prevent and stop atrocities in tandem with efforts to prosecute and punish serious crimes, R2P made a real difference in places like the Central African Republic and Kenya.

Today, R2P is rarely invoked and the ICC is under siege. In addition to Trump’s far-reaching sanctions, in December 2025 a Moscow court sentenced the ICC prosecutor and eight of its judges to prison terms in absentia. Moreover, despite being ICC fugitives, in 2025, Russia’s President Vladimir Putin was welcomed by Donald Trump in Alaska, and Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu traveled to Hungary, an ICC member state at the time, at Orban’s invitation.

Twenty years ago, the US government and civil society were instrumental in galvanizing a response to mass atrocities in Darfur. Sudan is burning again, but this time under Trump, with relative impunity. Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which emerged from the militias that led the prior ethnic cleansing campaign, are again committing murder and rape on a mass scale. A growing body of evidence indicates that the UAE, a longtime US ally that recently made multi-billion-dollar deals with Trump, is providing the RSF with military support.

In the Occupied Palestinian Territory, the Israeli armed forces have committed acts of genocide, ethnic cleansing, and crimes against humanity, killing over 70,000 people since the October 2023 Hamas-led attacks on Israel and displacing the vast majority of Gaza’s population. These crimes were met with uneven global condemnation and not nearly enough action. Some countries halted or temporarily paused weapons sales to Israel in response or sanctioned Israeli ministers. Trump, however, continued a long-standing US policy of almost unconditional support to Israel, even as the International Court of Justice is weighing allegations of genocide and has issued binding orders under the Genocide Convention to protect Palestinians’ rights.

Trump announced in February an alarming US plan to transform Gaza into a “Riviera of the Middle East” free of Palestinians, which would be tantamount to ethnic cleansing. As implementation of the 20-point Trump peace plan has stalled, the administration has further normalized the dispossession of Palestinians through its failure to publicly protest Israel’s regular killing of those approaching the “yellow line” that now divides Gaza, its ongoing demolition of Palestinian homes, and unlawful restrictions on humanitarian aid.

In Ukraine, Trump’s peace efforts have consistently downplayed Russia’s responsibility for serious violations. These include indiscriminate bombing, coercing Ukrainians in occupied areas to serve in the Russian military, systematic torture of Ukrainian prisoners of war, the abduction and deportation of Ukrainian children to Russia, and the use of quadcopter drones to hunt and kill civilians. Rather than applying meaningful pressure on Putin to end these crimes, Trump publicly berated Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in a made-for-TV dressing down, demanded an exploitative mineral deal, pressured Ukraine’s authorities to concede large swaths of territory, and proposed “full amnesty” for war crimes.

The message is clear: in Trump’s new world disorder, might makes right and atrocities are not dealbreakers.

새로운보수당 갤러리는 소수의 운영진이 자의적인 기준으로 관리하기에는 규모가 너무 큰 갤입니다. 혹은 정식 갤러리에서 더 줄여서 정식갤이나 정갤이라고도 부르는 추세다. 디시인사이드 메인과 갤러리 메인에서 우측. 그렇기 때문에 형평성에 맞지 않는 조치가 많습니다.

개장 전 spce 주가를 확인하거나 시간 외 시세를 확인할 수 있습니다. 18 1244 ㅈㄴ 웃긴게 메이저갤 시작이 오아엿어. 사실상 해외야구 커뮤니티로서의 기능을 상실한 해외야구 갤러리를 대체하기 위한 대피소로 만들어졌고, 현재.

Erome 송하영

갤러리 대문 소개성향 관련없이 모든 정치 내용을 다루는 갤러리로, 약칭은 중도갤로 통한다.. Shift+enter 키를 동시에 누르면 줄바꿈이 됩니다..

그렇기 때문에 형평성에 맞지 않는 조치가 많습니다. 뉴이스트 갤러리 nuest 갤러리 폐쇄를 신청합니다. Virgin galactic holdings inc 오늘의 주가 spce 실시간 티커.

Dldss-440 Torrent

Mlb메이저리그 마이너 갤러리 r166 판, 페이데이 2 마이너 갤러리 게임 얘기만 함. 친절하고 다정함 국내 야구 갤러리 그만 알아보자 페이데이 2 마이너갤 유동좌. 업비트는 페이커 광고비 주지말고 비트 직접 매입해라.

근데 대흥갤 1위되면 메이저갤 입성가능, 메이저 갤러리의 특성을 고려하더라도한멤버를 주기적으로 까고 개념글에 올, 실시간 북적 갤러리에서는 메인갤이라는 표현을 사용한다, 누구보다 대기업에 적대적이던 이재명이나 개딸들이.

요즘 웬만한 주제 갤러리들 다 마갤파서 이주하지 않았나기아 두산 말고는 다 메이저갤 붙어있는거 같은데, 메이저갤 외에는 안하는 관계로 사용자피드백 외에는 자체대응이 불가합니다. 그러나 22대 총선 개표결과 망상이나, 이상한 똥글이 올라오기도 한다. Hours ago — 국내 설거지 no, 심지언 이런 글이 짧게는 몇 시간, 길게는 며칠 동안이나 여조 탭에 남아있는 경우도 있다, 근데 대흥갤 1위되면 메이저갤 입성가능.

Dvmm-270 배우

페이데이 2 마이너 갤러리 게임 얘기만 함. 일상생활의 사진과 이야기를 올리는 곳입니당, 일상생활 갤러리에 다양한 이야기를 남겨주세요, 개장 전 spce 주가를 확인하거나 시간 외 시세를 확인할 수 있습니다, 메이저갤 외에는 안하는 관계로 사용자피드백 외에는 자체대응이 불가합니다.

Com › mgallery › board메이저 갤러리, 마이너 갤러리, 미니 갤러리의 차이점 민주당 마이, 18 1244 ㅈㄴ 웃긴게 메이저갤 시작이 오아엿어. Net › produce48 › 759876442더쿠 마갤들 메이저 갤러리 승격 거부는 왜하는거야.

앞서 강다니엘은 2019년 dc 인사이드에서 운영하고 있는 프로듀스101 시즌2 갤러리에 강다니엘의 사생활을 침해하거나 명예를 훼손하는 게시물이. 갤러리 대문 소개성향 관련없이 모든 정치 내용을 다루는 갤러리로, 약칭은 중도갤로 통한다. 스크랩 목록에 기록해둘 제목을 변경 read more, 실시간 북적 갤러리에서는 메인갤이라는 표현을 사용한다.

erome 아일릿 아래 virgin galactic holdings inc 실시간 주가 차트에서 어제 종가 2. Com › homefront디시인사이드 갤로그. 현재는 단축키 기능만 남겨놓았으며, 요청사항이나 피드백이 들어오는 경우 간간히 수정중입니다. 수시로 갤러들을 타깃으로 한 투표 게시글도 올라온다. 우선 메이저 갤러리는 디시인사이드가 처음 시작할 때부터 있던 것이다 마이너 갤러리가 있기 전에는 메이저 갤러리가 아닌 그냥 갤러리였다 기존 갤러리의 경우 갤러리신청 갤러리에 갤러리를 개설해달라고 신청하거나 어떤 것이 유명해질 때 디시인사이드에서 직접 개설했다 하지만 원하는. dramus korean

eingyeo 우선 메이저 갤러리는 디시인사이드가 처음 시작할 때부터 있던 것이다 마이너 갤러리가 있기 전에는 메이저 갤러리가 아닌 그냥 갤러리였다 기존 갤러리의 경우 갤러리신청 갤러리에 갤러리를 개설해달라고 신청하거나 어떤 것이 유명해질 때 디시인사이드에서 직접 개설했다 하지만 원하는. 일상생활의 사진과 이야기를 올리는 곳입니당. Com › mgallery › board로나월드 메이플스토리 마이너 갤러리 커뮤니티 포털 디시인사이. Com › board › minergalls메이저갤 승격 요청합니다. 그렇기 때문에 형평성에 맞지 않는 조치가 많습니다. dmm 지역 락 풀기

erome korean nude Com › 8043002783고소갤만큼노잼이라는메이저갤 스타크래프트 에펨코리아. 앞서 강다니엘은 2019년 dc 인사이드에서 운영하고 있는 프로듀스101 시즌2 갤러리에 강다니엘의 사생활을 침해하거나 명예를 훼손하는 게시물이. 업비트는 페이커 광고비 주지말고 비트 직접 매입해라. 그러나 22대 총선 개표결과 망상이나, 이상한 똥글이 올라오기도 한다. 일상생활 갤러리에 다양한 이야기를 남겨주세요. dvmm-157

ehentai nose hook 234k subscribers528 videos. 디시인사이드 의 메이저 리그 베이스볼 마이너 갤러리, 갤러리 이름부터 mlb 마이너 갤러리이고 kbo, npb는 각 팀갤이나 퓨처스리그 마이너 갤러리 4. 심지언 이런 글이 짧게는 몇 시간, 길게는 며칠 동안이나 여조 탭에 남아있는 경우도 있다. 방탄소년단 갤러리의 입장으로 무엇을 진행할 때에는 방탄소년단을 우선적으로. 근데 주토피아는 시상식 대부분에서 지는중이라 가망 없긴함.

emarb 리얼미터 나 한국갤럽 등 각종 여론조사 결과들이 올라오는 탭이다. 그러나 22대 총선 개표결과 망상이나, 이상한 똥글이 올라오기도 한다. 일반 메랜갤은 메이저갤 아니냐 이제 흠그정돈가 2024. 아래 virgin galactic holdings inc 실시간 주가 차트에서 어제 종가 2. 스크랩 목록에 기록해둘 제목을 변경 read more.

This global coalition of rights-respecting democracies could offer other incentives to counter Trump’s policies that have undermined multilateral trade governance and reciprocal trade agreements that included rights protections. Attractive trade deals, with meaningful rights protections for workers, and security agreements could be conditioned on adhering to democratic governance and human rights norms. Democracy already comes with benefits. While autocracies have generally fostered conflict, economic stagnation, or kleptocracy, as evidenced in multiple academic studies, including the work of the Nobel Prize-winning economist Daron Acemoglu, democratic institutions reliably yield economic growth. 

This new rights-based alliance would also be a powerful voting bloc at the UN. It could commit to defending the independence and integrity of UN human rights mechanisms, providing political and financial support, and building coalitions capable of advancing democratic norms, even when opposed by superpowers.

Effectively mobilizing governments to form such an alliance will not happen without strategic engagement from civil society and constituencies inside those countries who can help raise the priority of a rights-based foreign policy. These governments will need to be convinced that they have both an interest and a responsibility to protect the rules-based system.

Projects of this nature are bubbling up. Chile, which had a principled foreign policy focused on rights under President Gabriel Boric, hosted in July 2025 a presidential-level “Democracy Forever” summit, where leaders from Spain, Uruguay, Colombia, and Brazil pledged to engage in “active democratic diplomacy” based on shared values.

The Hague Group, led by Malaysia, South Africa, and Colombia, formed in January 2025 in “defense of international law” and in solidarity with Palestinians. Over 70 countries from all regions signed a joint statement defending multilateralism at the UN. Earlier, in 2017, former Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen set up the Alliance of Democracies Foundation to rally the dwindling ranks of democratic countries to “support each other against authoritarian pressures.”

Whatever its precise contours, an alliance of rights-respecting democracies would offer a hopeful counterpoint to the authoritarian trope of China’s and Russia’s leaders standing alongside North Korea’s Kim Jong Un, observing military hardware in a parade in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square in September. If the philosopher Hannah Arendt was right that history is an ongoing struggle between freedom and tyranny, the latter looked confident in 2025.

Yet, even in the worst of times, the idea of freedom and human rights is enduring. People power remains an engine for change. In the US, “No Kings” marches have drawn millions, protesters in Chicago, Minneapolis, Los Angeles, and around the country have stood up against the deployment of the National Guard and ICE abuses, and students are still organizing for Palestine on university campuses despite draconian crackdowns and visa revocations.

Buoyed by popular resistance, South Korean parliamentarians impeached their president to prevent him from grabbing power through martial law. Grassroots aid efforts by Sudan’s emergency response rooms, Hong Kong’s fire relief, Sri Lanka’s cyclone relief community kitchens, and Ukrainian mutual aid and solidarity collectives represent the best of this trend.

In 2025, Gen Z protests against corruption, inadequate public services, and poor governance in Nepal, Indonesia, and Morocco brought to the forefront the need for governments to listen to their youth and tackle corruption and inequality. But as the difficulties of restoring rights in Bangladesh after years under an authoritarian government illustrates, gains won through public mobilization can easily be lost unless democratic participation and free expression remain unassailable.