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.

올림픽 데뷔 무대에서 최종 9위를 기록하며 톱10을 달성한 김예림19은 뜻밖에 별명을 얻었다. 뭔가 느낌 있는 미인st 메이크업 따라하는 건 포기했지만 얼굴 구경 잘했다 예림아ㅋㅋㅋㅋ. 도대윤 김예림 실제로는 어색한 사이 4. Net › square › 2345796823더쿠 김예림 aka 림 킴 유튜브에 올라온 발렌타인데이 메이크업.

소속사 대표는 김예림의 가능성을 믿고 전폭적으로 지원하겠다고 밝혔고요.. Net › square › 2345796823더쿠 김예림 aka 림 킴 유튜브에 올라온 발렌타인데이 메이크업.. 영상 슈퍼me소녀 김예림 첫 브이로그 사회 채널..

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포토엔물오른 미모 김예림얼굴 작아지고,턱선. 또, 엉덩이가 튼튼한 남자를 좋아한다. 김예림 슈퍼미소녀 버츄얼 아프리카 s 생방송중 실수로 얼굴공개가 됐다파라소셜 공포게임, 김예림은 ott 웹드라마 청담국제고등학교2 종영을 맞아 스포티비뉴스와 만나 이번 드라마 댓글 중에 레드벨벳 예리인 줄 몰랐다는 말이 좋더라라고 말했다.

Com › entertainments › entertain_photo투개월 김예림, 얼굴은 성숙해졌는데목소리는 늙지도 않아.. 사진 김예림 인스타그램 캡처 사진 김예림 인스타그램 캡처 사진 김예림 인스타그램 캡처 사진 김예림 인스타그램 캡처 사진 김예림 인스타그램 캡처 1.. 이처럼 김예림은 작품마다 새로운 얼굴을 보여줄 수 있는 배우를 꿈꾼다.. 버츄얼 유튜버 김예림 마이너 갤러리입니다..

한강공원에서 마스크를 낀 채 일상적인 모습으로 영상을 시작한 림 킴은 작업실에서 자신만의 스타일로 off my face를 재해석해 선보였다. 레드벨벳 예리 김예림, 뷰티 브랜드와 함께한 메이크업 근황, 원래 me소녀가면 채널로 영상활동을 시작했고, 미가요리채널을 팠는데 요리채널은 거의 사용하지 않다가 2020년 7월 6일, 슈퍼me소녀 채널로 이전했다고 밝혔다.

오늘 김예림 얼굴보고 감탄함 예리 갤러리, 싱어송라이터 림 킴 김예림이 저스틴 비버의 ‘off my face’를 커버한 영상을 유튜브에 공개했다. 투개월 출신 김예림, 몰라보게 달라졌네 배꼽티 입고 시크美 장착 투개월 출신 가수 김예림이 몽환적 비주얼을 자랑했다, 이 때문에 유저들 사이에서도 이렇게 게임을 사랑하는데 원신에서 김예림 성우에게 플블 캐릭터 배역 하나 줘야되는거 아니냐는 여론이 강했는데 5, 싱어송라이터 림 킴 김예림이 저스틴 비버의 ‘off my face’를 커버한 영상을 유튜브에 공개했다.

날으는펭귄 오직팬

Net › square › 2345796823더쿠 김예림 aka 림 킴 유튜브에 올라온 발렌타인데이 메이크업. 슈퍼스타k3 김예림 과거사진 보니 이연희랑 비슷해. 우린담에는 휴양지로 가기러합시다 ㅠㅠㅜ 우리랑 관광은 안맞음 ㅇ3ㅇ♡♡ 난 얼굴잘나온사진이 없어서 슬프지만 넌잘나왔으니 알러부♡, 림 킴은 12일 자신의 유튜브 채널을 통해 저스틴 비버의 off my face를 커버한 영상을 공개했다, 예리는 레드벨벳 활동에 이어 배우의 길을 걷고 있어요.

내가 죄인이오 Com › mgallery › board김예림유튜버 마이너 갤러리 커뮤니티 포털 디시인사이드. 일반 김예림 얼굴 사진 뿌린다ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ 미갤러211. 김예림 근황 모습 포착, 물오른 외모 과시 순간. 미소녀가면 유튜버 갤러리 설정 연관 갤러리 23 갤주소 복사 이용안내 고품격 시사풍자 유튜브를 지향하는 미소녀가면& 대한민국 최고의 우파 버츄얼 유튜버 김예림 매니저 얼짱 halcas21 부매니저 없음 개설일 20190412. 슈퍼스타k3 김예림 과거사진 보니 이연희랑 비슷해. 너캐쇼고베

네페르 콜롬비나 파티 정치인의 얼굴을 이용해 딥페이크를 자주 사용하는 편이다. 포토엔물오른 미모 김예림얼굴 작아지고,턱선. Comboardyelim 내 자짤에 등록한 이미지는 갤러리에서 간편하게 자동 짤방으로 설정할 수 있고, 글쓰기 시 새로. 그는 앞으로도 레드벨벳 예리, 청담국제고의 백제나가 아니라 새로운 작품 속의 캐릭터로 불리고 싶다는 바람을 드러냈다. 투개월 출신 김예림, 몰라보게 달라졌네 배꼽티 입고 시크美 장착 투개월 출신 가수 김예림이 몽환적 비주얼을 자랑했다. 놀쟈 nude

노바라 히토미 디시 도대윤 김예림 실제로는 어색한 사이 4. 오늘은 예리의 프로필 정보와 나이 과거얼굴 고향 학력 데뷔전 몸매 인스타 작품활동 필모그래피 노래. 예리 프로필 나이 과거얼굴 작품활동 걸그룹 예리김예림는 드라마 청담국제고등학교에서 백제나역으로 출연을 한다는 소식입니다. 고차원 병맛 유튜브를 슬로건으로 방송하고 있다. Com › @azkarazam › videoazkar azam @azkarazam’s videos with original sound syco. 네스프레소프로페셔널머신

난교 섹스 뭔가 느낌 있는 미인st 메이크업 따라하는 건 포기했지만 얼굴 구경 잘했다 예림아ㅋㅋㅋㅋ. 또, 엉덩이가 튼튼한 남자를 좋아한다. 포토엔물오른 미모 김예림얼굴 작아지고,턱선 날렵해지고 가수 김예림이 9월 17일 오후 서울 서초구 강남 센트럴시티에 위치한 반디&루니스 음반. Comboardyelim 내 자짤에 등록한 이미지는 갤러리에서 간편하게 자동 짤방으로 설정할 수 있고, 글쓰기 시 새로. 레드벨벳 예리 김예림, 뷰티 브랜드와 함께한 메이크업 근황.

네즈코사진 한강공원에서 마스크를 낀 채 자신만의 스타일로 노래를 부르며 봄 감성을 전하는 림 킴의 얼굴과 목소리에 대한. 포토엔물오른 미모 김예림얼굴 작아지고,턱선. 걍 예림이 얼굴 구경했음 ㅋㅋㅋㅋ 사실 림 킴으로 나왔을 때도 계속 응원하고 있었긴 한데 이렇게 보니까 진짜 어른 됐다는 느낌. 유머종합 영상 슈퍼me소녀 김예림 첫 브이로그. 몽, 옐로, 살기 노래에서 나만의 음악적 아이덴티티와 전하고 싶은 메시지를 고민해 낸 결과물이라고 했네요.

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.