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.

일부 만화를 종언님이 작업하셔서 링크로 대체 합니다. Reshade is a generic postprocessing injector for games and video software developed by crosire. 링크 사이트가 많을수록 유용한 정보가 많이 있다는 의미가 될 수도 있고, 좋은 정보를 제공하는 사이트를 잘 분류해서 링크시키는 것만으로도 유용한 사이트가 될 수 있다. 일부 만화를 종언님이 작업하셔서 링크로 대체 합니다.

마이팬스 모래시계

줄여서 마리갤 이라고 부르며 디시인사이드 마이너 리뷰 갤러리 미니 갤러리는 마리갤갤이라고 부른다.. 줄여서 마리갤 이라고 부르며 디시인사이드 마이너 리뷰 갤러리 미니 갤러리는 마리갤갤이라고 부른다.. 2019년 4월 12일 부터 홍보를 시작하여 신고 게시판의 성격을 띠기도 했다.. 줄여서 마이너갤 혹은 마갤이라고 부른다..

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홀로라이브 를 제외한 모든 버츄얼 유튜버 를 다루는 디시인사이드 마이너 갤러리, 약칭은 메갤, 메아갤, 44 링크 아카이브 45 갤러들의 화합이나 화목한 분위기를 강조할 경우 100% 친목질이 판치는 곳이다. 줄여서 마이너갤 혹은 마갤이라고 부른다. 유튜브 마이너 갤러리는 이전부터 때때로 유머저장소 윾튜브에 대한 이야깃거리가 활성화되어왔다. G lol 마이너 갤러리 skt 마이너 갤러리 t1 마이너 갤러리 한화생명 마이너 갤러리 농심 레드포스 마이너 갤러리 kt 프로게임단 마이너 갤러리 skt 마이너 갤러리skt minor gallery 사이트 타입 디시인사이드 마이너 갤러리 개설 2017년 1월 25일 주제 e스포츠, t1 링크. 링크 설문 논란된 스타들 이미지 세탁 그만 해줬으면 하는 프로그램은.

마키마 지배주머니

나무위키기본방침 에 의해 나무위키의 이용자는 이용권이 제약될 수 있습니다, 디시인사이드마이너 갤러리에 대한 문서, 매니저 주딱 아이콘 부매니저 파딱 아이콘 마이너 갤러리 서비스 오픈 안내마이너 갤러리 메인 화면 디시인사이드에서 2016년 1월 13일 개시한 디시인사이드 갤러리 개설 시스템이다. 2025년 4월부터 나무위키 차단 소명 마이너 갤러리가 활성화되어 글리젠이 그쪽으로 다 빨려버렸다, 수요웹툰의 나강림 마이너 갤러리 link. 링크 사이트가 많을수록 유용한 정보가 많이 있다는 의미가 될 수도 있고, 좋은 정보를 제공하는 사이트를 잘 분류해서 링크시키는 것만으로도 유용한 사이트가 될 수 있다, 일부 만화를 종언님이 작업하셔서 링크로 대체 합니다.

매니저는 이때도 부재중이라 관리가 전혀 되지 않았다, 링크 사이트가 많을수록 유용한 정보가 많이 있다는 의미가 될 수도 있고, 좋은 정보를 제공하는 사이트를 잘 분류해서 링크시키는 것만으로도 유용한 사이트가 될 수 있다, 매니저는 이때도 부재중이라 관리가 전혀 되지 않았다.

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머또 모유사회

링크 설문 논란된 스타들 이미지 세탁 그만 해줬으면 하는 프로그램은, Imagine your favorite game with ambient occlusion, real depth read more, 유튜브 마이너 갤러리는 이전부터 때때로 유머저장소 윾튜브에 대한 이야깃거리가 활성화되어왔다. 링크를 본문에 달고 살게, 공홈에 퍼다 나르고 문의보내고 공식유튜브 채널에 댓글로 링크 계속 걸어야함, 디시인사이드마이너 갤러리에 대한 문서, 매니저 주딱 아이콘 부매니저 파딱 아이콘 마이너 갤러리 서비스 오픈 안내마이너 갤러리 메인 화면 디시인사이드에서 2016년 1월 13일 개시한 디시인사이드 갤러리 개설 시스템이다, 링크를 본문에 달고 살게, 공홈에 퍼다 나르고 문의보내고 공식유튜브 채널에 댓글로 링크 계속 걸어야함.

망각전야 아카 수요웹툰의 나강림 마이너 갤러리 link. 수요웹툰의 나강림 마이너 갤러리 link. Imagine your favorite game with ambient occlusion, real depth read more. 2025년 4월부터 나무위키 차단 소명 마이너 갤러리가 활성화되어 글리젠이 그쪽으로 다 빨려버렸다. 디시인사이드마이너 갤러리에 대한 문서, 매니저 주딱 아이콘 부매니저 파딱 아이콘 마이너 갤러리 서비스 오픈 안내마이너 갤러리 메인 화면 디시인사이드에서 2016년 1월 13일 개시한 디시인사이드 갤러리 개설 시스템이다. 마리망 나히아

메랜 레인저 Com › gallog › masin123링크맘 갤로그 디시인사이드. 은근히 개설 신청이 반려 되는 경우가 있다고 하네요. 마이너 리뷰 갤러리 playlist 17. 2025년 4월부터 나무위키 차단 소명 마이너 갤러리가 활성화되어 글리젠이 그쪽으로 다 빨려버렸다. 수요웹툰의 나강림 마이너 갤러리 link. 마운자로 바이알

망개 겨드랑이 Imagine your favorite game with ambient occlusion, real depth read more. ㅁ 마갤 redirect 마법소녀를 동경해서 마이너 갤러리 link 마법소녀마도카마기카 마이너 갤러리 link 마블링 마이너 갤러리 link 마비노기 모바일. 이에 최근 마이너리그 기록을 돌아보면 2025시즌 트리플 a에서 107경기를 소화, 405타수 108안타 25홈런 16도루 타율 0. 링크 설문 논란된 스타들 이미지 세탁 그만 해줬으면 하는 프로그램은. Imagine your favorite game with ambient occlusion, real depth read more. 마인크래프트 서버 구매

마시로 메메 빨간약 이번 만화는 작가가 트위터 만화를 총합해 업로드 한 것입니다. 나무위키기본방침 에 의해 나무위키의 이용자는 이용권이 제약될 수 있습니다. 수요웹툰의 나강림 마이너 갤러리 link. Com › gallog › masin123링크맘 갤로그 디시인사이드. 2025년 4월부터 나무위키 차단 소명 마이너 갤러리가 활성화되어 글리젠이 그쪽으로 다 빨려버렸다.

말복좌 은근히 개설 신청이 반려 되는 경우가 있다고 하네요. Imagine your favorite game with ambient occlusion, real depth read more. 링크 설문 논란된 스타들 이미지 세탁 그만 해줬으면 하는 프로그램은. ㅁ 마갤 redirect 마법소녀를 동경해서 마이너 갤러리 link 마법소녀마도카마기카 마이너 갤러리 link 마블링 마이너 갤러리 link 마비노기 모바일. 디시인사이드마이너 갤러리에 대한 문서, 매니저 주딱 아이콘 부매니저 파딱 아이콘 마이너 갤러리 서비스 오픈 안내마이너 갤러리 메인 화면 디시인사이드에서 2016년 1월 13일 개시한 디시인사이드 갤러리 개설 시스템이다.

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.