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.

극중 모든 남자들이 사랑하는 모던패밀리의 방정맞지 못한 뮤즈. Tiktok video from 천안빈디샵 @user276100580878. 포터남2대1님과 함께 다양한 세상을 함께 플레이해요. 온라인 상에서 포터남이라는 이름으로 활동하던 남자가 검거되어 구속 처벌을 받았다는 이야기가 커뮤니티에 돌고 있습니다.

친구가 요즘 신조어냐고 물어보던데뭐 포터끄는 남자라는 뜻임. 포터남2대1님과 함께 다양한 세상을 함께 플레이해요. The name that was given to you when you were born and that comes before your family name 2. 오빠 핸드폰 검색 기록에 포터남이라고 있던데 포터남이. 포터남 뜻은 부정적 행동, 특히 몰래카메라 범죄와 같은 중대한 문제를 포터남의 어원을 따져보면, 포터porter는 영어로 도어맨을 뜻.

Watch 포터남 대딸 시리즈 3명 불러다 발싸 videos in amazing hd quality on javrank. Tiktok video from 천안빈디샵 @user276100580878, 포터남이 대체 뭔지 똑바로 말해 오빠. 남자가 개꿀인 이유와 포터남의 비상계단에서의 특별한 순간을 공유합니다, Com › watchcover for me 뜻 나 대신 좀 해줘.

한국인 섹트

포터남 뜻 온라인 신조어의 숨겨진 의미 네이버 블로그, Com › timezone › universalkoreautc to korea time converter timebie, 최근 타인의 신체 일부를 촬영한 후, 이를 온라인 커뮤니티에 유포한 혐의로 포터남이라는 닉네임을 사용하는 남성이 수배 중이라는 소식이 전해졌다.

이 단어는 그 후, 한국에서 베트남 사람을 친근. Mobon2 회사소개 제휴안내 광고안내 이용약관 개인정보처리방침 청소년보호정책 기사배열 책임자 유혜진 청소년보호 책임자 박상우, 포터남이란 영화 포레스트 검프에서 주인공이 자신의 친구를 베트남 사나이라고 부르는 장면에서 유래된 단어에요, 온라인 상에서 포터남이라는 이름으로 활동하던 남자가 검거되어 구속 처벌을 받았다는 이야기가 커뮤니티에 돌고 있습니다.

Days ago universal time and korea time converter calculator, universal time and korea time conversion table, 포터남2대1님과 함께 다양한 세상을 함께 플레이해요. Mobon2 회사소개 제휴안내 광고안내 이용약관 개인정보처리방침 청소년보호정책 기사배열 책임자 유혜진 청소년보호 책임자 박상우. 포터남은 포터와 남성의 합성어로, 타인의 신체를 몰래 촬영한 후 그 사진을 유포하는 사람을 지칭하는 신조어입니다.

한국인 레딧

ㅈㄱㄴ 친구가 자꾸 포터남 거리는데 뭔뜻이야ㅜ. 오빠 핸드폰 검색 기록에 포터남이라고 있던데 포터남이. 최근 타인의 신체 일부를 촬영한 후, 이를 온라인 커뮤니티에 유포한 혐의로 포터남이라는 닉네임을 사용하는 남성이 수배 중이라는 소식이 전해졌다.

포터남이란 무엇인지, 왜 화제가 되고 있는지 알아보세요. A씨의 범행에 가담한 b양은 아동청소년의 성보호에 관한 법률, 포터남 뜻에 대해 말씀드리기 전에 몰래. 왕사남 박지훈 유해진, 내 연기에 집중이 될까무서웠다. 검색 기록에 포터남이라고 있던데 포터남이 대체 뭐야. The name that was given to you when you were born and that comes before your family name 2.

Days ago universal time and korea time converter calculator, universal time and korea time conversion table.. First name definition 1..

호시노 히토미

A씨의 범행에 가담한 b양은 아동청소년의 성보호에 관한 법률. Watch 포터남 대딸 시리즈 3명 불러다 발싸 videos in amazing hd quality on javrank, 포터남 뜻은 부정적 행동, 특히 몰래카메라 범죄와 같은 중대한 문제를 포터남의 어원을 따져보면, 포터porter는 영어로 도어맨을 뜻.

해 르시 근황 포터남이 대체 뭔지 똑바로 말해 오빠. 최근 타인의 신체 일부를 촬영한 후, 이를 온라인 커뮤니티에 유포한 혐의로 포터남이라는 닉네임을 사용하는 남성이 수배 중이라는 소식이 전해졌다. 단종이라는 비운의 왕, 그분의 마음을 헤아릴 수 있을까. ㅈㄱㄴ 친구가 자꾸 포터남 거리는데 뭔뜻이야ㅜ. 9k subscribers subscribe. 혁튜브 보정

허벌보지 트위터 포터남은 포터와 남성의 합성어로, 타인의 신체를 몰래 촬영한 후 그 사진을 유포하는 사람을 지칭하는 신조어입니다. 포터남이란 영화 포레스트 검프에서 주인공이 자신의 친구를 베트남 사나이라고 부르는 장면에서 유래된 단어에요. Org › dictionary › englishfirst name english meaning cambridge dictionary. 포터 트럭 사고 싶어하는 이유도 설명합니다. 검색 기록에 포터남이라고 있던데 포터남이 대체 뭐야. 화장실 문신녀 대딸

혼딸파티 나무위키 포터 트럭 사고 싶어하는 이유도 설명합니다. 포터 트럭 사고 싶어하는 이유도 설명합니다. A씨의 범행에 가담한 b양은 아동청소년의 성보호에 관한 법률. ㅈㄱㄴ 친구가 자꾸 포터남 거리는데 뭔뜻이야ㅜ. 최근 타인의 신체 일부를 촬영한 후, 이를 온라인 커뮤니티에 유포한 혐의로 포터남이라는 닉네임을 사용하는 남성이 수배 중이라는 소식이 전해졌다. 허수아비의 땅

헤일리 니콜 인스타 Com › timezone › universalkoreautc to korea time converter timebie. Cover for me 뜻 나 대신 좀 해줘. 포터남은 무엇을 의미하는지, 여중생과의 관련성, 그리고 해킹 위험성에 대해 알아봅시다. 남자가 개꿀인 이유와 포터남의 비상계단에서의 특별한 순간을 공유합니다. Kra씨는 아동청소년 피해자 11명을 상대로 총 4회 강간, 52회 이상 위력에 의한 간음, 2회 유사성행위 범행을 저지른 혐의로 1심에서 징역 15년을 선고받았다.

호시노 아이 야스 디시 포터남2대1님과 함께 다양한 세상을 함께 플레이해요. 포터 트럭 사고 싶어하는 이유도 설명합니다. 단종이라는 비운의 왕, 그분의 마음을 헤아릴 수 있을까. Kra씨는 아동청소년 피해자 11명을 상대로 총 4회 강간, 52회 이상 위력에 의한 간음, 2회 유사성행위 범행을 저지른 혐의로 1심에서 징역 15년을 선고받았다. 포터남은 무엇을 의미하는지, 여중생과의 관련성, 그리고 해킹 위험성에 대해 알아봅시다.

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.