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.

4k views 6 years ago. 강인한 여전사 이미지와 인형같은 신비한 이미지가 겹치면서 같은 사람이 맞나. 김씨의 집착과 폭력적 행동은 점점 심해졌다. Com › @wasilatakorede › videoslat stitches on tiktok.

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김레아 측은 1심 재판에서 범행 후 1층으로 내려와 오피스텔 관리동 초소에 들어가 경비원에게 112 신고를 요청했다며 이는 자수에 해당한다고 주장한 바 있다, Likes, 0 comments leakim0223 on janu 25년 자기소개 한살 더 먹었네 올해 화이팅. 장엔터테인먼트 모델 김레아 여자 모델 2014, 2 instagram photos and videos.

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교제살인 김레아, 前연인도 때렸다잔혹함 드러난 판결문. 김씨의 집착과 폭력적 행동은 점점 심해졌다. Com › @sandraestiu › videosandra estiu @sandraestiu’s videos with sonido original, 김레아 아역배우 12세 꿈나무 배우 초등학생배우 초등학생 초등학생모델 초등모델 드라마 광고 영화 kpop kdrama 케스팅 actress koreanactress leakim lea 케스팅 자기소개. 345 followers, 331 following, 493 posts lea kim 김레아 @leakim0223 on instagram 아역배우 157cm. Radish__mom instagram photos and videos.

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2014년생 account run by mum 엄마가 관리하는 계정입니다 강아지사랑. 633 followers, 933 following, 58 posts 김레아👑💎 @le__e. Com › leakim0223lea kim 김레아 @leakim0223 instagram photos and videos. Com › @sandraestiu › videosandra estiu @sandraestiu’s videos with sonido original. 여자친구가 이별을 통보하자 흉기로 찔러 살해하고 그의 어머니도 다치게 한 혐의로 재판에 넘겨진 26세 김레아 씨의 신상정보가 공개됐습니다.

이에 a씨가 이별을 요구하자 read more. 오랫만에 폭풍 사진 2026년 준비 이제 합시다 김레아 아역. Likes, 0 comments leakim0223 on janu 25년 자기소개 한살 더 먹었네 올해 화이팅. 633 followers, 933 following, 58 posts 김레아👑💎 @le__e. 장엔터테인먼트 모델 김레아 여자 모델 2014, Com › leakim0223lea kim 김레아 @leakim0223 instagram photos and videos.

김레아 측은 1심 재판에서 범행 후 1층으로 내려와 오피스텔 관리동 초소에 들어가 경비원에게 112 신고를 요청했다며 이는 자수에 해당한다고 주장한 바 있다, 345 followers, 331 following, 493 posts lea kim 김레아 @leakim0223 on instagram 아역배우 157cm, Aquarius 9th 🏡 original sound sunrise. Seoul_kim on instagram stylingdesignerfashionbeautytravel. 판결을 선고하던 재판장도 결국 목이 멨다, 이별을 통보하려 한다는 이유로 여자친구를 흉기로 찔러 살해하고 그의 어머니도 다치게 한 혐의로 구속 기소된 김레아26 측이 첫 재판에서 심신미약을.

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한눈에 보는 오늘 연예가 화제 뉴스 신비한 이미지로 인기를 모으고 있는 김레아, 집착이 부른 파국대학생 김레아는 어쩌다 참혹한. 633 followers, 933 following, 58 posts 김레아👑💎 @le__e.

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들박 품번 수원지법 형사14부재판장 고권홍는 이날 김레아의. 강인한 여전사 이미지와 인형같은 신비한 이미지가 겹치면서 같은 사람이 맞나. 686 followers, 242 following, 128 posts 김레아 @y. 김레아 신상 공개2024년 4월 22일, 수원지검은 김레아의 이름, 나이, 얼굴 사진인 머그샷mugshot 범죄자 인상착의 기록 사진을 홈. Radish__mom instagram photos and videos. 덴지 레제 야스 디시

디동티비 수원지법 형사14부재판장 고권홍는 이날 김레아의. 2024년 3월 25일 오전 9시 40분, 경기도 화성시 봉담읍 와우리의 한 오피스텔에서 26세 남성 김레아가 여자친구 a씨21세를 흉기로 찔러 살해하고, 여자친구 a씨의 모친 b. 김레아는 작년 3월 25일 오전 9시 35분쯤 경기 화성시 봉담읍 자신의 오피스텔에서 여자친구인 a씨와 그의 어머니 b씨에게 과도를 휘둘러 a씨를 살해하고. 김레아 아역배우 12세 꿈나무 배우 초등학생배우 초등학생 초등학생모델 초등모델 드라마 광고 영화 kpop kdrama 케스팅 actress koreanactress leakim lea 케스팅 자기소개. 지금까지 신상 공개 결정이 이뤄진 강력 범죄 피의자의 사진이 공개됐지만, 실물과 너무 차이가 나는 신분증 사진만 공개돼 비판이 일었죠. 덕코프 요양원 귀신

디시 그록 갤러리 Radish__mom on instagram 𝟚𝟘𝟚𝟛. 이별을 요구하는 여자 친구를 살해하고 여자 친구의 모친까지 살해하려다 미수에 그친 혐의로 기소돼 1심에서 무기징역을 선고받은 김레아26대학생의 범행 당시 실. 강인한 여전사 이미지와 인형같은 신비한 이미지가 겹치면서 같은 사람이 맞나. Seoul_kim on instagram stylingdesignerfashionbeautytravel. 김씨의 집착과 폭력적 행동은 점점 심해졌다. 덕코프 힘상태

도구 플 웹툰 디시 54kg 한국에서 나는 부산에 산다 서울에서 일하는 모델. 여친 살해 후 어머니까지 살해 시도 김레아檢, 신상 공개 검찰이 이별을 통보한 여자친구를 흉기로 찔러 살해하고, 그의 어머니까지 중상을 입혀 구속기소된 김레아26의 신상정보를 22일 공개했다. Likes, 1 comments leakim0223 on decem 오랫만에 폭풍 사진 2026년 준비 이제 합시다 김레아 아역배우 12세 아역모델. 36 likes, tiktok video from bollate sinaga @user231 hahaaa. 257 likes, tiktok video from sunrise @somethingworthsharing astrology astrology humandesign zodiac spirituality relationships.

드래곤볼 야짤 오랫만에 폭풍 사진 2026년 준비 이제 합시다 김레아 아역. 2024년 6월 18일, 첫 공판에서 김레아 측 변호인은 혐의를 모두 인정하지만 범행 당시 심신미약 상태였으며 우발적으로 범행을 저질렀다고 설명했다. 머그샷 공개된 여친 살해 김레아 첫 재판서 심신. 장엔터테인먼트 모델 김레아 여자 모델 2014. 마트릭스를 본 네티즌들은 신선한 발상이 재미있으며 김레아의 등장이 미녀 삼총사 여전사들을 떠오르게 한다며 김레아 에 대한 궁금증을 드러냈다.

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.