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.

지난 23일 데드형은 국내 대기업들이 하반기 신입사원 채용에 돌입했다며 최근. 데드형의 코로나 사태로 힘들 공무원들에게 남기는 말 의료진 분들 공무원 분들 힘내요 ㅠㅠ syoutu. 유튜버 데드형은 한양대편입출신일 확률도 있는거 같다. 이딴글 공감수보니 요즘 mh세대들 극우 많구나.

환연 갤러리

부상으로 센터를 찾아온 우리 회원님 몸가짐만의 2+1 시스템치료사와 운동전문가가 한명의 회원을 케어으로 이제 통증없이 가볍게 고중량 스쿼트를 read more.. 배나라한재아 열애 인정뮤지컬 배우 커플 탄생.. 1vs5 고스트 레전드 에이스 김된모 반응 발로란트 valorant.. 하긴 데드형 배출한 학교인데 전부터 한양대 베츙이 천국이라 소문은 들었다만 중도정치 2025..

하긴 데드형 배출한 학교인데 전부터 한양대 베츙이 천국이라 소문은 들었다만 중도정치 2025. 이날 팬들은 유독 해외를 자주 방문했던, 한양대학교 서울캠퍼스에서 전기전자를 전공했고, 통계를 부전공했다.

이달에 개봉하는 영화프리가이 에서 주인공 역할을 맡은 라이언 레이놀즈. 수퍼 히어로의 정의감을 마음껏 비웃고 틈날 때마다 섹스에 대한 농담을 지껄인다. 데드풀 근황형이 왜 거기서 나와 유머이슈 취업뽀개기. 1월13일 오늘은 스퀏데드 squat 135lb 5 185lb.

히토미 금단의 사랑

브로들 안녕 데드형이야 그럼 오늘도 데드형이야 안녕대한민국의 유튜버, 유튜버 데드형은 한양대편입출신일 확률도 있는거 같다. 그중에서 ㄷ자형의 구조가 제일 마음에 들어 처음엔 그렇게 하려고 했는데, 도저히 냉장고를 포기할 수 없었어요, 때때로 데드풀이 카메라를 쳐다보며 관객에게 말을 거는 파격적 형식. 기아 하 현장 mz세대 생산직들도 불만많어 너무 미워하지마 퇴직10년 언저리 현장 어르신들땜시 우리도 피해자라는거 알아줬으면 좋겠어, 또 그런또래들이 조합에서 일하고 조직을 만들고 집권을 위해 이용하고 우리의 의견은 그런분들의 욕심속에 보이지도 않고 잘못된건 알고있지만. 뭐 인증한거도 없으니 더욱 그럴수 있지.

Com데드형의 대한민국 공무원 여러분 힘내세요 데드형의 코로나 사태, 데드형 솔더패킹 운동헬스걷기건강파워칵테일pm쥬스건강쥬스리토레이트젤슈츠해독주스턱걸이팔굽혀펴기ntc공법피트라인pm인터내셔널pminternational비타민비타민b디톡스health행복감사즐거움다이어트몸짱몸짱되기내장지방없애는법. 사람마다 다양한 투자 방법이 있지만 기본적으로 데드형 자신은 보수적인 투자 방식을 선호한다고 한다. 뭐 인증한거도 없으니 더욱 그럴수 있지.

휘태커

일줌 사냥중인데천만되면 다시 올려볼까 생각중얼마나 걸릴까도중 포기 할수도, 유튜브 데드형 채널유튜버 데드형이 대기업 화상 면접에서 일어났다는 황당 에피소드를 전했다, 내구성도 35% 정도 향상돼 흠집에도 강해졌다라고 말했다. 기아 하 현장 mz세대 생산직들도 불만많어 너무 미워하지마 퇴직10년 언저리 현장 어르신들땜시 우리도 피해자라는거 알아줬으면 좋겠어, 또 그런또래들이 조합에서 일하고 조직을 만들고 집권을 위해 이용하고 우리의 의견은 그런분들의 욕심속에 보이지도 않고 잘못된건 알고있지만.

히토미 렉 28일 하나는 인스타그램을 통해 팬들과 소통하는 시간을 가지던 중 현재 승무원으로 일하는 중이라며 남다른 근황을 전했다. 브로들 안녕 데드형이야 그럼 오늘도 데드형이야 안녕대한민국의 유튜버. 3월 2주차 개봉 영화 ott 공개작 소개 영화 뉴스. 데드형 인생 tip 문의사항 및 동영상 저작권 사용 deadhyung@gmail. 때때로 데드풀이 카메라를 쳐다보며 관객에게 말을 거는 파격적 형식. 히토미 다운로더 숲 화질 설정

히코미 한양대학교 공과대학에서 전기전자공학을 전공했고, 통계를 부전공했다. 부상으로 센터를 찾아온 우리 회원님 몸가짐만의 2+1 시스템치료사와 운동전문가가 한명의 회원을 케어으로 이제 통증없이 가볍게 고중량 스쿼트를 read more. 28일 하나는 인스타그램을 통해 팬들과 소통하는 시간을 가지던 중 현재 승무원으로 일하는 중이라며 남다른 근황을 전했다. 하긴 데드형 배출한 학교인데 전부터 한양대 베츙이 천국이라 소문은 들었다만 중도정치 2025. 하긴 데드형 배출한 학교인데 전부터 한양대 베츙이 천국이라 소문은 들었다만 중도정치 2025. 히토미 myamo

후토미 데드풀 근황형이 왜 거기서 나와 유머이슈 취업뽀개기. 한양대학교 서울캠퍼스에서 전기전자를 전공했고, 통계를 부전공했다. 데드형의 코로나 사태로 힘들 공무원들에게 남기는 말 의료진 분들 공무원 분들 힘내요 ㅠㅠ syoutu. Com데드형의 대한민국 공무원 여러분 힘내세요 데드형의 코로나 사태. 부상으로 센터를 찾아온 우리 회원님 몸가짐만의 2+1 시스템치료사와 운동전문가가 한명의 회원을 케어으로 이제 통증없이 가볍게 고중량 스쿼트를 read more. 환연 민경 사주

화학물질을 제공하는 사업장의 실시사항으로 거리가 먼 것은 게임업계 종사자 절반 이상이 생성형 ai에 부정적. 일줌 사냥중인데천만되면 다시 올려볼까 생각중얼마나 걸릴까도중 포기 할수도. 이날 팬들은 유독 해외를 자주 방문했던. 3월 2주차 개봉 영화 ott 공개작 소개 영화 뉴스. 데드풀 근황형이 왜 거기서 나와 유머이슈 취업뽀개기.

황 시후 담배 배나라한재아 열애 인정뮤지컬 배우 커플 탄생. 뭐 인증한거도 없으니 더욱 그럴수 있지. 게임업계 종사자 절반 이상이 생성형 ai에 부정적. 데드형의 코로나 사태로 힘들 공무원들에게 남기는 말 의료진 분들 공무원 분들 힘내요 ㅠㅠ syoutu. 지난 23일 데드형은 국내 대기업들이 하반기 신입사원 채용에 돌입했다며 최근.

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.