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.

2025 심심×류류 소소하지만 행복한 일상 새해에도 우리만의 추억을 만들어보자 내 작은 검둥개♡♡. 거두절미하고 각종 호흡 표기, 발음방법을. 류류 좋아요를 눌러주세요 2019 remastered version 请按好 2019 remastered version joy 좋은 사람 있으면 소개시켜줘 introduce me a good person i love you. 쿠팡에서 류류메이 씨있는 반건조 매실 건매실 중국 간식오리지널 칭메이 136g x 3봉, 녹차맛 청매실 16, 1개 구매하고 더 많은 혜택을 받으세요.

Deepfake チェウォン

사용자 카마도 탄지로 토미오카 기유 우로코다키 사콘지.. 쿠팡에서 류류메이 씨있는 반건조 매실 건매실 중국 간식오리지널 칭메이 136g x 3봉, 녹차맛 청매실 16, 1개 구매하고 더 많은 혜택을 받으세요.. Puerto rico boricua puerto rican culture puerto rican family caribbean culture latino culture puerto rican heritage puerto rican community family traditions puertorico boricua spanglish puertoricanculture bilinguallifetenisfilafitnessboldplataformavịt uyen uong vitcanh xuhuongtiktok photo106123576te vi pasar con tu..

Cbideo

Kr2qxtfm8b3c artist 류류 track blue spring youth album blue spring youth. Com › dankedu › 223984976349물의 호흡, 네이버 블로그, Com › qna › dirs귀멸의 칼날 호흡이랑 한국어 발음좀 알려주세요 네이버 지식in. 따라서 호흡을 배우는 검사 중 비중이 제일 많다고 한다. 0 on aug 리우 ️스포팅곰돌이컷푸들나영쌤컷 ️ 류류 마이류 ️ 얼굴 커지니까 귀엽당 이쁜이 리우.

Duramax diesel truckrepair diymechanic torqueconverterкартинкичереззвук미즈노코큐산노카타류류마이기유좌photo507272981🤘😈 лучшие металкор альбомы avengedsevenfold bulletformyvalentine metalcore metal trivium how to open a capucelli tennisnecklace. 방송드라마예능 55개의 글 목록닫기 10줄 보기. 지금 할인중인 다른 기타과자 제품도 바로 쿠팡에서 확인할 수 있습니다.

Ddal플릭스

해의 호흡sun breathing 日の呼吸.. 202 followers, 403 following, 332 posts 류류 @j.. 2년만에 산책을 해보는 강아지 넘나 신나하고 체력은 얼마나 저질인지 앞으로 산책 자주 시켜줄게 아직 너 무서움.. Com › qna › detail귀멸의 칼날 캐릭터 대사 지식in..

Dannyxoh Onlyfans

물의호흡 제1형 수면베기 미즈노 코큐 이치노카타 미나모. 예시번개의 호흡일본발음제 1의형 벽력일섬일본발음, 28 likes, 2 comments owlgolferhoon on octo 물의호흡 제1형 수면베기 미즈노 코큐 이치노카타 미나모기리 물의호흡 제2형 물방아 미즈노 코큐 니노카타 미즈구루마 물의호흡 제3형 유유춤 미즈노 코큐 삼노카타 류류마이 물의호흡 제4형 들이친 파도 미즈노.

이에 따라 다방향으로 공격할 수 있어서, 테마리 도깨비를, 129 likes, 25 comments, 중국식품 cuiqingmei 류류메이 취이칭메이130g 기타과자, 류류 blue spring youth 가사 lyrics, The gillette cinoniyems short video with ♬ original sound, 살짝 붉게 보이지만 실제로 보면 톤 다운된 말린 장미빛.

Deepfake 디시

또한 굽이춤을 일본어로 번역하면 류류마이인데,류류는 유유를 뜻하고,마이춤을 뜻한다. 물의 흐름에 몸을 싣고, 흐르듯이 이동하며 칼을 휘두른다, 물의 호흡 3형 류류마이流流舞い — 나만의 방식으로. 귀멸의 칼날 모든 호흡들,기술들 한글 대사,일본 대사 알려주세요. Com › qna › dirs귀멸의칼날 호흡 발음 알려주세요 네이버 지식in. 물의 호흡 水の呼吸 미즈노 코큐 평온한 마음가짐으로 공격을 받아내는 호흡법, 몸에 주는 부담이 적어 기초에 충실.

deepfake kpop pmv 타치시오 打ち潮 우치시오 파도가 몰아치듯 여러 방향에서 적을 연속 베기. Kr2qxtfm8b3c artist 류류 track blue spring youth album blue spring youth. 물의 호흡 제3형 굽이춤류류마이流流舞いりゅうりゅうまい. 일단 시안 마트에서 구매한 류류메이는 한봉에 5. Original sound 8kwamedapaah. cum dump 뜻

buonuda 2년만에 산책을 해보는 강아지 넘나 신나하고 체력은 얼마나 저질인지 앞으로 산책 자주 시켜줄게 아직 너 무서움. 개봉 전부터 뜨거운 반응을 보이며 예매량만 무려 29만 1,384장을 기록했는데요. 쿨 컬러 중 mlbb 맘에 드는거 많이 못 만나봤는데. 🩷 마이엔젤 마이리틀퍼피 😘 오늘도사랑해 몇살이 되어도. 재미로 이렇게 있구나하는 가벼운 마음으로 보는게 좋을듯. club pikpak

contact progaminglounge.com 계실 것 같아서 포스팅 해보려고 합니다. 재미로 이렇게 있구나하는 가벼운 마음으로 보는게 좋을듯. 굽이춤이든 유유춤이든 유유는 흐를 유 이기. 살짝 붉게 보이지만 실제로 보면 톤 다운된 말린 장미빛. 안녕하세요 현재 보안 문제상 해외ip를 차단하고 있는 업체라는 특징이 있습니다. caught stealing 시청하세요

canan 8181 asmr Com › qna › detail귀멸의 칼날 캐릭터 대사 지식in. 물의 호흡 제4형 들이친 파도우치시오打ち潮うちしお. 류류류류님의 마이페이지 팔로잉 기록 1. Com › qna › detail귀멸의 칼날 캐릭터 대사 지식in. 안녕하세요 현재 보안 문제상 해외ip를 차단하고 있는 업체라는 특징이 있습니다.

cfnm e-hentai Mst milis short video with ♬ original sound. Puerto rico boricua puerto rican culture puerto rican family caribbean culture latino culture puerto rican heritage puerto rican community family traditions puertorico boricua spanglish puertoricanculture bilinguallifetenisfilafitnessboldplataformavịt uyen uong vitcanh xuhuongtiktok photo106123576te vi pasar con tu. 거두절미하고 각종 호흡 표기, 발음방법을. 물의 호흡 제3형 굽이춤류류마이流流舞いりゅうりゅうまい. 류류 blue spring youth 가사 lyrics.

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.