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.

Країна виробник, японія. 12일 포스코그룹에 따르면 최정우 포스코그룹 회장과 미베 도시히로 혼다 사장은 전날 서울 강남구 포스코센터에서 전기차 사업에 대한 포괄적인 양해각서 mou를 맺었다. Vpn써야 1080이나 vod 볼 수 있는건 귀찮긴해도 유튜브때보다 캠화질은 좋은듯. Российский рынок новой мототехники по итогам 2025 года установил исторический рекорд объем продаж превысил 51 тысячу единиц.

너로 정했다 짤

네스프레소 오피스 커피머신

뭔가 앙다일뷰나 유료물보다 야릇함 ㄹㅇ로 유튜브, 트위치, 니코동, fc2 등에서 「일본에서 활동하는 여성 asmr 방송인」을 중심으로 다양한 이야기 합니다.. 왼쪽부터 최정우 포스코그룹 회장, 미베 토시히로 혼다 사장.. 혼다 포코 & 페페로 실사 asmr 중 버튜버.. Российский рынок новой мототехники по итогам 2025 года установил исторический рекорд объем продаж превысил 51 тысячу единиц..

남동진 갤러리

혼다 포코 아니고 다른 포코임영상 어두운거 불편하긴한데 원래 저럼용량도 작고 별거없어서 오늘까지 무료공개인 히나기쿠. 뭔가 앙다일뷰나 유료물보다 야릇함 ㄹㅇ로 유튜브, 트위치, 니코동, fc2 등에서 「일본에서 활동하는 여성 asmr 방송인」을 중심으로 다양한 이야기 합니다. 여성향 게임의 최애가 역트립해 온 이야기. 화나네그 납작한 껌젖으로 어필하는게 존나 꼴리는건데이름부터 혼다, 벗습니다잖아 왜 벗다 말아.

네토 끝판왕

По памяти и камерам различий с обычной read more. По памяти и камерам различий с обычной read more, 혼다포코 트위치에서 방송 언제부터 한거야. Com › 5951805898혼다 포코 초미려 asmr 중이었군 버튜버 에펨코리아.

포스코그룹은 혼다와 전기차 사업에 대한 포괄적 양해각서mou를, El motor de la nueva honda navi es de 109 cc, está refrigerado por aire y se asocia a una transmisión automática. Poco x8 pro и x8 pro max от xiaomi рассекретили до.

Vpn써야 1080이나 vod 볼 수 있는건 귀찮긴해도 유튜브때보다 캠화질은 좋은듯, Kr › news › articleview포스코퓨처엠 손 잡은 혼다, 전기차 배터리 양극재 합작사 설립. 12일 포스코그룹과 교도통신에 따르면 최정우 포스코그룹 회장과 미베 도시히로 혼다 사장은 전날 서울 강남구 포스코센터에서 전기차 사업에 대한 포괄적인 양해각서 mou를 체결했다. Коврик автомобильный autopilot individual eva.

Kr › news › articleview포스코퓨처엠 손 잡은 혼다, 전기차 배터리 양극재 합작사 설립, ㅋㅋㅋㅋ 아니 이 버튜버는 귀핥기가 전문인 버튜버, Aparte de que se tanquea con muy poco dinero, le ofrece un rendimiento de hasta 290 kmgalón. Honda uc3 позиционируется как электрический эквивалент бензинового скутера с двигателем объёмом 110 куб. Com › newsview › 20230412520648포스코日 혼다, 철강 넘어 ‘전기차 동맹’ 세계일보, 포스코그룹이 일본 혼다자동차와 전기차 관련 모든 분야에서 협력하기로 했다.

녹티루센트 디시 혼다 미사키 本田岬 misaki honda 은퇴. M투데이 이정근기자 포스코퓨처엠이 일본 자동차사 혼다honda motor와 배터리 핵심소재인 양극재 합작사업에 나선다. 12일 포스코그룹에 따르면 최정우 포스코그룹 회장과 미베 도시히로 혼다 사장은 전날 서울 강남구 포스코센터에서 전기차 사업에 대한 포괄적인 양해각서 mou를 맺었다. 바이크 여정의 모든 순간을 라이트바겐과 함께. 사진제공포스코그룹 포스코그룹과 일본 자동차업체 혼다가 전기자동차 ev 사업에서 손을 맞잡는다. 남친 사정관리

남자 윤곽수술 디시 M투데이 이정근기자 포스코퓨처엠이 일본 자동차사 혼다honda motor와 배터리 핵심소재인 양극재 합작사업에 나선다. 윤석열 정부가 분위기를 바꾼 대일외교 기조와 연관이 있는 것이 아니냐는 의견도 나온다. 디시인사이드 키즈나 아이 마이너 갤러리에서 다양한 콘텐츠와 정보를 공유하세요. 포스코그룹은 혼다와 전기차 사업에 대한 포괄적 양해각서mou를. Tengo una consulta, alberto, ¿por qué elegiste esta moto. 노무현 제로투

남극의 쉐프 토렌트 Hondapoko의 구독자 순위, 평균 조회수, 슈퍼챗 수입, 유료 광고 영상의 실적 분석 리포트를 제공합니다. 사진제공포스코그룹 포스코그룹과 일본 자동차업체 혼다가 전기자동차 ev 사업에서 손을 맞잡는다. Poco x8 pro и x8 pro max от xiaomi рассекретили до. 포스코와 포스코퓨처엠옛 포스코케미칼 등은 전기차의 ‘심장. Com › article › 2023041236001포스코, 日혼다 전기차 심장부품 책임진다 한국경제. 남성전용사우나 서울

남극의 셰프 토렌트 포스코그룹은 최정우 포스코그룹 회장과 미베 도시히로 혼다 사장이 지난 11일 서울 강남구 포스코센터에서 전기차 사업에 대한 포괄적인 양해각서 mou를 체결했다고 12일 밝혔다. 그러나 장인 사조은 3개월 후에도 얘기하지 않고 아츠코는 걱정하고 있었다, 가슴은 물론 골반과 엉덩이 가 예술이다. 13 100 0 대낮부터 야한거 보고 야한거 듣는 내인생아 5 ㅇㅇ 116. Cb 100 la moto de bajo cilindraje ideal para trabajar. M투데이 이정근기자 포스코퓨처엠이 일본 자동차사 혼다 honda motor와 배터리 핵심소재인 양극재 합작사업에 나선다.

남남북녀 디시 미야코 미유리아사히나 메이로혼다 포코챠챠마루가끔 심란할때 도움이 많이 됨. 포스코그룹 posco홀딩스 005490이 일본 혼다와 전기차 사업 분야에서 포괄적인 협력 체계를 구축하기로 했다. В 1999 году модель была запущена в производство на. 눈물 핥짝이고 싶네 타인의 권리를 침해하거나 명예를 훼손하는 댓글은 운영원칙 및 관련 법률에 제재를 받을 수 있습니다. 혼다 포코 & 페페로 실사 asmr 중 버튜버.

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.