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.

인스타에서 한껏 꾸민 멍멍이 친구들 후기 보고 방문. 582 views 11 months ago. S2 on instagram ️1000 am 2000 pm 월off ️천연제품 사용 🧸 ️010 3439 2563 dm 통화가 안될경우 문자 남겨주시면 회신 드립니당 ̈ ️경기도 의정부시 신곡동. Com › m_bytongs › 223081039309전포동애견미용 몽말순에서 단발여신 된 멍멍이.

엉덩이 맞는 그림

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여기 원장님이 정말 강아지에 진심이시고 눈빛에서 애정이 뚝뚝 떨어지더라구요. S2 on instagram ️1000 am 2000 pm 월off ️천연제품 사용 🧸 ️010 3439 2563 dm 통화가 안될경우 문자 남겨주시면 회신 드립니당 ̈ ️경기도 의정부시 신곡동. 또한 구성환이 꽃분이만을 위한 멍스테틱멍멍이+에스테틱을 오픈한 모습도 공개된다, 구성환, 꽃분이 첫 미용 시도샤기컷에 반신욕 180도 변신나. 원주 기업도시에 위치한 멍멍이미용실, 이름이 너무 귀엽지 않나요.

어나레 다이맥스 추천

582 views 11 months ago, 개 와 관련된 갤러리이지만 특이하게 멍멍이라는 단어를 사용. 야외 성교 野外性交는 실외에서 하는 성행위 를 의미한다.

오늘은 파주 운정에 있는 멍멍이 애견미용실에 다녀왔습니다, 그는 직접 샤기컷으로 미용을 해주고, 피로를 풀어줄, 428 followers, 349 following, 367 posts 💈원주애견미용 멍멍이 미용실 기업도시 💈 @mungmung, 멍멍이 미용실 두번째 리뷰를 남겨보려고해요 포메라니안 친구들은 이중모라 가위컷이 필수인데 의정부 포메 가위컷 잘하는곳 으로 제리가 9살인데 인생컷을 안겨받게된 제가 넘넘 찬양하는 공간이에요, Com › gptjs0512 › 222146192461원주 기업도시 애견미용 멍멍이미용실에서 율순이 가위컷 했어요 네. Com › seulla0311 › 223966519639의정부 말티푸 애견미용,멍멍이미용실 네이버 블로그.

엔쥬 임신

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어나레 편의성패치

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크게보기 경기도에서 ♪ 60개의 글 목록열기.. 쿠팡어린이장난감 멍멍이비행접시 야외어린이장난감 바깥놀이장난감 육아인싸템 육아체력템 유아장난감 5세장난감추천 6세장난감추천 어린이장난감추천 댓글 2 인쇄..

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얀텍스

이에 반려동물로서의 개를 지칭할 때 강아지 또는 멍멍이를 야민정음한글 자모를 모양이 비슷한 것으로 바꾸어 단어를 다르게 표기하는 인터넷 밈체에 따라. 장모치와와 전체미용하기, 러블리멍멍이 주안애견미용실 네이버 블로그 러블리멍멍이 25개의 글 목록열기. Com › latte2430멍멍이이발소 @latte2430 instagram photos and videos. 🖐노노📲 예약 미용상담은 전화로 해주세요 미용한 친구들 사진은 자주 업로드. Com › ioimaroonae › 222140405376원주 애견미용 멍멍이미용실 가위컷 최고.

에로배우 정아 여기 원장님이 정말 강아지에 진심이시고 눈빛에서 애정이 뚝뚝 떨어지더라구요. 그런데 세상에 생각보다 넘 귀엽고 예쁘게 잘 어울리는거예요. Com › gptjs0512 › 222146192461원주 기업도시 애견미용 멍멍이미용실에서 율순이 가위컷 했어요 네. Com › m_bytongs › 223081039309전포동애견미용 몽말순에서 단발여신 된 멍멍이. 입구부터 아기자기하게 꾸며놓으셔서 앞에서 댕댕이가 신나게 뛰어놀 수도 있습니다. 언더붑 섹스

엑스햄스터 이에 반려동물로서의 개를 지칭할 때 강아지 또는 멍멍이를 야민정음한글 자모를 모양이 비슷한 것으로 바꾸어 단어를 다르게 표기하는 인터넷 밈체에 따라. 🖐노노📲 예약 미용상담은 전화로 해주세요 미용한 친구들 사진은 자주 업로드 못하지만 개인적으로 보내드리고. 여기 원장님이 정말 강아지에 진심이시고 눈빛에서 애정이 뚝뚝 떨어지더라구요. 멍멍이미용실에서는 미용할 때 귀털 정리, 발바닥 털 다듬기, 그리고 위생 관리까지 절대 놓치지 않고 꼼꼼하게 해주십니다. 원주 기업도시 애견미용 멍멍이미용실에서 율순이 가위컷 했어요 저희 율순이는 23개월 주기로 꼭 전체미. 엘리시아 장비

양갈래 남자 그런데 세상에 생각보다 넘 귀엽고 예쁘게 잘 어울리는거예요. 원주 기업도시에 위치한 멍멍이미용실, 이름이 너무 귀엽지 않나요. 역시 원장님 금손 인정 짱짱맨이예요 ㅋㅋ. 애니메이션, 호라이즌 등 다른 미디어 믹스에서는 항상 주인공 의 포켓몬이 되었지만, special에서는 주인공인 썬, 문 어느쪽의 포켓몬도 아니다. 장모치와와 전체미용하기, 러블리멍멍이 주안애견미용실 네이버 블로그 러블리멍멍이 25개의 글 목록열기. 엘리사 발데스 유출

어나레 와자몽 Com › seulla0311 › 224025384216의정부 포메 가위컷 잘하는곳 강아지 애견미용 멍멍이미용실 네이버. 비숑 귀툭튀컷 작은 하이바 응용컷 천천히 따라해보세요✂️. Com › mungnyangshower › 222693145412청라 애견미용 포메가위컷전문 멍냥샤워 토리 네이버 블로그. 217 followers, 62 following, 380 posts 멍멍이이발소 @latte2430 on instagram 멍멍이이발소🐶 소사본동 15844 1층 소새울공원 입구앞 dm확인 어려워요 전화주세요🙂 🐶매주 월요일휴무입니다 🐶예약제 운영중입니다😉 🐶당일취소노쇼 예약안해드려요 🐶유동적으로 오픈마감합니다 🐶카카오플친멍멍이이. 역시 원장님 금손 인정 짱짱맨이예요 ㅋㅋ.

야옹이작가 디시 주로 공원이나 차, 주차장에서 하기도 한다. 여기 원장님이 정말 강아지에 진심이시고 눈빛에서 애정이 뚝뚝 떨어지더라구요. 멍멍이미용실 원장님 단골 아이들인가봐요. 여기 원장님이 정말 강아지에 진심이시고 눈빛에서 애정이 뚝뚝 떨어지더라구요. Com › puppy_barber_멍멍이이발관 무리한 강압미용 하지않아요 @puppy_barber_ ins.

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.