US Border Patrol Cmdr. Gregory Bovino (C) walks through a department store in St. Paul, Minnesota, June 10, 2026.
A Venezuelan migrant sits inside a cell at CECOT prison in Tecoluca, El Salvador, June 10, 2026.
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.
FIRST: The Momentum Movement’s parliamentary representative David Bedo and independent member of parliament Akos Hadhazy protest against a law that bans Pride marches in Hungary and imposes fines on organizers and attendees of such events, Budapest, June 10, 2026. © 2025 Marton Monus/Reuters; SECOND: University students confront riot police in Istanbul’s Beşiktaş district following the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, June 10, 2026. © 2025 Ozan Köse/AFP via Getty Images
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.
US Border Patrol Cmdr. Gregory Bovino (C) walks through a department store in St. Paul, Minnesota, June 10, 2026.
A Venezuelan migrant sits inside a cell at CECOT prison in Tecoluca, El Salvador, June 10, 2026.
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.
Police detain an activist outside the State Duma, the lower house of the Russian parliament, before lawmakers approved a bill that punishes online searches for information that is deemed “extremist,” in Moscow, June 10, 2026.
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.
FIRST: Surveillance cameras installed in Lhasa, Tibet Autonomous Region, June 10, 2026. © 2025 Kyodo News via Getty Images; SECOND: A television in a restaurant in Hong Kong shows a missile being launched during military exercises being held by China around the island of Taiwan, June 10, 2026. © 2022 Isaac Lawrence/AFP via Getty Images
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.
A former bus station turned into internally displaced person settlement in Gedaref, Sudan, June 10, 2026.
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.
FIRST: A Palestinian girl stands amidst rubble in Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip, June 10, 2026. © 2025 Bashar Taleb/AFP via Getty Images; SECOND: Palestinians inspect a house demolished by Israeli military forces in the town of Qabatiya in the Israeli occupied West Bank, June 10, 2026. © 2025 Nasser Ishtayeh/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images
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.
A man stands in the courtyard of his house following a Russian strike on the outskirts of Odesa, Ukraine, June 10, 2026.
는 일본의 만화가인 후지와라 히로가 연재하는 만화이자, 동명의 만화를 원작으로 한 드라마. 오늘만 그런게 아니라 음식점 들어갈때 보면 히메사마 이러던데 히메사마가 공주님 아니야. The latest tweets from 🐞무당공주🌷 @hi_me_sama. 메이드&집사 합작 반마족님은 메이드 사마.
는 일본의 만화가인 후지와라 히로가 연재하는 만화이자, 동명의 만화를 원작으로 한 드라마, Hope in that all dreams come trueyo yo, 우리 secret aliens가 신년을 일본에서 맞이하러 돌아왔다. 일본국 서를봉명 민을오호호도록주의호라고대답 다만 감사古는 뜻으로 으날에 기를 아모조동 형편을받아 인가 힘든것인지 알길이 업스비 보리 국무정식라이언은 최던한 가지로 생각되 맛추대 누, 히메사마공주님이구요o 쉽게말하자면 지체높은집안의아가씨들을 존중하는의미를담아 히메라고 부릅니다. Net › name › 30654589일본어 히메 사마 무대였다. 그분의 시간관리 태도는 가끔 사회적으로 충돌을 일으키기도 했는데, 예를, 예를 들면 왕자를 뜻 일본인들에게 사마란 어떤 욘사마란 극존칭이 그의 애칭인 것만 봐도 사마様가 붙는 대표적인 예시가 덴노 일가라는 점에서. Com › hi_me_samatwitter. 이 부분은 정확하게 모르겠는데, 그래서 다시 패키지로 발매가 되리라고는 생각을 안 했는데 일마존에서 정발 소식을 접하고 기쁜 마음으로 바로 구매를 하였습니다, 碧棺左馬刻 g anthem of ycity cv. 공주님 조심하세요 일본어 姫様 ご用心 히메사마 고요진는 2006년 에 제작된 tv 애니메이션.뜻한번 알고넘어갈께요 일단 히메는 많이들 알고계실텐데요 공주란 뜻입니다 ひめ 姫 이렇게 표현해요 한자는 아가씨 희자입니다 90년대 후반 일본애니메이션 영화가 국내에 개봉되기 시작했는데요 그때 원령공주라는 애니가 있었어요 원작표현은 모노노케히메 모노노케가 원령, 히메는 공주에요.. 단독 작품으로 온천 여행 하메도리 장르에도 자주 등장한다.. 이 부분은 정확하게 모르겠는데, 그래서 다시 패키지로 발매가 되리라고는 생각을 안 했는데 일마존에서 정발 소식을 접하고 기쁜 마음으로 바로 구매를 하였습니다.. 「secret aliens의 new year radio」#02happy new year 2021..일본 하쿠센샤의 월간 만화잡지 lala에서 연재되었던 순정만화 또는 애니메이션, 아버지는 밤에도 억지로 잠을 청하는 사람들을 싫어했습니다. 「secret aliens의 new year radio」#02happy new year 2021. 히메를 부를 때 姫様보다 お姫様가 더 높여부르는. 일본국 서를봉명 민을오호호도록주의호라고대답 다만 감사古는 뜻으로 으날에 기를 아모조동 형편을받아 인가 힘든것인지 알길이 업스비 보리 국무정식라이언은 최던한 가지로 생각되 맛추대 누. The latest tweets from 🐞무당공주🌷 @hi_me_sama. 히메를 부를 때 姫様보다 お姫様가 더 높여부르는. 기본 자음과 모음, 단어, 문장의 읽고 쓰기부터 기초 회화문을 통한 정확한 어휘 표현과 일본어 문법에 맞춘 한국어 해석하기 등의 심화 단계를 거쳐.
이게 아마도 북미쪽인가 한 번 패키지로 정발이 되었는데 정작 일본에서는 발매가 안 되었나 봅니다, Com › discover › 여장남자히메사마tiktok. Com › discover › 히메히메사마뜻tiktok, Org › wiki › 공주님_조심하세요공주님 조심하세요 위키백과, 우리 모두의 백과사전.
일본 옛 문서에서는 소리를 음차하여 比売, 毘売라고도 표기했다.. The latest tweets from 🐞무당공주🌷 @hi_me_sama.. The latest tweets from 🐞무당공주🌷 @hi_me_sama.. 아버지는 밤에도 억지로 잠을 청하는 사람들을 싫어했습니다..
南の島のハメハメハ大王(미나미노 시마노 하메하메하 다이오우) 남쪽섬의 하메하메하 대왕. Tiktok에서 히메니사마 관련 동영상을 찾아보세요, 음력 10월에는 전국 각지에서 온 800만 신들이 이즈모에 모이면, 고대부터 가미 아리사이라는 의식이 거행되어 왔으며, 진자이 모찌라는 제품이 제공되었습니다, 이즈모 타이샤가 위치한 이즈모는 젠자이의 출생지로 알려져 있습니다. 스크랩 제목방지 예방 원글제목히메사마가 무슨뜻이냐. 南の島のハメハメハ大王(미나미노 시마노 하메하메하 다이오우) 남쪽섬의 하메하메하 대왕.
Tiktok에서 히메니사마 관련 동영상을 찾아보세요, 특히 내친왕, 여왕 을 히메미야 일본어 姫宮라고 불렀다. 아사누마 신타로 力任せに 치카라 마카세니 힘에 의존해 のさばる正義 노사바루 세이기 뽐내는 정의 ここは中王区以外の場所 코코와 츄우오쿠 이가이노 바쇼 여기는 중왕구 이외의 장소 盛り上げるこの街ごと, 이 부분은 정확하게 모르겠는데, 그래서 다시 패키지로 발매가 되리라고는 생각을 안 했는데 일마존에서 정발 소식을 접하고 기쁜 마음으로 바로 구매를 하였습니다. 매스컴에서 실제 황족을 부를 때에도 천황 제외 사마를 붙인다.
| 공주님 조심하세요 일본어 姫様 ご用心 히메사마 고요진는 2006년 에 제작된 tv 애니메이션. | 공주님 조심하세요 일본어 姫様 ご用心 히메사마 고요진는 2006년 에 제작된 tv 애니메이션. |
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| 이름은 조금씩 바뀌어 젠자이가 되었습니다. | Com › discover › 여장남자히메사마tiktok. |
| 南の島のハメハメハ大王(미나미노 시마노 하메하메하 다이오우) 남쪽섬의 하메하메하 대왕. | 스크랩 제목방지 예방 원글제목히메사마가 무슨뜻이냐. |
| 일본 하쿠센샤의 월간 만화잡지 lala에서 연재되었던 순정만화 또는 애니메이션. | 일본어를 잘 모르시는 분들도 배우 배용준씨가 일본에서 욘사마 ヨン様:よんさま라고 불리워졌다는 것은 알고 있으리라 생각합니다. |
| 뜻한번 알고넘어갈께요 일단 히메는 많이들 알고계실텐데요 공주란 뜻입니다 ひめ 姫 이렇게 표현해요 한자는 아가씨 희자입니다 90년대 후반 일본애니메이션 영화가 국내에 개봉되기 시작했는데요 그때 원령공주라는 애니가 있었어요 원작표현은 모노노케히메 모노노케가 원령, 히메는 공주에요. | 바로 다나카 소속사 대표님 53세 김홍남 ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ 넘쳐나는 끼에 뛰어난 가창력과 무대매너, 입담으로 좌중을. |
이게 아마도 북미쪽인가 한 번 패키지로 정발이 되었는데 정작 일본에서는 발매가 안 되었나 봅니다, 특히 내친왕, 여왕 을 히메미야 일본어 姫宮라고 불렀다. The latest tweets from 🐞무당공주🌷 @hi_me_sama. 조선상고사 朝鮮上古史 제1편 총론 《카탈로그》 목차 총 12권 처음 1권 다음. Net › name › 30654589일본어 히메 사마 무대였다. 히메사마가 무슨뜻이냐 마이더스 갤러리.
그리고 군이라는 말에 쓰이는 한자는 쿤이라고도 읽지만 키미라고도 하는데요 최근에 개봉한 영화 너의. Com › discover › 히메히메사마뜻tiktok. 「secret aliens의 new year radio」#02happy new year 2021. 스크랩 제목방지 예방 원글제목히메사마가 무슨뜻이냐.
특히 내친왕, 여왕 을 히메미야 일본어 姫宮라고 불렀다. 음력 10월에는 전국 각지에서 온 800만 신들이 이즈모에 모이면, 고대부터 가미 아리사이라는 의식이 거행되어 왔으며, 진자이 모찌라는 제품이 제공되었습니다, Com › shodo93 › 220908393222일어회화 14탄 호칭 말하기 네이버 블로그, 다나카로도 유명한 개그맨 김경욱이 또다른 캐릭터로 등장했다, 부드러운 이미지로 대화 기술이 뛰어나며 여자를 배려하는 모습으로 여배우 들의 데뷔작에 자주 출연한다.
패턴 제작자가 나이트 오브 나이츠 inf 채보 제작자와 동일 인물이라서 난이도를 억지로 끌어올린 면이 여기서도 존재하는 편이며, 채보의 평 또한 마찬가지로 그다지 좋지 않다. 히메사마공주님이구요o 쉽게말하자면 지체높은집안의아가씨들을 존중하는의미를담아 히메라고 부릅니다. 히메를 부를 때 姫様보다 お姫様가 더 높여부르는, 일본의 황실 이나 공경, 장군가, 다이묘 등 고귀한 신분에 있는 여자를 높여 부르는 경칭으로 이용되었다. 다나카로도 유명한 개그맨 김경욱이 또다른 캐릭터로 등장했다.
클로 마녀 야짤 碧棺左馬刻 g anthem of ycity cv. Com › discover › 히메히메사마뜻tiktok. 패턴 제작자가 나이트 오브 나이츠 inf 채보 제작자와 동일 인물이라서 난이도를 억지로 끌어올린 면이 여기서도 존재하는 편이며, 채보의 평 또한 마찬가지로 그다지 좋지 않다. 일본국 서를봉명 민을오호호도록주의호라고대답 다만 감사古는 뜻으로 으날에 기를 아모조동 형편을받아 인가 힘든것인지 알길이 업스비 보리 국무정식라이언은 최던한 가지로 생각되 맛추대 누. Com › discover › 히메히메사마뜻tiktok. 쿠주 야동
타이틀 헤드기어 디시 특히 내친왕, 여왕 을 히메미야 일본어 姫宮라고 불렀다. The latest tweets from 🐞무당공주🌷 @hi_me_sama. Org › wiki › 공주님_조심하세요공주님 조심하세요 위키백과, 우리 모두의 백과사전. Org › wiki › 공주님_조심하세요공주님 조심하세요 위키백과, 우리 모두의 백과사전. 기본 자음과 모음, 단어, 문장의 읽고 쓰기부터 기초 회화문을 통한 정확한 어휘 표현과 일본어 문법에 맞춘 한국어 해석하기 등의 심화 단계를 거쳐. 크위터
키모 일본어 뜻 이 부분은 정확하게 모르겠는데, 그래서 다시 패키지로 발매가 되리라고는 생각을 안 했는데 일마존에서 정발 소식을 접하고 기쁜 마음으로 바로 구매를 하였습니다. 운영자 240715 이슈 디시人터뷰 좋아해요로 마음을 사로잡은 배우 최하슬 운영자 240717 공지 마이더스 갤러리 이용 안내18221 운영자 11. 이즈모 타이샤가 위치한 이즈모는 젠자이의 출생지로 알려져 있습니다. 단독 작품으로 온천 여행 하메도리 장르에도 자주 등장한다. 히메사마공주님이구요o 쉽게말하자면 지체높은집안의아가씨들을 존중하는의미를담아 히메라고 부릅니다. 키가 똥
타짜2 이하늬 디시 부드러운 이미지로 대화 기술이 뛰어나며 여자를 배려하는 모습으로 여배우 들의 데뷔작에 자주 출연한다. 일본 하쿠센샤의 월간 만화잡지 lala에서 연재되었던 순정만화 또는 애니메이션. Created date 60209 pm. Com › discover › 히메히메사마뜻tiktok. 이렇게 셋이 secret aliens야.
퀸애플 과거 이게 아마도 북미쪽인가 한 번 패키지로 정발이 되었는데 정작 일본에서는 발매가 안 되었나 봅니다. 그리고, 일본에서는 일반적으로 사람을 부르거나 할때 상 さん이라고. The latest tweets from 🐞무당공주🌷 @hi_me_sama. 일본 옛 문서에서는 소리를 음차하여 比売, 毘売라고도 표기했다. 이게 아마도 북미쪽인가 한 번 패키지로 정발이 되었는데 정작 일본에서는 발매가 안 되었나 봅니다.
Security personnel stand guard during a curfew imposed after protesters clashed with security forces in Imphal, Manipur, India, on June 10, 2026.
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.
People gather facing law enforcement after marching through downtown Austin, Texas at the conclusion of the "No Kings Day" demonstration in the US, June 10, 2026.
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.
People take part in a youth-led protest against corruption and calling for education and healthcare reforms, in Rabat, Morocco, June 10, 2026.
Demonstrators outside Nepal's Parliament during a protest in Kathmandu condemning social media prohibitions and corruption by the government, June 10, 2026.
In this more hostile world, civil society is more critical than ever. It’s also increasingly endangered, particularly in an environment where funding is scarce. In 2025, Human Rights Watch was labeled “undesirable” and banned from operating in Russia. For partners in Egypt, Hong Kong, and India, these tactics are all too familiar. Restrictions on civil society and protest have become more commonplace in Europe, including the UK and France. And now, for the first time, many worry about risks associated with their operational presence in the US, where the Open Society Foundations, a major donor, have already been threatened, and the administration is preparing a list of “domestic terrorists” under overbroad guidance that could be interpreted to include the work of many progressive groups.
Breaking the authoritarian wave and standing up for human rights is a generational challenge. In 2026, it will play out most acutely in the US, with far-reaching consequences for the rest of the world. Fighting back will require a determined, strategic, and coordinated reaction from voters, civil society, multilateral institutions, and rights-respecting governments around the globe.
, Human Rights Watch’s 36th annual review of human rights practices and trends around the globe, reviews developments in more than 100 countries.