Human rights in jeopardy as Trump's actions threaten global democracy, warns HRW.
The world is witnessing a disturbing decline in democratic values, with a staggering 72% of people now under autocratic rule, reminiscent of the 1980s. This 'democratic recession' is the backdrop to a new report by Human Rights Watch (HRW), which paints a grim picture of the state of human rights globally.
According to Philippe Bolopion, HRW's executive director, the very foundation of human rights is "in peril." He argues that the rise of authoritarianism is the defining challenge of our time, and the report highlights how this trend is accelerating.
The report, released on Wednesday, reveals that 2025 was a pivotal year for American democracy. In just one year, the Trump administration has systematically attacked the core principles of American democracy and the international rules-based order. Bolopion notes that the US, once a champion of these principles, is now moving in the opposite direction.
Trump's recent actions, such as his push for nationalizing the US voting system and the revelation of a $500 million investment from an Emirati royal family member into the Trump family's cryptocurrency business, are just the tip of the iceberg. But here's where it gets controversial: Bolopion argues that these actions are part of a calculated, relentless assault on the checks and balances designed to limit executive power in US democracy.
The report catalogs a range of abuses during Trump's second term, including eroding trust in elections, reducing government accountability, attacking judicial independence, and intimidating political opponents, the media, and even comedians. These actions have had a ripple effect, with HRW noting that recent attacks on free speech and deportations to countries with potential torture risks further undermine the rule of law.
And this is the part most people miss: The US is not acting alone. Bolopion emphasizes that Russia and China's longstanding efforts to weaken the global rules-based order, combined with the US administration's actions, have created a perfect storm for human rights worldwide.
Trump's disregard for international law and his reliance on his own morality, as he boasts, are seen as a direct threat to the international order. The report warns that this order, crucial for human rights defenders, is being crushed under the pressure from Trump, China, and Russia.
HRW also scrutinizes the UK, where the government's actions in 2025 have repeatedly undermined human rights. The report criticizes the Labour government's harsh immigration policies, which have fueled anti-migrant sentiments and emboldened the far right. The crackdown on the right to protest and the inadequate response to the cost-of-living crisis are also highlighted.
Bolopion identifies anti-migrant rhetoric as a dangerous trend across Europe, encouraged by Trump's claims of 'civilizational erasure.' By embracing racist tropes, Trump is accused of flirting with far-right ideology.
Interestingly, the report traces the roots of this democratic recession to before Trump's presidency, showing a decades-long decline in democracy. With democracy at 1985 levels, HRW argues that the undermining of the rules-based order and the rise of autocracy create a dire situation for global rights and freedoms.
The report's foreword is stark: "Russia, China, and the United States are all less free than two decades ago." Yet, it offers a glimmer of hope. Bolopion suggests that an alliance of rights-respecting democracies could become a powerful force, economically and politically, to counter the policies that threaten human rights and international trade governance.
In this challenging new world, the role of civil society is crucial. Bolopion encourages action, pointing to recent protests in Minneapolis, Iran, and Morocco as signs of resistance and hope. What do you think? Is an alliance of democracies the answer to countering global authoritarian trends? Share your thoughts below!
