US Abuses Under Trump Put Global Human Rights System on Brink of Collapse: HRW Report.
The world is witnessing an unprecedented "democratic recession" with nearly three-quarters of the global population living under autocratic rule, a level not seen since the 1980s, according to a new report by Human Rights Watch (HRW). The organization's executive director Philippe Bolopion warned that this growing authoritarian wave poses a significant threat to human rights and freedoms worldwide.
Bolopion stated that US President Donald Trump's administration has carried out a systematic assault on key pillars of American democracy and the global rules-based international order. Trump's comments on Republicans to "nationalise" the US voting system and revelations about a member of an Emirati royal family's $500 million investment in his cryptocurrency company have confirmed this trend.
Every day, the organization sees confirmation of this relentless assault on checks and balances designed to limit executive power in US democracy, Bolopion said. He called for democracies like the UK, European Union, and Canada to form a strategic alliance to preserve the rules-based international order under threat from Trump, Russia, and China.
The HRW report catalogues numerous attacks on the rights-based system during Trump's second-term administration, including undermining trust in elections, reducing government accountability, and defying court orders. These actions have undermined the rule of law, with recent abuses such as attacks on free speech and deporting people to countries where they may face torture.
The US administration's actions have had enormous repercussions around the world, leaving the global human rights system in peril. Bolopion stated that under relentless pressure from Trump, China, and Russia, the rules-based international order is being crushed, threatening to take with it the architecture that human rights defenders rely on to advance norms and protect freedoms.
HRW also found that the British government repeatedly undermined rights in 2025, including a punitive approach to immigration and an authoritarian crackdown on the right to protest. The organization criticizes the UK's failure to address adequately the worsening cost-of-living crisis.
The "democratic recession" pre-dated Trump and has been ongoing for decades, with democracy now back at levels seen in the 1980s, according to HRW. This presents a perfect storm for human rights and freedoms worldwide, Bolopion said.
The world is witnessing an unprecedented "democratic recession" with nearly three-quarters of the global population living under autocratic rule, a level not seen since the 1980s, according to a new report by Human Rights Watch (HRW). The organization's executive director Philippe Bolopion warned that this growing authoritarian wave poses a significant threat to human rights and freedoms worldwide.
Bolopion stated that US President Donald Trump's administration has carried out a systematic assault on key pillars of American democracy and the global rules-based international order. Trump's comments on Republicans to "nationalise" the US voting system and revelations about a member of an Emirati royal family's $500 million investment in his cryptocurrency company have confirmed this trend.
Every day, the organization sees confirmation of this relentless assault on checks and balances designed to limit executive power in US democracy, Bolopion said. He called for democracies like the UK, European Union, and Canada to form a strategic alliance to preserve the rules-based international order under threat from Trump, Russia, and China.
The HRW report catalogues numerous attacks on the rights-based system during Trump's second-term administration, including undermining trust in elections, reducing government accountability, and defying court orders. These actions have undermined the rule of law, with recent abuses such as attacks on free speech and deporting people to countries where they may face torture.
The US administration's actions have had enormous repercussions around the world, leaving the global human rights system in peril. Bolopion stated that under relentless pressure from Trump, China, and Russia, the rules-based international order is being crushed, threatening to take with it the architecture that human rights defenders rely on to advance norms and protect freedoms.
HRW also found that the British government repeatedly undermined rights in 2025, including a punitive approach to immigration and an authoritarian crackdown on the right to protest. The organization criticizes the UK's failure to address adequately the worsening cost-of-living crisis.
The "democratic recession" pre-dated Trump and has been ongoing for decades, with democracy now back at levels seen in the 1980s, according to HRW. This presents a perfect storm for human rights and freedoms worldwide, Bolopion said.
Can't believe what's going on with this US government 
. Trump's actions are like a bad joke to democracy – undermining trust in elections, reducing accountability, defying court orders... it's like he's playing a game of "democracy roulette" 
. And now HRW is saying the global human rights system is on the brink of collapse? 
That's just crazy talk! I mean, what's next? China and Russia going to start their own version of democracy 
? The world needs more checks and balances, not less 
.
I'm low-key freaking out about this report from HRW... it's like, super obvious that Trump's admin has been doing some seriously dodgy stuff 
. Undermining trust in elections? Reducing gov accountability? Defying court orders? That's just a recipe for disaster 
.
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. HRW is right to call them out for their own human rights abuses... it's not like they're in a better position to lecture anyone 
. We need to see some real change, and fast 
. This "democratic recession" trend is straight fire 
... but not in a good way 
this US situation is getting crazy - all these attacks on democracy and human rights it's like they're trying to destroy everything that's good about freedom 
Trump's actions are putting the whole global system at risk and I'm not sure what's gonna happen next 
and don't even get me started on the cryptocurrency thing... it just shows how open to influence trump's administration is. Russia and china are already getting away with all sorts of human rights abuses, now they're just emboldening each other 
what's next? a global collapse of human rights? 
what's next? them gonna try to take away our freedom of speech too?! 
UK ain't doing much better with their immigration policy, it's like they forgot what human rights even means 
someone needs to form an alliance between EU, Canada and whoever else to counteract this authoritarian wave 
. Trump's actions are like a ticking time bomb for the entire global human rights system 
And let's not forget about China and Russia, they're like the ultimate team players 
. We need to take action ASAP before it's too late 
. Or maybe we should just accept that democracy is dead and move on 
. its not all doom and gloom tho, maybe theres still hope for ppl to come together and fight for change 
what's gonna happen next?!?! we need a change now!! 
It's like, we're witnessing a complete collapse of global human rights and it's all because one person has the power to destroy everything. I mean, come on! The world is already struggling with so many issues and this just makes it all worse 
We need more people like Bolopion speaking out against this kind of nonsense and for real, we need some serious change ASAP 
this is super worrisome but lets not forget that we've got some amazing organizations like HRW working tirelessly to bring attention to these issues 
the fact that they're sounding the alarm now means we can start taking action to protect our rights and freedoms 
lets focus on building those alliances and strengthening democratic institutions so we can counteract this autocratic wave 
and btw did you know that there are still so many amazing people around the world working towards human rights and social justice 
. And to make matters worse, China and Russia are just sitting back, laughing at how easy it is to undermine global human rights 
so yeah lets form that alliance with the UK EU Canada and all those countries who care about human rights and freedoms 
. It's wild to think that China and Russia are part of this too. Like, what's next? A world where no one has human rights anymore?