Editorial
Human Rights Watch (HRW) has delivered a stark warning in its World Report 2026: the global human rights system is in grave danger. According to HRW, 72 percent of the world’s population now lives under autocratic regimes, with the United States, China, and Russia emerging as dominant powers openly dismissive of international norms.
The report paints a troubling picture of the U.S., where the Trump administration is accused of undermining democratic pillars and international institutions. Immigrants and asylum seekers continue to face inhumane conditions, while Washington’s withdrawal from the UN Human Rights Council and the World Health Organization, along with sanctions on international human rights bodies, signals a retreat from global accountability.
In the Middle East, HRW highlights ongoing atrocities in Israel and Gaza, describing acts that amount to ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity. The lack of consistent international response has drawn criticism from both observers and former HRW staff. Meanwhile, Ukraine suffers from Russia’s brutal military occupation, including bombings, forced recruitment, and child deportations, with little global pressure to halt these abuses.
Russia and China remain at the forefront of systemic repression. Moscow’s crackdown targets civil society, opposition figures, and human rights organizations, while China enforces strict censorship, surveillance, and persecution of ethnic minorities, including Uighurs and Tibetans. Both regimes employ laws and force to silence dissent, leaving citizens with little recourse.
Yet HRW emphasizes that hope lies in collective action. Countries such as Costa Rica, Ghana, and Mexico, alongside grassroots movements and student protests worldwide, show that people power can still push back. The report calls for a new global alliance to defend human rights and ensure accountability, reminding the world that even in the shadow of powerful autocrats, solidarity and resistance remain crucial.
