Amnesty International has released a stark assessment of the global state of human rights, attributing a significant acceleration in the erosion of rights to the first 100 days of Donald Trump’s presidency. The organisation’s annual report, covering 150 countries, highlights what it terms a “freefall” in human rights — a phenomenon it links directly to what it describes as the “Trump effect.”
The report draws attention to the immediate consequences of the US president’s policies and rhetoric, which it argues have undermined decades of human rights progress and encouraged authoritarian leaders worldwide. Such developments include increased crackdowns on dissent, growing inaction on the climate crisis, and a harsh backlash against the rights of migrants, refugees, women, girls, and LGBTQ+ communities.
Sacha Deshmukh, chief executive of Amnesty International UK, characterised Trump’s targeting of international institutions charged with maintaining global safety and fairness as “terrifying.” Speaking about the potential long-term consequences, he said, “You look forward to the end of this decade and wonder whether the basic frameworks and underpinnings of not just human rights but international law will still be standing. You probably haven’t been able to say that since 1935.”
The report details numerous human rights violations across various countries. It records how mass arbitrary arrests, enforced disappearances, and the use of lethal force to crush dissent have become increasingly widespread. Notably, in Bangladesh, “shoot-on-sight” orders during student protests resulted in hundreds of deaths. Mozambique’s disputed elections sparked a violent crackdown, and Turkey imposed severe bans on demonstrations.
Amnesty International also voiced alarm over global inaction, particularly in relation to the civil war in Sudan. The Rapid Support Forces, one of the conflict’s combatants, are accused of repeated mass sexual violence against women and girls, yet international responses remain limited.
The organisation further highlighted the detrimental impact of Trump’s foreign aid cuts, which have exacerbated humanitarian crises by closing critical programmes in countries such as Yemen and Syria. These cuts have left vulnerable populations, including children and conflict survivors, without access to essential food, shelter, and healthcare.
Amnesty’s report also criticised Israel for failing to uphold international humanitarian law during its military operations in Gaza. In Europe, the organisation noted an increase in civilian casualties in Ukraine, reporting that more Ukrainian civilians were killed by Russian forces in 2024 than in the previous year. Furthermore, Amnesty expressed concern over Trump’s peace proposals, which reportedly advocate for Ukraine to cede territory to Russia — a stance that critics have dismissed as appeasement.
Agnès Callamard, Amnesty International’s secretary general, condemned the actions of the Trump administration, stating: “Trump has shown only utter contempt for universal human rights – emboldening anti-rights movements worldwide and letting corporate allies run amok.”
Looking ahead, the report warned of worsening global conditions, citing the collapse of the UN’s Cop29 climate conference, which it attributed in part to fossil fuel companies’ influence. It added that wealthy nations had pressured poorer countries into accepting insufficient climate financing. The report also underscored the threat posed by Trump’s withdrawal from the Paris climate agreement, suggesting this move might encourage other countries to follow suit.
Moreover, amid widespread scapegoating of migrants and refugees, the report noted that billionaires have increased their wealth while global poverty reduction has stalled. It also documented intensified attacks on women, girls, and LGBTQ+ communities in countries including Afghanistan, Iran, Uganda, Georgia, and Bulgaria. Amnesty criticised the Trump administration for reducing support for gender equality initiatives and dismantling protections for transgender people and women on a global scale.
The Guardian reports that Amnesty International’s comprehensive review paints a challenging picture of the international human rights landscape, shaped by policies and actions that have emboldened authoritarianism, undermined international cooperation, and heightened vulnerabilities among marginalised groups worldwide.
Source: Noah Wire Services