The second term of US President Donald Trump has been marked by an epidemic of abusive and systematic violations of human rights and undermining of democratic foundations of governance, Human Rights Watch (HRW) has asserted in its 529-page report, World Report 2026, which covers more than 100 countries and reveals that the US has embarked on a perilous slide into authoritarian rule and a worsening of these violations will be made worse by impunity.
Philippe Bolopion, Executive Director of HRW, said the authoritarian wave crashing over the world was the challenge of a generation:
“The best way to confront these challenges is for democracies and civic organizations around the world to forge an alliance of values to defend basic freedoms, against the Trump administration and other leading global powers.”
Immigration Enforcement and Abuses
The report points out a brutal and extensive operation on immigration raids, mass arrests, and federal deployments, which have terrorized immigrant communities. Persons, including those seeking asylum, were summarily expelled to third countries, often pursuant to punitive measures. Venezuelan nationals were held in a prison in El Salvador and arbitrarily detained and tortured.
Tanya Greene, HRW’s U.S. Program Director, stated that the Trump administration is not only rolling back hard-fought protections of recent decades but is actively dismantling foundational pillars of U.S. democracy.
Erosion of Civil Rights Protections
HRW has described attempts by the current administration to erode government accountability, as well as undermining anti-discrimination safeguards. There have also been specious investigations of human rights NGOs, whereby groups have seen their charitable tax status revoked on political grounds.
Healthcare Access Under Attack
The right to health has also been under fire in the United States, especially during the Trump administration. Many Americans remain uninsured due to reduced healthcare subsidies, while funds are redirected towards tax cuts for the wealthy and large corporations. Restrictions placed on access to abortion services have been widened in several states, while Planned Parenthood restrictions have specifically impacted over one million people. The HRW report indicates that such measures disproportionately affect marginalized communities, such as minorities and poor families.
Curtailment of U.S. Humanitarian Aid
HRW highlights a dramatic retrenchment of U.S. foreign assistance under Trump, including the termination of aid supporting human rights defenders and civil society organizations, as well as reductions in life-saving humanitarian programs worldwide.
Withdrawal from Multilateral Institutions
The United States has withdrawn from international human rights instruments like the United Nations Human Rights Council, the World Health Organization, and the Paris Climate Agreement. The effects of these withdrawals include a lack of international cooperation on human rights.
Attacks on International Accountability
Furthermore, it has increased its aggressive posture towards various global justice organizations. For instance, it has sanctioned individuals who are affiliated with the International Criminal Court, a UN human rights expert, and has taken punitive actions against three main Palestinian human rights organizations.
Extrajudicial Military Strikes
HRW also reports a number of unlawful lethal attacks on smaller vessels in the Caribbean and Pacific Ocean, which have resulted in the loss of dozens of lives. Sarah Yager, the Washington director of HRW, pointed out that these actions are an extension of the administration’s assault on rights in domestic policy, which indicates a callous disregard for laws. She goes on to say,
“The same contempt for the rule of law driving attacks on rights at home is driving extra-judicial killings at sea.”
Human Rights Watch believes that the erosion of civil liberties and democratic accountability in the United States may pose a threat not only to its own people, but also to the rest of the world, and thus, there is a need for rights-respecting democracies, societies, and institutions around the world to work together towards the defense and protection of fundamental rights, accountability, and against the growing tide of authoritarianism around the globe.