The steady global erosion of human rights: causes, consequences, and calls to action -

Written by Marlyn Tadros*

“Human rights are not a privilege; they are the oxygen of democracy” — Kerry Kennedy

Human rights are under siege. From the conventional silencing of dissent in autocratic regimes to the weaponization of laws against marginalized groups in more democratic countries, the pillars of dignity and equality are crumbling worldwide. This erosion is not confined to distant conflicts—it echoes in our courts, our workplaces, and our digital lives. To confront it, we must first understand its roots, reckon with its consequences, and mobilize to reclaim justice. Recently, we saw the Trump administration in the United States, withdraw from the UN Human Rights Council, a move that signals its disinterest in human rights and international laws and norms.

The world is witnessing a quiet unraveling of rights that were once considered established norms. Authoritarian regimes have grown bolder, manipulating elections, jailing dissidents, and censoring the internet with impunity. Even in democracies, leaders increasingly borrow from the autocrat’s playbook, undermining judicial independence and painting activists and human rights defenders as enemies of the state. Meanwhile, wars in Gaza, Sudan, and Ukraine have normalized atrocities—civilian bombings, forced displacements, and the weaponization of hunger—while the international community responds with little more than statements of “deep concern.”

But repression isn’t always violent. Sometimes, it’s bureaucratic: a visa denied to a journalist, a law restricting NGOs, or an algorithm that flags protest organizers as threats. Economic coercion, too, has become a tool of control. Workers in sweatshops, migrant laborers trapped in debt bondage, and indigenous communities displaced by corporate land grabs all face systemic violence—just without the headlines.

But why are rights are eroding?

There are many reasons. To name a few:

1. The Rise of Authoritarianism: Governments once bound by democratic norms now openly flout them. Leaders in Hungary, Turkey, and Russia have dismantled independent judiciaries, muzzled the press, and equated political opposition with treason. Even in established democracies, populist rhetoric scapegoats refugees, women, and LGBTQ+ communities to consolidate power. The result? A world where might makes right is no longer a warning—it’s a policy, and cruelty to minorities is the name of the game.

2. War and Systemic Violence: Modern conflicts—from Sudan to Ukraine and Gaza —are marked by indiscriminate attacks on civilians, sexual violence as a weapon, and forced displacements unseen since World War II. Meanwhile, counterterrorism laws justify extrajudicial killings and mass surveillance. Racial and ethnic conflicts are increasing, encouraged by the erosion of accountability.

3. The Digital Double-Edged Sword: Technology, once hailed as a tool for liberation, now enables mass surveillance, propaganda, and even predictive policing that reinforces discrimination. Technology has enabled oppression. Facial recognition tracks protesters in real-time; algorithms amplify hate speech; and governments shut down the internet to stifle dissent. A post you make may land you in prison or get you deported. The internet, once a bastion of free speech, is under attack and being silenced.

The UN SDG report of 2024 names a few notable tech risks:

Risks of artificial intelligence: the report notes that Generative AI may offer new opportunities, but without proper regulation, it could worsen risks to human rights in areas like welfare, education, employment, labor rights, privacy, and online safety. Possible risks include increasing racial inequalities, more surveillance, and spreading hate content. Current AI technologies have already harmed marginalized groups, such as in Serbia, where a new welfare system harmed Roma and disabled people. In Israel, facial recognition has restricted freedom in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. The New York Police Department used such technology against Black Lives Matter protests, leading to calls for a ban. Venture capital firms have often neglected human rights responsibilities.
The global spyware trade: the report notes that States have not controlled the global trade in spyware. Research by Amnesty International in 2023 revealed Pegasus spyware used against journalists in Armenia, the Dominican Republic, India, and Serbia. An investigation by the European Investigative Collaborations found EU-regulated spyware sold worldwide. In November 2023, the European Parliament criticized inaction on spyware abuses. Some policymakers are starting to respond, with 11 states acknowledging spyware’s threats to human rights in March 2023.
Abuses by Big Tech: finally the report notes the harms of Big Tech’s surveillance-based business model that were highlighted again in 2023, affecting children and young people, particularly through TikTok’s practices that risk worsening mental health issues. There has also been a rise in hostility against LGBTI individuals on X (formerly Twitter), coupled with increasing political misinformation ahead of the 2024 elections. Repressive regimes have used social media to attack minorities, fueled by algorithms that prioritize profit over safety. Some regulators and victims are working to stop these abuses. In July 2023, the EU Court ruled against Meta’s surveillance model, and Norwegian authorities ordered Meta to halt personalized ads based on user data. There has been movement on the Digital Services Act, but the EU’s Artificial Intelligence Act may not adequately prevent harm or limit surveillance.

4. Climate Collapse and Inequality: As droughts and floods displace millions, rights to shelter, food, and clean water vanish overnight. Indigenous lands are seized for mining under the guise of “green energy,” while billionaires lobby against labor protections. The climate crisis isn’t just ecological—it’s a human rights emergency.

The fallout from this erosion is catastrophic, not only in the Middle East and the Global South, but worse in so-called democratic countries. There are currently over 110 million displaced people who face closed borders and xenophobic policies, not to mention dehumanization. Children are robbed of education, communities stripped of culture—losses that will echo for decades.

Resistance requires work on our part. We cannot stand passive against such erosion of rights that will affect us for generations to come. There must be:

Global accountability is weakened by ineffective international systems. The ICC and UN need reforms to punish violators, like freezing assets of officials involved in atrocities. Treaties should hold corporations to human rights standards, criminalizing forced labor. Dictators and corporations resist scrutiny, so it’s important to document abuses, support investigative journalism, and urge media to stop giving platforms to oppressors.
Grassroots movements often start locally. It’s crucial to support threatened journalists and human rights defenders, expose corruption, boycott companies benefiting from oppression, and show solidarity across borders.
Laws should protect whistleblowers and ban oppressive tools. Advocate for legislation that limits surveillance capitalism.
Demand encryption rights and open-source algorithms, and call for bans on facial recognition in public spaces. Use encrypted tools, resist facial recognition, and expose the role of algorithms in promoting hate.

Human rights are neither abstract nor negotiable—they are the bedrock of survival. Their erosion threatens us all, whether through a censored tweet, a vanished neighbor, or a rising sea. Yet history shows that collective action can bend the arc toward justice. From the fall of apartheid to marriage equality victories, progress is possible. The question is: Which side of history will we stand on?

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