The conclusion reached by the human rights organization Amnesty International in its report last year is bleak: Human rights violations at the hands of both states and non-state actors are on the rise around the world. And in most cases, those responsible are not punished.
“Amnesty Report 2025,” which was recently released in various locations around the world, states that the year 2025 was marked by many powerful people acting like “predators.”
Amnesty specifically condemns political leaders whose actions made headlines around the world last year: “Political leaders such as Trump, Putin and Netanyahu, among many others, achieved their conquests for economic and political dominance through mass destruction, repression and violence.”
‘Iran will not be free by violating international law’
According to Julia Ducrow, Secretary General of Amnesty International in Germany, the war in Iran is the most serious issue at present. However, she emphasizes that Amnesty has documented human rights violations in approximately 140 countries. In an interview with DW, Ducrow says: “In Iran, the people face a double threat: first, from attacks carried out by the US and Israel in violation of international law – including attacks against the civilian population and infrastructure – and second, from repression by their own government, which has already led to many thousands of deaths.”
And yet, according to Ducrow, the regime in Tehran can only be changed if international law is also respected: “The situation has not been improved by unlawful attacks. Now we fear even more intensified attacks by the Iranian leadership against its own people.”
But it is not only the US, Russia and Israel that have long ago abandoned the old world order. According to Amnesty’s annual report, many other states are also increasingly moving away from a system of politics based on firm international rules: “A world order that has emerged from the ashes of genocide and the unspeakable destruction caused by two world wars, and which has been built steadily over the past 80 years – with great efforts, although unfortunately not stable enough.” And nations that are committed to democracy, the rule of law, and international stability are often becoming helpless and dependent on appeasement.
Is there really nothing left of the old world? According to Amnesty, quite the contrary. The report praises the “outstanding work” of diplomats and activists who have been striving for a more peaceful world since 1945: “The adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Genocide Convention in 1948, and the many other standard instruments debated and adopted in the subsequent 80 years are no illusion.”
The report notes that those now loudly lamenting the end of the rules-based world are mostly interested in its end itself: “Make no mistake: reports of the death of the international rules-based order have been greatly exaggerated.”
Amnesty International has highlighted two governments in particular: those of the United States and Israel. Regarding the United States under President Donald Trump, the report said that in January 2026, Secretary of State Marco Rubio outlined a vision for a new order – the Western Alliance of Christian Civilizations – which ignored important historical facts. And there is no sarcasm in the report: “Words cannot hide the facts: this is a history of domination, colonialism, slavery and even genocide.”
Comments on Israel’s actions against its neighboring states in the Middle East conflict are also strong: “For millions of people, international protection measures have failed, as was the case for Palestinians, who are subject to genocide, apartheid and occupation by the Israeli government.” And addressed to Russian President Vladimir Putin, the report said: “Russia continues to commit crimes against humanity in Ukraine.”
Hope for civil society participation
All of this points to a trend that is likely to continue and give rise to new conflicts. However, at least in the case of a war waged by the US and Israel against Iran, the annual report notes that some EU member states have clearly distanced themselves from the conflict: “As early as 2026, some European states appeared to be taking full measure of the risks, refusing to join US and Israeli attacks on Iran and committing to safeguarding strategic security.”
And Julia Ducrow also still finds enough examples to give hope in a world that seems to be falling apart: “In Iran, people took to the streets even though they knew their lives were in danger. In Hungary, Viktor Orban’s inhumane policies have just been voted out of office. And people continue to be released from detention, like Maria Kolesnikova in Belarus, for whom we have advocated.” Well-known Belarusian musician and civil rights activist Maria Kolesnikova was finally released from house arrest in December 2025 after five years.
This article was originally written in German.