Human Rights in the Changing International Order: Between Political Investigation and Humanitarian Challenges

Abstract

In the contemporary international system, human rights have become a tool used by major powers to achieve political gains. They are employed according to strategic interests rather than adherence to them as a unified universal value. The United States and Western countries often use human rights as a means of pressuring states that oppose their policies, while ignoring violations committed by their partners and allies. In contrast, countries such as China and Russia adopt a discourse focused on "national sovereignty" as a pretext to avoid criticism, reflecting clear contradictions in the application of human rights standards at the international level.

The international system currently faces major humanitarian challenges that directly impact human rights. Ongoing armed conflicts, such as the wars in Palestine, Syria, and Yemen, have resulted in gross violations of civilian rights, with war crimes being committed amid the inability of international organizations to intervene effectively. The refugee crisis resulting from these conflicts also casts a shadow over human rights, with some states adopting discriminatory policies towards migrants and displaced persons.