The article examines the contemporary global human rights system, which was established following World War II, highlighting the numerous unprecedented challenges it currently faces. These challenges are not just theoretical but are tied to real shifts in global power dynamics, with implications for the effectiveness of existing human rights mechanisms. The article stresses that the future trajectory of the international human rights system will depend on the ability of its institutional frameworks to adapt to changing geopolitical realities, while still upholding their normative commitments to global human rights protection.

Additionally, the article discusses the multi-layered governance structure of modern human rights, which spans from the UN Human Rights Council and treaty bodies to regional systems in Europe, the Americas, and Africa. Originally designed in a state-centric context shaped by Cold War conditions and ideological conflicts, these mechanisms now confront significant structural pressures due to the competition among major powers, the emergence of authoritarian blocs, and the rise of non-state actors wielding quasi-sovereign capabilities.

The intensifying U.S.-China competition, as well as Russia's challenges to the liberal order, alongside democratic backsliding in several countries, are further complicating the landscape of global human rights. The article underscores the importance of reinforcing and adjusting existing mechanisms to effectively respond to these pressures and to safeguard the rights of individuals worldwide for the foreseeable future.