When the World Looks Away: Why Supporting Victims of Repression Matters More Than Ever

When the World Looks Away: Why Supporting Victims of Repression Matters More Than Ever Article by the Human Rights Platform of the Civic Movement “DAYANÇ / Turkmenistan” As authoritarianism continues to expand across Eurasia, traditional mechanisms for protecting human rights are increasingly losing their effectiveness. This reality is clearly highlighted in a publication by the Harriman Institute of Columbia University, which reflects on the decades-long work of Human Rights Watch researcher Rachel Denber. For 34 years, Denber documented serious human rights violations across Eurasia — including in Russia, Azerbaijan, and Turkmenistan, one of the world’s most closed and repressive states. Today, however, many authoritarian governments no longer fear international condemnation. Instead, they openly display contempt for human rights. “We are now facing a problem where many governments no longer feel shame about their abuses. They are proud of them,” Denber noted. When Pressure No Longer Works In the past, public exposure and diplomatic pressure from Western governments often helped bring about change. Today, this strategy is losing its impact. Across Eurasia, regimes are shutting down space for civil society, blocking independent investigations, and persecuting activists. This is especially evident in Turkmenistan, where: dozens of people have been forcibly disappeared in prisons for over 20 years citizens are arbitrarily banned from traveling abroad the judiciary is entirely controlled by the state any criticism of the authorities is brutally suppressed These are precisely the types of regimes that now feel emboldened by impunity. Supporting Victims Is the New Front Line As international pressure weakens, human rights defenders stress the importance of focusing on direct support for victims — political prisoners, their families, and those targeted by repression. “Lawyers are on the front lines, and they deserve all possible support from donors and others,” Denber emphasized. This support includes: legal assistance medical care for detainees food support for affected families letters of solidarity protection for activists in exile Fighting Isolation with Solidarity Human rights advocate Tatyana Margolin pointed out that authoritarian regimes thrive by isolating people. “Much of success comes from people not feeling alone. Authoritarian regimes force people to feel extremely isolated.” This is particularly true in Turkmenistan, where the state deliberately cuts citizens off from protection, justice, and international attention. “This Tyrannical Period Could Last Generations” One of the most powerful warnings in the article states: “This tyrannical period may last generations. But we want to give them the best shot to survive it.” For countries like Turkmenistan, this means that without sustained international attention and concrete support for victims, repression will continue unchecked. ?? Source: Harriman Institute, Columbia University “We want to give them the best shot to survive this” ?? https://harriman.columbia.edu/we-want-to-give-them-the-best-shot-to-survive-this/?