Amnesty International, in its 2009 annual report on the state of human rights issued May 27th, found that underlying the global economic recession is an “unfolding human rights crisis with growing signs of unrest and political violence that risk even greater repression, inequality, racism and violence around the world.”
The Amnesty International Report 2009: State of the World’s Human Rights, makes the following findings:
* Marginalized and indigenous communities in Brazil, India and Mexico were denied basic rights for a decent life, despite economic growth in those countries.
* Hundreds of thousands of people in slums and rural communities were forcibly uprooted in the name of economic development.
* Skyrocketing food prices led to more hunger and disease, and – notably in Myanmar, North Korea and Zimbabwe – governments used food as a political weapon.
* Discrimination and violence against women persisted.
* Countries adopted even more restrictive measures to keep migrants out, with the European Union leading the way in collusion with governments like Mauritania, Morocco and Libya.
Amnesty International Secretary General Irene Khan singled out China and Russia as proof that open markets have not led to open societies. “Human rights activists, journalists, lawyers, trade union representatives and other civil society leaders were harassed, attacked, or killed with impunity in every world region last year,” She said.
Khan believes that while world leaders are focused on attempts to revive the global economy, they are neglecting deadly conflicts that are spawning massive human rights abuses. “Ignoring one crisis to focus on another is a recipe for aggravating both. Economic recovery will be neither sustainable nor equitable if governments fail to tackle human rights abuses that drive and deepen poverty, or armed conflicts that generate new violations.”
Khan maintains that there are growing signs of unrest and political violence raising the risk that recession will lead to even greater repression, citing the harsh reactions of governments to protests against economic, social and political conditions in countries like Tunisia, Egypt, Cameroon and other African countries.
“Billions of people are suffering from insecurity, injustice and indignity, and the economic downturn is aggravating the abuses and has created new problems,” she says. “This crisis is about shortages of food, jobs, clean water, land and housing, and also about deprivation and discrimination, growing inequality, xenophobia and racism, violence and repression across the world.”
Larry Cox, Amnesty International USA executive director, called on President Obama to put to rest the harmful national security policies of the Bush administration. “Now, the president must ensure that those responsible for the abuses are brought to justice. The United States can only strengthen — not weaken — its moral authority and global security overall through accountability,” Cox said.
Source: Amnesty International