It's not just the economy - It's a human rights crisis

Protests crushed, dissent silenced, human rights defenders attacked and detained, people forced from their homes. While world leaders focus on rescuing their failing economies, a human rights catastrophe is unfolding beneath the radar.

The Amnesty International Report 2009 exposes some of the worst abuses committed around the world. Here are some top-level facts and figures from the Report.

  • Freedom of expression was restricted in at least 81 countries.

  • People seeking asylum were forcibly returned by at least 27 countries to states where they faced detention, torture, even death.

  • Prisoners of conscience were held in at least 50 countries.

  • People were subjected to forced evictions in at least 24 countries.

World leaders slow to invest in human rights

“To be truly global leaders, the G-20 must subscribe to global values and confront their own tarnished records and double standards on human rights.”

- Irene Khan, Secretary General, Amnesty International

The G-20 claims the mantle of world leadership, but how can it lead with credibility when its own human rights record is riddled with violations? In 2008, Amnesty International found evidence of the following:

  • 78% of executions took place in G-20 countries.

  • At least 2,390 people were executed worldwide. China, Saudi Arabia and the USA – all G-20 member states – accounted for the highest number of executions.

  • People were executed extra-judicially or killed unlawfully in 47% of G20 countries, compared with 35% of all countries.

  • People were tortured or otherwise ill-treated during interrogation in 79% of G20 countries, compared with 50% of all countries. This is despite a universal ban on torture.

  • People were subjected to unfair trials in 47% of G20 countries, compared with 32% of all countries.

  • People were detained unjustly often for prolonged periods without charge or trial in 74% of G20 countries, compared with 57% of all countries.

"All countries" refers to the 157 countries covered in the Amnesty International Report 2009, which documents the state of human rights in those countries for the period January to December 2008. Please note that the figures we use for the G-20 cover the 19 country members but exclude the EU.