Press Release

Strictly embargoed for 04.01 GMT (05.01 BST - British Summer Time) Thursday 28 May 2009
 

Underlying the economic crisis is a human rights time bomb

(London) The world is sitting on a social, political and economic time bomb fuelled by an unfolding human rights crisis, said Amnesty International’s Secretary General Irene Khan today as she launched Amnesty International Report 2009: State of the World’s Human Rights.

“Underlying the economic crisis is an explosive human rights crisis,” said Irene Khan. “The economic downturn has aggravated abuses, distracted attention from them and created new problems. In the name of security, human rights were trampled on. Now, in the name of economic recovery, they are being relegated to the back seat.”

“The world needs a new global deal on human rights – not paper promises but commitment and concrete action from governments to defuse the human rights time bomb. World leaders must invest in human rights as purposefully as they are investing in the economy.”

“Billions of people are suffering from insecurity, injustice and indignity,” said Irene Khan. “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.”

• Marginalized and Indigenous communities were denied basic rights for a decent life, despite economic growth in countries like Brazil, Mexico and India.
• 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.
• In response to migratory pressures, receiving and transit countries adopted even more restrictive measures to keep people out, with the EU leading the way in collusion with governments like Mauritania, Morocco and Libya.

“There are growing signs of unrest and political violence and a risk that recession will lead to more repression,” said Irene Khan, noting the harsh reactions of governments to protests against economic, social and political conditions in countries like Tunisia, Egypt, Cameroon and other African countries. Impunity of police and security forces was widespread.
“China and Russia are proof that open markets have not led to open societies,” said Irene Khan. “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 that world leaders are focussing on attempts to revive the global economy, but neglecting deadly conflicts that are spawning massive human rights abuses.

“From Gaza to Darfur and from eastern DRC to northern Sri Lanka, the human toll of conflict has been horrendous, and the lukewarm response of the international community shocking. Huge resources are being dedicated to fight piracy off the coast of Somalia but not to stop the flow of arms that kill civilians in that country. Military action is being stepped up in Afghanistan and Pakistan but the human rights and humanitarian implications of the conflicts are being underplayed,” said Irene  Khan.

“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 abuses that drive and deepen poverty, or armed conflicts that generate new violations.”

She added:  “The new leadership of the G-20 is marred by old, failed approaches to human rights. Abuses, rhetoric without action, promoting human rights abroad but ignoring them at home or shielding allies from accountability does not engender confidence in the collective leadership of the G-20 on human rights.”

Amnesty International warned that a new global deal on human rights must reject a ‘pick and choose’ approach to human rights.  Global leaders will not be credible or effective if they fail to confront their own tarnished records and double standards on human rights.

“We welcome President Obama’s decision to close Guantanamo and reject torture. We urge him to help ensure that those responsible are brought to justice. Accountability will strengthen - not weaken - global security and the USA’s moral authority,” said Irene  Khan.

Citing that the human rights crisis has created a burning need for change, Ms Khan announced the launch of Amnesty International’s new global “Demand Dignity” campaign to fight the human rights abuses that drive and deepen poverty.

“Our first demand in our new campaign is to the USA and China. The United States does not accept the notion of economic, cultural and social rights while China does not respect civil and political rights. Both governments must sign up to all human rights for all," said Irene Khan.

“Solutions to global problems must be underpinned by global values of human rights – and those at the top table of world leadership must begin by setting an example.”

NOTES TO EDITORS
 

1.    Amnesty International’s Report 2009, the organization’s annual global assessment of human rights, covers human rights developments in 157 countries from January – December 2008. The foreword analyses the impact of the economic crisis and other human rights developments. Regional summaries highlight examples of deprivation, exclusion, insecurity and suppression of voice.

2.    Amnesty International’s Demand Dignity campaign will seek to:

• empower people living in poverty to claim their rights
• seek accountability from governments and economic actors for abuses
• put human rights at the centre of efforts to eradicate poverty.

The campaign will focus on:

• slums, and call for an end to forced evictions.
• maternal mortality, and demand women’s right to sexual and reproductive health, including maternal health.
• extractive industries seeking corporate accountability for human rights abuses.
• espect for all human rights, and demand that the USA ratifies the UN Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and China ratifies the UN Covenant on Civil and Political rights.

 
Facts and figures, audiovisual material, details of the press briefing and other information are available at: http://report2009.amnesty.org/press-area/en
For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact the Press Office on +44 20 7413 5566 or press@amnesty.org.