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Growing Repression, Racism, Violence Tied to Global Recession, Amnesty International Says in 2009 Annual Report

Posted on: Wednesday, 27 May 2009, 23:01 CDT

LONDON, May 28 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- 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, said Amnesty International in its 2009 annual report on the state of human rights.

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Amnesty International Secretary General Irene Khan said 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 said 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. Impunity of police and security forces was widespread.

Khan said billions of people are suffering from insecurity, injustice and indignity and the economic downturn is aggravating the abuses and has created new problems. "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.

"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," she said.

Larry Cox, Amnesty International USA executive director, noted that the organization welcomed President Obama's decision to close Guantanamo and reject torture. He called on the president to take another critical step to putting 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. "U.S. leadership could be critical in addressing the myriad human rights abuses causing suffering for millions. But the United States' credibility is still tarnished by the unjust policies of the previous administration. President Obama's own domestic and international agenda will be enhanced when the U.S. policies more closely match the president's opinion of adhering to long-standing American ideals," he said.

The Amnesty International Report 2009: State of the World's Human Rights, reveals:

* 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.

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 the G-20 leaders must set an example for the rest of the world on human rights: "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."

SOURCE Amnesty International

Source: PR Newswire

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