Facts and Figures

Global justice gap condemns millions to abuse

No one should be above the law. But all too often, those who commit the worst kinds of human rights abuses are not brought to justice. The world’s leaders must do much more to protect people’s rights. The Amnesty International Report 2010 exposes some of the worst abuses committed around the world.

Leaders must commit to supporting international justice…

Countries have not signed up to the ICC
G20 countries have not signed up to the ICC
…or human rights abuses will continue

In 2009, Amnesty International recorded: Human Rights abusers enjoyed impunity for torture in at least 61 countries
People Tortured or otherwise Ill-Treated in at least 111 countries	Unfair Trials in at least 55 countries
Freedom of Expression restricted in at least 96 countries	Prisoners of Conscience held in at least 48 countries

Leaders are failing to protect People’s Rights

States claiming global leadership have a particular responsibility to set an example. Yet many members of the G-20 are failing to fulfil the promises they have made. “Governments must ensure that no one is above the law, and that everyone has access to justice for all human rights violations,” said Claudio Cordone, interim Secretary General of Amnesty International.

In 2009, Amnesty International found evidence of the following:

Prisoners of Conscience held in…

30% of All countries¹
30% of All countries

42% of G20 countries²
42% of G20 Countries

Freedom of Expression restricted in…

60% of All countries¹
60% of All countries

53% of G20 countries²
53% of G20 Countries

Unfair Trials were carried out in…

35% of All countries¹
35% of All countries

47% of G20 countries²
47% of G20 Countries

Key 1. Countries that have carried out named human rights violations, according to Amnesty International. 2. G-20 countries that have carried out named human rights violations, according to Amnesty International. “All countries” refers to the 159 countries covered in the Amnesty International Report 2010, which documents the state of human rights in those countries for the period January to December 2009. “G-20” covers the 19 country members but excludes the European Union.

Historic steps to ensure International Justice

	Civil & Political Rights	Economic, Social & Cultural Rights
1990	In 1990, there were no international criminal courts and no pending universal jurisdiction cases. The next two decades saw a sea-change in international criminal law, with many steps taken in national and international courts to bring to justice those responsible for the worst crimes - genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes - committed anywhere in the world.	In 1990, many states rejected the idea that economic, social and cultural (ESC) rights were justiciable and could be enforced through courts. Two decades later an increasing number of national courts and regional human rights bodies are now enforcing ESC rights.
1993	International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia is established in response to genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes committed in the Balkans region.	Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action is adopted by the UN, with commitments to strengthen the realization of ESC rights.
1994	International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda is set up to prosecute genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes committed in Rwanda in 1994.
1995		Additional Protocol to the European Social Charter is adopted, enabling collective complaints on violations of ESC rights.
1996		South Africa adopts a new constitution guaranteeing its citizens ESC as well as civil and political rights.
1998	Adoption of the Rome Statute which establishes the world's first permanent International Criminal Court (ICC). UK arrests former Chilean President Augusto Pinochet, giving renewed impetus to states using universal jurisdiction.	The UN Commission on Human Rights creates a Special Rapporteur on education.
2000		The UN Commission on Human Rights creates Special Rapporteurs on adequate housing and the right to food.
2001		The Supreme Court of India recognizes the right to food as a fundamental human right.
2002	The Special Court for Sierra Leone is established.	The UN Commission on Human Rights creates a Special Rapporteur on the right to health.
2003	The ICC opens in The Hague. The Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia is created. Investigations begin in 2007 and the trial of Kaing Guek Eav – “Duch” – begins in 2009.
2005		The Inter-American Court of Human Rights decides a landmark case on Paraguay’s obligations to enforce Indigenous Peoples’ land and other rights.
2006	International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance adopted. Former Liberian president Charles Taylor is arrested and later transferred to the Special Court for Sierra Leone in The Hague.
2008		In a groundbreaking move, the UN adopts the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. Individuals can now seek to hold states accountable when their economic, social and cultural rights are violated.
2009	ICC issues its first warrant against a sitting head of state, President al-Bashir of Sudan The Special Tribunal for Lebanon formally convenes – four years after the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq al-Hariri.
2010	As of early May, 111 states have signed up to the ICC. The campaign to ensure international justice has moved on. A number of international and internationalized criminal courts have been created and many states have ensured their national courts can and increasingly do prosecute serious human rights violations committed anywhere in the world. But there is a long way to go for an end to impunity	By early May 2010, 32 states have signed up to the Optional Protocol. The adoption of the Optional Protocol has greatly strengthened the campaign for enforcement of ESC rights. An increasing number of national courts and regional human rights mechanisms also now provide remedies for violations of ESC rights. However, much needs to be done to ensure that ESC rights are enforced in all countries and that effective remedies are available to all. In the next five years, efforts towards the Millennium Development Goals should include a strong emphasis on strengthening accountability mechanisms to fill this gap.