The world’s most prominent global initiative against poverty, the UN Millennium Development Goals, are largely silent on human rights. The human rights basis for the goals is evident, to be sure – the achievement of universal primary education, promotion of gender equality, improvements in maternal health, to name just a few, have obvious human rights foundation. But progress toward these goals is largely thought to be a matter of goodwill rather than a legal obligation.
Many human rights violations are so serious that they amount to crimes under international law – crimes which all states have a duty to investigate and prosecute in their national criminal courts. Crimes against humanity, war crimes, torture, genocide, extrajudicial executions and enforced disappearance all fall under this category. The Amnesty International Report 2010 celebrates the real progress that has been made in this area. It reveals how it is harder now for perpetrators of the worst crimes to secure impunity. But it also details a year in which accountability seemed a remote ideal for many. It is time to ensure accountability for the world’s worst crimes.
Human rights defenders uncover human rights abuses and campaign for those responsible to be held to account. The future of human rights depends on the ability of these people to operate freely and without fear. Yet, because they “name and shame” those who abuse positions of power and authority they often face attack, repression and sometimes even death.
AmnestyOnline: Join our faxjam tomorrow to demand that #Colombia authorities pro...
