Facts and Figures
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.
Freedom of expression was restricted in at least 81 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.
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
Countries that have carried out named human rights violations, according to Amnesty International
G-20 countries that have carried out named human rights violations, according to Amnesty International
People executed extra-judicially or killed unlawfully in
People tortured or otherwise ill-treated during
interrogation in
People subjected to unfair trials in
People detained unjustly often for prolonged periods without charge or trial in
“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.
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