Corruption

Corruption is one of the biggest problems problems facing developing the countries all over the world. From a human rights perspective, corruption is one of the greatest obstacles in fulfilling a state's obligation to protect and promote human rights. Corrupt political systems deny the fundamental right to democratic participation. Corrupt judicial systems not only violate the basic right to equality before the law but deny procedural rights guaranteed by international hr conventions. Corruption in public administration endangers the right to life, as when it causes funds to be diverted from medical care to private pockets or when it allows for the manufacture of defective and dangerous products or buildings.

Generalized corruption, specially at the higher levels, rob a people of their wealth and leads to grave violations to economic rights, it destroys economies and condemns peoples to unemployment and hunger. It also leads to social unrest, which can sometimes turn violent.

At the dawn of the 21st century, the death penalty is considered by most civilized nations as a cruel and inhuman punishment. It has been abolished de jure or de facto by 106 nations, 30 countries have abolished it since 1990. However, the death penalty continues to be commonly applied in other nations. China, the Democratic Republic of Congo, the United States and Iran are the most prolific executioners in the world. Indeed, the US is one of six countries (including also Iran, Nigeria, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Yemen) which executes people who were under 18 years-old at the time they committed their crimes.

While international documents have restricted and in some cases even banned the death penalty, its application is still not against customary international law. Much debate continues in the US as to whether it constitutes an appropriate punishment, at least to the most heinous crimes. In recent years, the debate has been further fueled by the use of new technologies which have shown that a large proportion of people sentenced to death are, indeed, innocent.

Economic & Social Rights

 The Universal Declaration of Human Rights proclaims the fundamental rights to food, housing, work, social security and rest, among others. These economic and social rights are also guaranteed by the International Convention on Economic, Social and Cultural rights - ratified by many countries around the world but not the US. However, these rights are commonly violated throughout the world, specially in the Global South and the US. The first step in protecting these rights is understanding them, and for that reason we have collected these resources.

Freedom of expression is one of the most fundamental rights that individuals enjoy. It is fundamental to the existence of democracy and the respect of human dignity. It is also one of the most dangerous rights, because freedom of expression means the freedom to express one's discontent with the status quo and the desire to change it. As such, it is one of the most threatened rights, with governments - and even human rights groups - all over the world constantly trying to curtail it.

The Pakistan, probably like no other nation, has recognized the importance of freedom of expression to safeguard democracy and grow as a nation. However, this does not mean there are no efforts to try to curtail it. The internet has often been the target of this efforts, as it provides practically everyone with the ability to communicate their ideas to wide audiences and escapes the ability of the state to control it.

Impunity

Perhaps no word defines the experiences of Latin America as well as this one. Lack of punishment, of investigation, of justice. The possibility of committing crimes - from common robberies to rape, torture, murders - without having to face, much less suffer, any punishment. And therefore, the implicit approval of the morality of these crimes. Forgiving and forgetting without remembering - or remembering too well, but not caring - that what is forgotten will be repeated. As thus what is done without any punishment, can be repeated without fear.

How many died? How many were taken from their homes, from their children, to later find death in a cot under a cattle prod, before a gun, from a flying plane? Dozens, hundreds, of thousands perhaps, if we multiply them by all the countries of Latin America. And the guilty, invariably, are free, enjoying life, often at their old posts where they can do it again. How many die today by their hands?

International Criminal Court

Terrorism & Anti-Terrorism

The "crusade" against terrorism that started on the wake of the September 11 disasters promises to be a new and severe source of human rights violations. In the past, repressive regimes have used the fight against terrorism to justify the general curtailment of civil rights and to persecute those they see as their opponents. While terrorism must be brought to an end, it must be done according to the rule of law