THE STATE OF THE WORLD'S HUMAN RIGHTS

This segment of GLOBAL IMPACT addresses the state of the world's human rights as documented in the newly published Amnesty International Report 2010. It documents the state of human rights across 159 countries in 2009. It details a year in which - although important gains were made - accountability and effective justice seemed a remote ideal for many, as people's lives continued to be torn apart by repression, violence, discrimination, power plays and political stalemates. The report also celebrates real progress as it reveals how it is harder now for perpetrators of the worst crimes to feel confident that they will escape justice. Amnesty International identifies a global "justice gap" which sustains a pernicious web of repression where they have recorded torture or other ill-treatment in at least 111 countries, unfair trials in at least 55 countries, restrictions on free speech in at least 96 countries and prisoners of conscience imprisoned in at least 48 countries. Amnesty International has called on governments to ensure accountability for their own actions and fully sign up to the International Criminal Court (ICC) to ensure that crimes under international law can be prosecuted anywhere in the world. Our distinguished guests for this important broadcast are Josh Rubenstein and Elise Auerbach of Amnesty International. The dialogue will also focus on the state of human rights in Iran.