Global Themes

Women and girls suffer disproportionately from violence - both in peace and in war, at the hands of the state, the community and the family. A life free from violence is a basic human right, yet violence is a daily reality for women in societies throughout the world.

During 2008, at least 2,390 people were known to have been executed and at least 8,864 people were sentenced to death around the world. As in previous years, a large number of death sentences were handed down in trials that failed to meet internationally recognised standards of fairness.

The UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders marked its tenth anniversary on 9 December 2008. On that day in 1998, United Nations member states acknowledged the right to defend human rights, and by extension, their responsibility in protecting human rights defenders (HRDs) and enabling their work.

Poverty is not inevitable. The billions of people who live in poverty are shut out, ignored and denied security by the actions and failures of the powerful. This is a human rights crisis.

In 2008, government practices in the context of counter terrorism – resulting in illegal detention, torture and other ill-treatment and impunity – continued to undermine the human rights framework.