Amnesty International Report 2004

Huge challenges confronted the international human rights movement in 2003. The UN faced a crisis of legitimacy and credibility because of the US-led war on Iraq and the organization's inability to hold states to account for gross human rights violations. International human rights standards continued to be flouted in the name of the "war on terror", resulting in thousands of women and men suffering unlawful detention, unfair trial and torture – often solely because of their ethnic or religious background. Around the world, more than a billion people's lives were ruined by extreme poverty and social injustice while governments continued to spend freely on arms.

This Amnesty International Report reflects those challenges. It documents the human rights situation in 155 countries and territories in 2003, and summarizes regional trends. It reports on areas of work being prioritized and developed by Amnesty International -- such as violence against women; economic, social and cultural rights; and justice for refugees and migrants – and celebrates the achievements of activists in these and other areas.

In a dangerous and divided world, it is more important than ever that the global human rights movement remains strong, relevant and vibrant. Through its members and allies, Amnesty International remains committed to revitalizing the vision of human rights as a powerful tool for achieving justice for all.

Dei delitti e delle pene, by Cesare Beccaria

Incipit. Le leggi sono le condizioni, colle quali uomini indipendenti ed isolati si unirono in società, stanchi di vivere in un continuo stato di guerra e di godere una libertà resa inutile dall'incertezza di conservarla. Essi ne sacrificarono una parte per goderne il restante con sicurezza e tranquillità. La somma di tutte queste porzioni di libertà sacrificate al bene di ciascheduno forma la sovranità di una nazione, ed il sovrano è il legittimo depositario ed amministratore di quelle; ma non bastava il formare questo deposito, bisognava difenderlo dalle private usurpazioni di ciascun uomo in particolare, il quale cerca sempre di togliere dal deposito non solo la propria porzione, ma usurparsi ancora quella degli altri.

La storia della colonna infame, di A. Manzoni

Incipit della Storia della colonna infame. " Ai giudici che, in Milano, nel 1630, condannarono a supplizi atrocissimi alcuni accusati d'aver propagata la peste con certi ritrovati sciocchi non men che orribili, parve d'aver fatto una cosa talmente degna di memoria, che, nella sentenza medesima, dopo aver decretata, in aggiunta de' supplizi, la demolizion della casa d'uno di quegli sventurati, decretaron di più, che in quello spazio s'innalzasse una colonna, la quale dovesse chiamarsi infame, con un'iscrizione che tramandasse ai posteri la notizia dell'attentato e della pena. E in ciò non s'ingannarono: quel giudizio fu veramente memorabile".

The Torture, by P. Verri

Incipit delle Osservazioni sulla Tortura, di P. Verri.

Fra i molti uomini d'ingegno e di cuore, i quali hanno scritto contro la pratica criminale della tortura e contro l'insidioso raggiro de' processi che secretamente si fanno nel carcere, non ve n'è alcuno il quale abbia fatto colpo sull'animo dei giudici; e quindi poco o nessuno effetto hanno essi prodotto".

Physicians for Human Rights

Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) promotes health by protecting human rights. We believe that human rights are essential preconditions for the health and well-being of all people. Using medical and scientific methods, we investigate and expose violations of human rights worldwide and we work to stop them. We support institutions that hold perpetrators of human rights abuses, including health professionals, accountable for their actions. We educate health professionals and medical, public health and nursing students and organize them to become active in supporting a movement for human rights and creating a culture of human rights in the medical and scientific professions.

Since 1986, PHR members have worked to stop torture, disappearances, and political killings by governments and opposition groups; to improve health and sanitary conditions in prisons and detention centers; to investigate the physical and psychological consequences of violations of humanitarian law in internal and international conflicts; to defend medical neutrality and the right of civilians and combatants to receive medical care during times of war; to protect health professionals who are victims of violations of human rights; and to prevent medical complicity in torture and other abuses.

As one of the original steering committee members of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines, PHR shared the 1997 Nobel Peace Prize. PHR currently serves as coordinator of the US Campaign to Ban Landmines.

The President is Holly Atkinson, MD; Vice President is Frank Davidoff, MD; the Executive Director is Leonard S. Rubenstein, JD; Deputy Director is Susannah Sirkin; Acting Research Director is Vincent Iacopino, MD, PhD; Director of Communications is Barbara Ayotte; Director of Constituency Outreach is Gina Cummings; Director of Development is Joshua Friedman, CFRE; Director of Finance & Administration is Lori Maida; US Policy Director is Holly Burkhalter; William Haglund, PhD, is International Forensic Program Director; and Constituent and Member Relations Director is Judith Brackley.

Find out how you get get involved with Physicians for Human Rights. Make a difference today.