Halcyon Identifies

Human Rights Watch aims to focus international attention wherever human rights are violated, give voice to the oppressed and hold oppressors accountable for their crimes.

The global pay gap between men and women is higher than previously recorded.

When asked which global issues matter most to them, people's responses range from global warming and human rights to bee colony collapse, but the message that we should face these challenges as one underlies many answers.

Development strategies sensitive to cultural values can promote human rights, including gender equality and women's empowerment.

• Human Rights - people are still being tortured or ill-treated in at least 81 countries; in at least 54 they face unfair trial and cannot speak freely in at least 77.

• Human Rights - with human rights still under threat around the world, a campaign to mark the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is trying to remind us that protecting such rights is our shared responsibility.

Responses - 04/02/08

• Human Rights/Work - a "citizen's petition" is calling on decision-makers to ensure all people around the world have access to fair employment, wages, and social protections.

Problems - 30/01/08

• Democracy/Human Rights - a new report warns that, by allowing autocrats to pose as democrats, some important western democracies risk undermining human rights worldwide.

Problems - 18/12/07

• Business/Human Rights - a top NGO has called for more action to stop corporate human rights violations. 

Problems - 06/12/07

• Human Rights - there is continuing violation of human rights by governments, big business and armed groups around the world.