What's the State of Human Rights Around the World?

February 24, 2016

In 2015, Amnesty International investigated the human rights situation in 160 countries and territories worldwide. Progress continued in some areas, but many people and communities faced grave human rights abuses.

FOE

At least 113 countries arbitrarily restricted freedom of expression and the press.

LGBT

At least 20 countries, four in 2015, have now passed laws and/or bills recognizing marriage or other forms of relationships between people of the same sex.

HRD

At least 156 human rights defenders died in detention or were killed. (Front Line Defenders)

UnfairTrials

At least 55% of countries conducted unfair trials. When a trial is unfair, justice is not served for the accused, the victim of the crime or the public.

Displaced

More than 60 million people were displaced from their homes worldwide.1 Many had been displaced for several years or longer. (UNHCR)

WarCrimes

War crimes or other violations of the “laws of war” were carried out in at least 19 countries.

Refugees

30 or more countries illegally forced refugees to return to countries where they would be in danger.

armedgroups

Armed groups committed human rights abuses in at least 36 countries.

POC

61 or more countries locked up prisoners of conscience – people who were simply exercising their rights and freedoms.

Torture

122 or more countries tortured or otherwise ill-treated people.

Information in this document is not exhaustive and refers to 160 countries where Amnesty International documented or received information from credible sources on specific human rights violations during 2015 – unless an external source is otherwise stated.