Introduction

Human rights violations are commonplace where there is a lack of political and social equality, democracy, and economic development. Transition societies undergoing rapid political, social or economic transformation are especially at risk. The violations themselves may therefore be understood as symptoms of deeper, underlying issues driving an overall climate in which human rights are not valued. These root issues include international economic policy, pre-existing social, economic and political inequities, extreme poverty, and environmental destruction. Predominant international ...