Arms supplied by the world’s major powers are among those contributing to the loss of hundreds of thousands of lives and blighting the livelihoods of millions of people every year.

Former Haitian leader Jean-Claude Duvalier faced a court hearing regarding human rights abuses committed during his time in office.

Colombian human rights defender Angélica Bello died on 16 February in controversial circumstances after receiving threats for her work.

Uruguay today provided the crucial 10th ratification of a new UN Protocol which will allow individuals and groups to seek justice if their rights are trampled on.

A prosecutor in the Dominican Republic has filed charges against state agents for the murder of two men in 2009, just another example of the pressing need for radical police reform.

Authorities in Guatemala are putting the lives of women at risk by systematically failing to protect them and ensure those responsible for the hundreds of killings that take place each year face justice.

Concrete measures are needed to back up a new Mexican law aimed at guaranteeing the rights of victims of crime and human rights abuses amid the struggle against organized crime.

A former Argentine minister and 22 former military officials have been found guilty for their involvement in the kidnapping, murder and torture of social activists in the 1970s.

Authorities in Paraguay must ensure all those responsible for the deaths of 11 peasants and six police officers in Curuguaty last June are investigated.