I read the article several times and I fail to see the justification for that qualitative. North Kora and Zimbabwe use of food as a weapon for repression predates the global recession. How has Darfur gotten worse? Its slipping from the top of the agenda must not have made much difference as when it was allegedly high on that agenda not much was being done to stop this horrible situation. China, Saudi Arabia: I see nothing in the article that suggests that they have worsened their already poor record in 2008.

I admire AI for showing us that the situation non Human Rights around the world is quite depressing. But so it was in 1990, 1995, 2000 and so it is in 2009. However, at every report, AI claims a worsening if not a "catastrophe". In the end, this constant "crying wolf" weakens the credibility of AI

"In this interview, originally published on Spiegel Online, A.I. head Irene Khan warns that the global economic crisis is leading Western governments to put the push for universal human rights on the back burner."

Based on the fact that the criminal bankers were bailed out against the wishes of the american people ........

And it is now obvious who owns the US govt, US citizens will have to fight for their own human/citizen rights before they worry about other countries.

Now where's my icecream cone?

The recession may have something to do with human rights. There are other reasons. I think the reason for people not being held responsible for the torture crimes committed by the U.S. is also political. Both parties are probably involved. I have to agree that the mistreatment of people in other countries around the world have always been bad. It is true no one is being held responsible.

Marie Hughes

Overpopulation is at the bottom of this. Competition for food and resources will get tighter and tighter. Naturally, the poor who have too many children will have the worst trouble.

Who has too many children? Those filthy starving people in Africa I'd say.

Cui bono? To whom does the crime profit? A Roman courtroom principle. 9-11 served repression in North America - a huge increase in police forces, enormous no fly lists, runaway communications surveillance, illegal abductions and unlimited detentions, an enormous increase in self-censorship, a destruction of investigative journalism etc. - 9-11 also served repression around the world.

The trend to repression has been firmly established after 9-11:

the 2008 market fall and recession was, as it were, the cherry on the cake of North American and worldwide repression of civil rights and liberties.