World Report 2011 - Human Rights Watch

H U M A NR I G H T SW A T C HHUMAN RIGHTS WATCH350 Fifth AvenueNew York, NY 10118-3299www.hrw.orgFront cover: Former Burmese political prisoner© 2010 Platon for Human Rights WatchBack cover: Child worker in Kazakhstan© 2009 Moises Saman/Magnum for Human Rights WatchCover Design by Rafael JiménezWORLD REPORT | 2011This 21st annual World Report summarizes human rights conditions in more than90 countries and territories worldwide. It reflects extensive investigative workundertaken in 2010 by Human Rights Watch staff, usually in close partnership withdomestic human rights activists.With increasing frequency, governments that might exert pressure for human rightsimprovement are accepting the rationalizations and subterfuges of repressivegovernments, favoring private “dialogue” and “cooperation” over more hard-nosedapproaches. In principle there is nothing wrong with dialogue, but it should not be asubstitute for public pressure when the government in question lacks the political willto respect rights. Human Rights Watch calls on governmental supporters of humanrights to ensure that the quest for cooperation does not become an excuse for inaction.SEVEN STORIES PRESS140 Watts StreetNew York, NY 10013www.sevenstories.com$25.00 U.S.