This report covers the period 1 January to 31 December 2008. It provides an overview of the main challenges to human rights around the world and explains the government's activities and policies to address those challenges. Chapters covering policy goals are: counter-terrorism, weapons proliferation and their causes; promoting a low carbon, high growth economy; preventing and resolving conflict; developing effective international institutions. Key human rights themes include equality, democracy, the rule of law. Other chapters cover: the British overseas territories and human rights of British nationals abroad; and a review of countries of concern, from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe.

A survey of the state of human freedom around the world investigates such crucial indicators as the status of civil and political liberties and provides individual country reports.

"The purpose of this publication is to contribute to [the] process of clarification by explaining universally recognised human rights in a way that makes sense to business. The publication also aims to illustrate, through the use of case studies and actions, how human rights are relevant in a corporate context and how human rights issues can be managed."--Introduction, p. vii.