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 Amnesty International Report 2012 documents the state of human rights in 155 countries and territories in 2011. Throughout the year the demand for human rights resounded around the globe. The year began with protests in countries where freedom of expression and freedom of assemblywere routinely repressed. But by the end of the year, discontent and outrage at the failure of governments to ensure justice, security and human dignity had ignited protests across the world. A common strand linking these protests, whether in Cairo or New York, was how quick governments were to prevent peaceful protest and silence dissent. Those who took to the streets displayed immense courage in the face of often brutal crackdowns and overwhelming use of lethal force. In a year of unrest, transition and conflict, too many people are still denied their most basic rights. As demands for better governance and respect for human rights grow, this report shows that world leaders have yet to rise to the challenge.

The 22nd annual World Report summarizes human rights conditions in more than ninety countries and territories worldwide, reflecting extensive investigative work undertaken in 2011 by Human Rights Watch staff, usually in close partnership with domestic human rights activists. World Report 2012 gives particular focus on the roles—positive or negative—played in each country by key domestic and international figures, and includes contributions from Joseph Saunders, Danielle Haas, and Iain Levine, and an introduction by Human Rights Watch director Kenneth Roth assessing the year’s most pressing human rights issue.

The World of Work Report provides a comprehensive analysis of recent labor market and social trends, assesses risks of social unrest, and presents employment projections for the next five years. The report addresses the following questions: - To what extent has the slow recovery aggravated social conditions, including falling incomes, deepening poverty, and worsening inequality? - Have countries gone too far, too fast with fiscal consolidation? How should they support recovery while meeting fiscal goals in the medium term? - What can be expected from recent labor market reforms? - How can investment be boosted so as to ensure a long-lasting recovery in both the economy and jobs? - What have been the barriers to implementing a more job-centered and equity-enhancing policy approach? Why has the business-as-usual scenario maintained its centrality despite the increasing risk of social unrest? The report calls for a policy approach that takes into consideration the urgent need to create quality jobs and also lays the ground for a more productive, fairer economy and labor market.

Jobs provide higher earnings and better benefits as countries grow, but they are also a driver of development. Poverty falls as people work their way out of hardship and as jobs empowering women lead to greater investments in children. Efficiency increases as workers get better at what they do, as more productive jobs appear, and less productive ones disappear. Societies flourish as jobs bring together people from different ethnic and social backgrounds and provide alternatives to conflict. Jobs are thus more than a byproduct of economic growth. They are transformational —they are what we earn, what we do, and even who we are. High unemployment and unmet job expectations among youth are the most immediate concerns. But in many developing countries, where farming and self-employment are prevalent and safety nets are modest are best, unemployment rates can be low. In these countries, growth is seldom jobless. Most of their poor work long hours but simply cannot make ends meet. And the violation of basic rights is not uncommon. Therefore, the number of jobs is not all that matters: jobs with high development payoffs are needed. Confronted with these challenges, policy makers ask difficult questions. Should countries build their development strategies around growth, or should they focus on jobs? Can entrepreneurship be fostered, especially among the many microenterprises in developing countries, or are entrepreneurs born? Are greater investments in education and training a prerequisite for employability, or can skills be built through jobs? In times of major crises and structural shifts, should jobs, not just workers, be protected? And is there a risk that policies supporting job creation in one country will come at the expense of jobs in other countries? The World Development Report 2013: Jobs offers answers to these and other difficult questions by looking at jobs as drivers of development—not as derived labor demand—and by considering all types of jobs—not just formal wage employment. The Report provides a framework that cuts across sectors and shows that the best policy responses vary across countries, depending on their levels of development, endowments, demography, and institutions. Policy fundamentals matter in all cases, as they enable a vibrant private sector, the source of most jobs in the world. Labor policies can help as well, even if they are less critical than is often assumed. Development policies, from making smallholder farming viable to fostering functional cities to engaging in global markets, hold the key to success.

The best country-by-country assessment of human rights. The human rights records of more than ninety countries and territories are put into perspective in Human Rights Watch's signature yearly report. Reflecting extensive investigative work undertaken by Human Rights Watch staff, in close partnership with domestic human rights activists, the annual World Report is an invaluable resource for journalists, diplomats, and citizens, and is a must-read for anyone interested in the fight to protect human rights in every corner of the globe.

This report analyses the impact of “Shifting wealth” on social cohesion, largely focusing on high-growth converging countries.