Here is the 25th annual report summarizing the human rights conditions in more than 90 countries and territories worldwide, reflecting extensive investigative work undertaken in 2014 by Human Rights Watch in close association with domestic rights activists.

Kenneth Roth is the executive director of this organization dedicated to defending and protecting human rights. In his introductory essay, he writes:

"The world has not seen this much tumult for a generation. The once-heralded Arab Spring has given way almost everywhere to conflict and repression. Islamic extremists commit mass atrocities and threaten civilians throughout the Middle East and parts of Asia and Africa.
Cold War-type tensions have revived over Ukraine, with even a civilian jet liner shot out of the sky. Sometimes it can seem as if the world is unraveling."

Koch also refers to the rise of ISIS, tensions in Iraq and Syria, intensified repression in Egypt, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Boko Haram atrocities in Nigeria, Kenya's abusive response to Al-Shabaab, Russia and the crisis in Ukraine, China's crackdown on Uighurs in Xinjiang, Mexico's abuse-riddled war on drugs, and America's CIA torture with impunity.

This invaluable resource also delivers three more thought-piece essays on government surveillance by Cynthia M. Wong; explosive weapons in populated areas by Steve Goose and Ole Solvang, and MegaSporting events and human rights by Minky Worden.