The end of open conflict in Central America has seen the human rights movement develop and gain in strength and confidence. But the risks are still high. It is striking how, even in countries undergoing transition from armed conflict, the same patterns of human rights violations persist, even if on a reduced scale, often despite peace agreements which bound all sides to promote and protect human rights. Although the types and numbers of violations vary between the countries on which this report focuses, there is one consistent and common pattern. In Central America and Mexico those responsible for human rights violations are very rarely brought to justice.
Impunity prevails, as it has done for decades.
The work of Amnesty International and other international human rights organizations would grind to a halt were it not for the support, cooperation and information which human rights defenders provide. The human rights community is a mixture of non-governmental organizations and other individuals or associations, including trade unions, popular and religious organizations, involved in the struggle for human rights. By investigating and denouncing violations, human rights defenders help to curb the authoritarian tendencies that can appear in any government, no matter how open or democratic it appears to be. Defenders constantly remind all states to live up to their promises and their obligations to protect the rights of their citizens. This role continues to be important because the distance between government rhetoric and reality is often enormous.