The Amnesty International Report 2013 documents the state of human rights in 159 countries and territories during 2012.While governments paid lip service to their commitment to human rights,they continued to use national interests, national security and concernsabout public security to justify violating those rights.In response, people all over the world took to the streets and exploredthe explosive potential of social media to expose repression, violenceand injustice. Some paid a heavy price. In many countries, they facedvilification, imprisonment or violence. Individual and collective acts ofcourage and resistance continued to drive forward the struggle for humanrights and to ensure that the actions of governments and powerful vestedinterests were forced into the spotlight.This report bears witness to the courage and determination of women andmen in every region of the world who stood up to demand respect for theirrights and to proclaim their solidarity with those whose rights were flouted.It shows how, despite all the obstacles in its path, the human rightsmovement is growing ever stronger and more deep-rooted, and how thehope it inspires in millions remains a powerful force for change.