Massive oil-generated profits, regional and global power, and greed led to human rights violations around the world, resulting in death, displacement, torture and the disintegration of family. Both oil rich and oil dependent nations around the globe readily deprive citizens of basic human rights and civil liberties. Such practices are common, and silently condoned not only by the abusers, but also by those who do business with them. Often the abuse or complicity is perpetrated by the very institutions created to protect and/or serve the public, including governments, militaries, and corporations.

Many oil-rich nations –- nations like Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea, Saudi Arabia, Burma, Kazakhstan, and countless others -- have putrid human rights records and have been charged with a wide range of abuses.

To read more about oil's impact on human rights, visit our pages on:

•  Accepted Forms of Violence
• How Oil and Human Rights Don't Mix
• Our thirst for oil leads to different Types of Abuses