South-America is the southern continent of the Americas. South America ranks fourth in area (after Asia, Africa, and North America) and fifth in population (after Asia, Africa, Europe, and North America).

Population: As of 2005, its population was estimated at more than 371,090,000.

According to Derechos Human Rights, conditions in Latin America vary considerably from country to country. In some countries, such as Colombia, disappearances, extra-judicial executions and torture have reached epidemic proportions. In others, such as Perú, hundreds of innocent people continue to be in jail, falsely accused of "subversive activities". In some other countries human rights violations mainly consist of police brutality and inhuman prison conditions.

Major Concern: Widespread existence of impunity, the failure to bring perpetrators of human rights violations to justice.

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