World rights report, 1980: less harm, but privation

February 10, 1981

The Carter administration's final report on worldwide human rights said that there was less violence against individuals last year but that economic factors hampered fulfillment of basic human needs. The annual report was issued a week late this year to avoid coinciding with the visit to Washington last week of South Korean President Chun Doo Hwan. It said observance of civil and political rights in South Korea had deteriorated. Iran was omitted from the 153-nation report because negotiations for the release of 52 Americans held hostage in Iran were under way at the time it was drafted.