In 1994, up to a million men, women and children were slaughtered in Rwanda in just 100 days. The genocide showed how quickly racism - in this case in the form of ethnic hatred - can erupt into bloodshed and despair, particularly when it is fuelled by those in power or hose seeking power. Racism, to varying degrees and in various forms, infects virtually every country of the world. The law and its administration, which should uphold the values of justice and equality, is one of the primary forces in opposing the effects of racism.Yet justice systems all too often fail in this purpose and instead mirror the prejudices of the society they serve. Based on research conducted by Amnesty International in recent years, this publication shows that members of ethnic minorities often suffer torture, ill-treatment and harassment at the hands of the police. In many parts of the world, they face unfair trials and discrimintory sentencing which puts them at increased risk of harsh punishments, including the death penalty. Action to combat racism is needed urgently. This report concludes with recommendations on how governments can work to end racism in the administration of justice.