The Human Rights Act (1998) allows for individuals within the United Kingdom to be given a set of legal rights that mirror those of the European Convention of Human Rights which, in turn, reflect the guidelines set out by the United Nations in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Despite these international guidelines having existed since the 1940s, human rights abuses frequently occur, especially against marginalised groups. These abuses are very often state crimes. Again, state crimes might be best considered in terms of transgressive criminology because, while they might contradict international law as set out by the United Nations, they are often not in breach of the laws in the specific country where they occur. Examples of human rights abuses would include the widespread use of torture and also the repression of homosexuals in many countries (e.g. Chechnya).