DOCSLIB.ORG

United Nations Human Rights Website - Treaty Bodies Database - Document - Sessional/Annual Report of Committee

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
United Nations Human Rights Website - Treaty Bodies Database - Document - Sessional/Annual Report of Committee United Nations Human Rights Website - Treaty Bodies Database - Document - Sessional/Annual Report of Committee - Report of the Committee against Torture : . 16/09/98. A/53/44. (Sessional/Annual Report of Committee) Convention Abbreviation: CAT Official Records Fifty-third session Supplement No. 44 (A/53/44) Report of the Committee against Torture General Assembly [Original: English/French/Russian/Spanish] [16 September 1998] Contents Chapter Paragraphs I. Organizational and other matters 1–21 A. States parties to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading 1–2 Treatment or Punishment B. Opening and duration of the sessions of the Committee against Torture 3–4 C. Membership and attendance 5–8 D. Solemn declaration by the newly elected members of the Committee 9–10 E. Election of officers 11 F. Agendas 12–13 G.Question of a draft optional protocol to the Convention 14–15 H.Cooperation between the Committee, the Board of Trustees of the United Nations Voluntary 16–18 Fund for Victims of Torture, the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on questions relating to torture and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights I. Request for an extension of the sessions of the Committee 19–21 II. Effective implementation of international instruments on human rights, including reporting 22–27 obligations under those instruments III. Submission of reports by States parties under article 19 of the Convention 28–35 Action taken by the Committee to ensure the submission of reports 28–35 IV.Consideration of reports submitted by States parties under article 19 of the Convention 36–257 A. Cyprus 42–51 B. Argentina 52–69 C. Portugal 70–79 http://www.unhchr.ch/tbs/doc.nsf/(Symbol)/fb4e2a937c3bed98802566c6005be0ad?Opendocument (1 of 138)16/10/2006 9:53:49 AM United Nations Human Rights Website - Treaty Bodies Database - Document - Sessional/Annual Report of Committee - D. Switzerland 80–100 E. Cuba 101–118 F. Spain 119–136 G. France 137–148 H. Norway 149–156 I. Guatemala 157–166 J. New Zealand 167–178 K. Germany 179–196 L. Peru 197–205 M. Panama 206–219 N. Kuwait 220–231 O. Israel 232–242 P. Sri Lanka 243–257 V. General comment of the Committee 258 VI. Activities of the Committee under article 20 of the Convention 259–264 VII.Consideration of communications under article 22 of the Convention 265–286 VIII.Amendments to the rules of procedure of the Committee 287 IX.Adoption of the annual report of the Committee 288–290 Annexes I. States that have signed, ratified or acceded to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment as at 22 May 1998 II. States parties that have declared, at the time of ratification or accession, that they do not recognize the competence of the Committee provided for by article 20 of the Convention, as at 22 May 1998 III. States parties that have made the declarations provided for in articles 21 and 22 of the Convention, as at 22 May 1998 IV. Membership of the Committee against Torture in 1998 V. Joint Declaration for the United Nations Day in Support of Victims of Torture VI.Guidelines regarding the form and content of periodic reports to be submitted by States parties under article 19, paragraph 1 of the Convention VII. Status of submission of reports by States parties under article 19 of the Convention, as at 22 May 1998 (offset pages) VIII. Country rapporteurs and alternate rapporteurs for the reports of States parties considered by the Committee at its nineteenth and twentieth sessions (offset pages) IX. General comment on the implementation of article 3 of the Convention in the context of article 22 X. Views and decisions of the Committee under article 22 of the Convention A. Views 1.Communication No. 28/1995: E. A. v. Switzerland 2. Communication No. 57/1996: P. Q. L. v. Canada 3. Communication No. 59/1996: Encarnación Blanco Abad v. Spain 4. Communication No. 61/1996: X., Y. and Z. v. Sweden 5. Communication No. 65/1997: I. A. O. v. Sweden http://www.unhchr.ch/tbs/doc.nsf/(Symbol)/fb4e2a937c3bed98802566c6005be0ad?Opendocument (2 of 138)16/10/2006 9:53:49 AM United Nations Human Rights Website - Treaty Bodies Database - Document - Sessional/Annual Report of Committee - 6. Communication No. 83/1997: G. R. B. v. Sweden 7. Communication No. 89/1997: Ali Falakaflaki v. Sweden 8. Communication No. 90/1997: A. I. N. v. Switzerland 9. Communication No. 94/1997: K. N. v. Switzerland B. Decisions 1. Communication No. 42/1996: R. K. v. Canada 2. Communication No. 45/1996: D. v. France 3. Communication No. 47/1996: V. V. v. Canada 4. Communication No. 48/1996: H. W. A. v. Switzerland 5. Communication No. 52/1996: R. v. France 6. Communication No. 58/1996: J. M. U. M. v. Sweden 7. Communication No. 64/1997: L. M. V. R. G. and M. A. B. C. v. Sweden XI. Amended rules of procedure XII. List of documents for general distribution issued for the Committee during the reporting period Chapter I Organizational and other matters A. States parties to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment 1. As at 22 May 1998, the closing date of the twentieth session of the Committee against Torture, there were 105 States parties to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. The Convention was adopted by the General Assembly in resolution 39/46 of 10 December 1984 and opened for signature and ratification in New York on 4 February 1985. It entered into force on 26 June 1987 in accordance with the provisions of its article 27. The States that have signed, ratified or acceded to the Convention is contained in annex I to the present report. The States parties that have declared that they do not recognize the competence of the Committee provided for by article 20 of the Convention are listed in annex II. The States parties have made the declarations provided for in articles 21 and 22 of the Convention are listed in annex III. 2. The declarations, reservations or objections made by States parties with respect to the Convention are reproduced in document CAT/C/2/Rev.5. B. Opening and duration of the sessions of the Committee against Torture 3. The Committee against Torture held two sessions since the adoption of its report for 1997. The nineteenth and twentieth sessions of the Committee were held at the United Nations Office at Geneva from 10 to 21 November 1996 and from 4 to 22 May 1998. 4. At its nineteenth session the Committee held 19 meetings (299th to 317th meeting) and at its twentieth session it held 27 meetings (318th to 344th meeting). An account of the deliberations of the Committee at those sessions is contained in the relevant summary records (CAT/C/SR.299-344). http://www.unhchr.ch/tbs/doc.nsf/(Symbol)/fb4e2a937c3bed98802566c6005be0ad?Opendocument (3 of 138)16/10/2006 9:53:49 AM United Nations Human Rights Website - Treaty Bodies Database - Document - Sessional/Annual Report of Committee - C. Membership and attendance 5. In accordance with article 17 of the Convention, the Sixth Meeting of States parties to the Convention was convened by the Secretary-General at the United Nations Office at Geneva, on 26 November 1997. The following five members of the Committee were elected for a term of four years beginning on 1 January 1998: Mr. Sayed Kassem El Masry, Mr. António Silva Henriques Gaspar, Mr. Bent Sørensen, Mr. Alexander M. Yakovlev and Mr. Yu Mengjia. 6. In accordance with article 17, paragraph 6, of the Convention and rule 13 of the rules of procedure of the Committee, Mr. Georghios Pikis, by a letter dated 16 March 1998, informed the Secretary-General of his decision to cease his functions as a member of the Committee. By a note dated 19 March 1998, the Government of Cyprus informed the Secretary-General of its decision to appoint, subject to the tacit approval of half or more of the States parties, Mr. Andreas Mavrommatis to serve for the remainder of Mr. Pikis's term on the Committee, which will expire on 31 December 1999. 7. Since only one of the States parties to the Convention responded negatively within the six-week period after having been informed by the Secretary-General of the proposed appointment, the Secretary-General considered that the States parties had approved the appointment of Mr. Mavrommatis as a member of the Committee, in accordance with the above- mentioned provisions. The list of the members of the Committee in 1998, with their terms of office, appears in annex IV to the present report. 8. All the members attended the nineteenth and the twentieth session of the Committee. D. Solemn declaration by the newly elected members of the Committee 9. At the 318th meeting, on 4 May 1998, the five members of the Committee who had been elected at the Sixth Meeting of States parties to the Convention made the solemn declaration upon assuming their duties, in accordance with rule 14 of the rules of procedure. 10. At the 322nd meeting, on 6 May 1998, the newly appointed member, Mr. Mavrommatis, made the solemn declaration upon assuming his duties, in accordance with rule 14 of the rules of procedure. E. Election of officers 11. At the 318th meeting, on 4 May 1998, the Committee elected the following officers for a term of two years in accordance with article 18, paragraph 1, of the Convention and rules 15 and 16 of the rules of procedure: Chairman: Mr.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Djibouti 2013 Human Rights Report
    DJIBOUTI 2013 HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Djibouti is a republic with a strong elected president and a weak legislature. In 2010 parliament amended the constitution to remove term limits, facilitating the April 2011 reelection of President Ismail Omar Guelleh for a third term. While legislative elections held February 22 included participation by opposition parties for the first time in 10 years, the opposition rejected the vote as flawed, and disputes over official results fueled months of protest. Opposition leaders boycotted the National Assembly and formed a shadow parliament. International observers from the African Union, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and the Arab League characterized the elections as free and fair, an assessment disputed both domestically and internationally. Authorities maintained effective control over security forces. Security forces committed human rights abuses. Disputes over official results fueled months of protest by opposition leaders and supporters. The government’s use of excessive force to disperse demonstrators resulted in numerous injuries. Authorities arrested and imprisoned opposition leaders and hundreds of opposition members. The most serious human rights problem was the government’s abridgement of the right of citizens to change or significantly influence their government. The government did so by harassing, abusing, and detaining government critics; denying the population access to independent sources of information; and restricting freedom of speech and assembly. Other human rights problems included the use of excessive force, including torture; harsh prison conditions; arbitrary arrest and prolonged pretrial detention; denial of fair public trial; interference with privacy rights; restrictions on freedom of association; lack of protection for refugees; corruption; discrimination against women; female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C); trafficking in persons; discrimination against persons with disabilities; and government denial of worker rights.
    [Show full text]
  • Annual Report
    2018 Annual Report Alkarama Foundation Alkarama Annual Report 2018 Contents Foreword ................................................................................................................................................. 2 Algeria ..................................................................................................................................................... 4 Bahrain .................................................................................................................................................... 8 Djibouti .................................................................................................................................................. 11 Egypt ..................................................................................................................................................... 14 Iraq ........................................................................................................................................................ 19 Jordan .................................................................................................................................................... 23 Kuwait ................................................................................................................................................... 26 Lebanon................................................................................................................................................. 29 Libya .....................................................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • The Migration Stories and Pre-Returning Experiences… 1
    THE MIGRATION STORIES AND PRE-RETURNING EXPERIENCES… 1 Running head: THE MIGRATION STORIES AND PRE-RETURNING EXPERIENCES The Migration Stories and Pre-returning Experiences of Ethiopian Unaccompanied and Separated Migrant Children (USMC) from Yemen By: Bekele Molla Advisor: Zena Berhanu (Ph.D.) A Thesis Submitted to School of Social Work College of Social Sciences Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Masters of Social Work Addis Ababa University Addis Ababa, Ethiopia June 2017 THE MIGRATION STORIES AND PRE-RETURNING EXPERIENCES… 2 Addis Ababa University School of Graduate Studies This is to certify that the thesis prepared by Bekele Molla, entitled:- The Migration Stories and Pre-returning Experiences of Ethiopian Unaccompanied and Separated Migrant Children (USMC) from Yemen and submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Social Work, Social Work in the Health Care Concentration, complies with the regulations of the University and meets the accepted standards with respect to originality and quality. Signed by the Examining Committee: Examiner (Internal) Signature____________ Date _____________ Examiner (External) Signature____________ Date _____________ Advisor Signature____________ Date _____________ ____________________________________________ Chair of Department or Graduate Program Coordinator THE MIGRATION STORIES AND PRE-RETURNING EXPERIENCES… 3 Acknowledgements First, I would like to thank my advisor Zena Berhanu (Ph.D.) for commenting, critiquing, suggesting and guiding me on a regular basis in producing the thesis from its start to end. Thus, the Professor deserves appreciation for his critical, genuine and scrupulous comments. The courageous advisor is the real role model in his professionalism, competency in the area, commitment and personal communications with the advisees.
    [Show full text]
  • AFR 23/10/99 This Is a Limited Action. Please Restrict to 50 Appeals Per
    PUBLIC AI Index: AFR 23/10/99 This is a limited action. Please restrict to 50 appeals per section. UA 307/99 Fear of arrest as prisoner of conscience 26 November 1999 DJIBOUTIAref Mohamed Aref, aged 46, lawyer and human rights defender Amnesty International believes that former prisoner of conscience Aref Mohamed Aref, a prominent defender of human rights in Djibouti and Africa, is at risk of being imminently arrested for his peaceful criticisms of the government. If this happens he is likely to face a lengthy period in detention awaiting trial or be sentenced to a long prison term. This follows new moves by the authorities to silence opposition critics and comes after a television interview he gave in October 1999 to a French journalist in which he expressed his non-violent views and criticized human rights violations in Djibouti - the journalist and cameraman were subsequently deported and their film confiscated. On 22 November 1999, during questioning by the police (gendarmerie) about the interview, he was told that proceedings had been opened against him on the charge of defamation (diffamation). This means he could be summoned again for questioning at any time, possibly remanded in custody, and be unfairly tried under a defamation law inconsistent with international standards on freedom of opinion and expression. BACKGROUND INFORMATION Aref Mohamed Aref, a prisoner of conscience from 1991 to 1992, has been the leading (and virtually only) human rights lawyer in Djibouti for some years. He has been an Amnesty International delegate at preliminary meetings on the establishment of an International Criminal Court and other missions and is a member of the African Human Rights Defenders network, established in Johannesburg in December 1998.
    [Show full text]
  • New Projects Submitted to the Ipdc Ipdc Bureau
    PART I NEW PROJECTS SUBMITTED TO THE IPDC AFRICA IPDC BUREAU (Fifty-fifth meeting) UNESCO HQ, PARIS 22-24 MARCH 2011 2 TABLE OF CONTENS CLUSTER PROJECT PAGE OFFICE NUMBER AFRICA NATIONAL PROJECTS 1. ACCRA IPDC/55 BEN/01 BENIN: STRENGTHENING THE CAPABILITIES OF THE “GBOMANDO INFO 5 ” DAILY NEWSPAPER 2. YAOUNDE IPDC/55 CMR/01 CAMEROON: SETTING UP OF A PILOT COMMUNITY RADIO STATION 10 FOR THE CITY OF YAOUNDE AND ITS OUTSKIRTS 3. DAKAR IPDC/55 CVI/01 CAP VERTE: SETTING UP OF A COMMUNITY MULTIMEDIA CENTRE 15 IN SÃO VICENTE : 4. YAOUNDE IPDC/55 CHD/01 CHAD: STRENGTHENING THE RESOURCES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF 20 INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION SCIENCES AND TECHNIQUES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF N’DJAMENA 5. YAOUNDE IPDC/55 CHD/02 CHAD: TRAINING OF MEDIA PROFESSIONALS IN ELECTORAL 26 REPORTING 6. LIBREVILLE IPDC/55 PRC/01 CONGO: PROMOTION OF FREE, INDEPENDENT AND CREDIBLE MEDIA 31 7. LIBREVILLE IPDC/55 ZAI/01 CONGO DR: RURAL RADIO FOR THE YOUTH AND WOMEN OF BUKAVU 36 8. ACCRA IPDC/55 IVC/01 COTE D’IVOIRE: TRAINING OF PHOTO JOURNALISTS IN AUDIO-VISUAL 41 PRODUCTION FOR THE NATIONAL NEWS AGENCY 9. LIBREVILLE IPDC/55 EQG/01 EQUATORIAL GUINEA: HARMONIZATION OF THE JOURNALISM AND 45 COMMUNICATION TRAINING PROGRAMS WITH UNESCO’S MODEL CURRICULA 10. ADDIS ABABA IPDC/55 ETH/01 ETHIOPIA: TRAINING ON INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM AND 49 DOCUMENTARY PROGRAM PRODUCTION (ERTV, ETHIOPIA) 11. ADDIS ABABA IPDC/55 ETH/02 ETHIOPIA: PROFESSIONAL CAPACITY BUILDING FOR SUDE 54 COMMUNITY RADIO 12. LIBREVILLE IPDC/55 GAB/01 GABON: ASSISTANCE WITH THE SETTING UP OF THE DEPARTEMENT OF 59 INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION SCIENCES (UOB) 13.
    [Show full text]
  • Remote Warfare and Sexual Violence in Djibouti
    REMOTE WARFARE AND SEXUAL VIOLENCE IN DJIBOUTI 1 © 2017 Reaching Critical Will of the Women’s International Written by Ray Acheson League for Peace and Freedom Many thanks to Cynthia Enloe, Madeleine Rees, and Sanne AUGUST 2017 Terlingen for reviewing and providing input to this report. REMOTE WARFARE AND SEXUAL VIOLENCE IN Thanks to Nina Maria Mørk Hansen for reviewing the layout. DJIBOUTI 1st edition Thanks also to Sanne Terlingen and Hannah Kooy for their 48 pp. investigative reporting on this issue for OneWorld. Permission is granted for non-commercial reproduction, Layout: Ray Acheson copying, distribution, and transmission of this publication or parts thereof so long as full credit is given to the Cover photo: Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti - Screen shot from organisation and author; the text is not altered, transformed, Google Maps taken November 2016 or built upon; and for any reuse or distribution, these terms are made clear to others. TABLE OF CONTENTS Executive summary ...............................................4 Introduction .....................................................7 Remote warfare in Djibouti ........................................ 12 Foreign military bases .......................................................12 Other foreign militaries operating in Djibouti ......................................18 Contractors ...............................................................18 Arms transfers and trafficking ...................................... 25 Transfers .................................................................25
    [Show full text]
  • 2019 Human Rights Report
    DJIBOUTI 2019 HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Djibouti is a republic with a strong elected president and a weak legislature. In 2016 President Ismail Omar Guelleh was re-elected for a fourth term. International observers from the African Union (AU), Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), and Arab League characterized the election as “peaceful,” “calm,” and “sufficiently free and transparent” but noted irregularities. Most opposition groups did not characterize the elections as free and fair. Three of the seven recognized opposition parties participated in the February 2018 legislative elections. Opposition groups stated the government reneged on a 2015 agreement by not installing an independent electoral commission to manage and oversee elections. International observers from the AU, IGAD, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and the Arab League characterized the 2018 legislative elections as “free, just, and fair,” an assessment disputed by the leaders of unrecognized opposition parties. The National Police is responsible for security within Djibouti City and has primary control over immigration and customs procedures for all land border- crossing points. The National Gendarmerie is responsible for all security outside of Djibouti City and is responsible for protecting critical infrastructure within the city, such as the international airport. The leadership of both entities reports to the minister of interior. The National Service of Documentation and Security (SDS) operates as a law enforcement and intelligence
    [Show full text]
  • Annual Report Sometimes Brutally
    “Human rights defenders have played an irreplaceable role in protecting victims and denouncing abuses. Their commitment Steadfast in Protest has exposed them to the hostility of dictatorships and the most repressive governments. […] This action, which is not only legitimate but essential, is too often hindered or repressed - Annual Report sometimes brutally. […] Much remains to be done, as shown in the 2006 Report [of the Observatory], which, unfortunately, continues to present grave violations aimed at criminalising Observatory for the Protection and imposing abusive restrictions on the activities of human 2006 of Human Rights Defenders rights defenders. […] I congratulate the Observatory and its two founding organisations for this remarkable work […]”. Mr. Kofi Annan Former Secretary General of the United Nations (1997 - 2006) The 2006 Annual Report of the Observatory for the Protection Steadfast in Protest of Human Rights Defenders (OMCT-FIDH) documents acts of Foreword by Kofi Annan repression faced by more than 1,300 defenders and obstacles to - FIDH OMCT freedom of association, in nearly 90 countries around the world. This new edition, which coincides with the tenth anniversary of the Observatory, pays tribute to these women and men who, every day, and often risking their lives, fi ght for law to triumph over arbitrariness. The Observatory is a programme of alert, protection and mobilisation, established by the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) in 1997. It aims to establish
    [Show full text]
  • 2RP Responses to Recommendations and Voluntary Pledges
    Promoting and strengthening the Universal Periodic Review http://www.upr-info.org Responses to Recommendations Senegal Session 31 Review in the Working Group: 9 November 2018 Adoption in the Plenary: 18 December 2018 Senegal’s responses to recommendations: (as of the 12th August 2019) In the Report of In the Addendum: During the plenary: Summary: the Working Group: Supported: 229 No Additional No Additional Information Accepted: 229 Noted: 28 Information provided provided Noted: 28 Pending: 0 Total: 257 Total: 257 Paragraph headers are as in the Report of the Working Group, but the nature of responses to recommendations may have subsequently been changed. List of recommendations contained in Section II of the Report of the Working Group A/HRC/40/5: 144. The recommendations formulated during the interactive dialogue/listed below have been examined by Senegal and enjoy the support of Senegal: S - 144.1 Ratify the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (Albania) (Austria) (Portugal) (Switzerland), aiming at the abolition of the death penalty (Belgium) (Benin) (Montenegro) (Paraguay) (Rwanda) (Togo); S - 144.2 Consider ratifying the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, aiming at the abolition of the death penalty (Uruguay); S - 144.3 Abolish the death penalty for all crimes and accede to the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (Iceland); 1 Promoting and strengthening the Universal Periodic Review
    [Show full text]
  • Djibouti POLITICAL RIGHTS: 7 / 40
    Djibouti Page 1 of 7 Published on Freedom House (https://freedomhouse.org) Home > Djibouti Djibouti Country: Djibouti Year: 2018 Freedom Status: Not Free Political Rights: 6 Civil Liberties: 5 Aggregate Score: 26 Freedom Rating: 5.5 Overview: Djibouti is a republic ruled by a powerful president, Ismail Omar Guelleh, who has been in office since 1999 and is not subject to term limits. While Djibouti technically has a multiparty political system, the ruling Union for a Presidential Majority (UMP) uses authoritarian means to maintain its dominant position. The opposition’s ability to operate is severely constrained, and journalists and activists who air criticism of Guelleh or the UMP are regularly harassed or arrested. Political Rights and Civil Liberties: POLITICAL RIGHTS: 7 / 40 A. ELECTORAL PROCESS: 2 / 12 A1. Was the current head of government or other chief national authority elected through free and fair elections? 0 / 4 The president, who holds most executive power in Djibouti, serves five-year terms under current rules. President Guelleh was elected to a fourth term in 2016, having been credited with 87 percent of the vote. The opposition fractured, with some groups https://freedomhouse.org/print/49983 6/14/2018 Djibouti Page 2 of 7 boycotting the poll and others running competing candidates. The run-up to the election was marked by restrictions on the media and the harassment or detention of opposition figures. Among other reported irregularities on election day, opposition parties complained that their monitors were turned away from polling sites. A2. Were the current national legislative representatives elected through free and fair elections? 1 / 4 The 65 members of the unicameral legislature, the National Assembly, are directly elected for five-year terms.
    [Show full text]
  • Djibouti Targeted with Arrests, Detention, and Alleged Torture at the Hands of the Gendarmerie
    The years 2011 and 2012 proved to be the beginning of a disturbing trend of increased legal and extra-legal repression of opposition reporters and activists, with correspondents of the European-based opposition radio station La Voix de Djibouti targeted with arrests, detention, and alleged torture at the hands of the gendarmerie. DJIBOUTI 112 MEDIA SUSTAINABILITY INDEX 2012 INTRODUCTION OVERALL SCORE: 1.20 DJIBOUTI The elections of 2011 ushered in a third term for incumbent President Ismael Omar Guellah following the hotly debated amendment to the constitutional limit of two terms for presidents. While a number of international observers declared the election to be free and fair, the governing coalition was able to maintain its stability partly Tby repressing anti-government protests and by enforcing a blanket ban on opposition rallies during the election campaign period. The government continued to dominate the media scene through its control over Radio Television of Djibouti (RTD), the only broadcasting service, Agence Djiboutienne d’Information (ADI), the sole news service, along with La Nation and Al Qarn, the two highest-circulation newspapers. While opposition parties are legally allowed to publish newspapers, only one—the National Democratic Party—does so on a regular basis (La République). As noted in previous years, the political ownership of media creates a lack of balanced reporting. The years 2011 and 2012 proved to be the beginning of a disturbing trend of increased legal and extra-legal repression of opposition reporters and activists, with correspondents of the European-based opposition radio station La Voix de Djibouti targeted with arrests, detention, and alleged torture at the hands of the gendarmerie.
    [Show full text]
  • ETHIOPIA: Ethiopian Women's Human Rights Alliance's UPR Submission
    ETHIOPIA: Ethiopian Women’s Human Rights Alliance’s UPR Submission Ethiopia continues to be mired in numerous challenges, including but not limited to the following: continuation of massive human rights violations in all regions of the country; lack of democratization; invasion of Somalia and its disastrous consequences; instability in the region including the tenuous relationship between Ethiopia and its neighbors, mainly Eritrea and Somalia; economic stagnation; food insecurity and the threat of famine; severe curtailment of civil, political and human rights. As a result, Ethiopia’s human rights record is abysmal by all accounts and continues to deteriorate. The climate post the much-anticipated National Elections of 2005 has produced government clampdown on the press, increased police monitoring of peaceful and lawful activities, arbitrary arrest of human rights defenders, opposition leaders and attacks on civic society. More recently the government has introduced two draft laws that will adversely affect participation in civic society and criminalize internationally recognized rights. While the Ethiopian government continues to violate international standards with regard to a myriad of fundamental human rights, in this report, the Ethiopian Women’s Human Right Alliance concentrates primarily on the following issues: freedom of association, freedom of political life and right to be free from arbitrary arrest and detention, freedom of expression, violation of women’s rights, anti-terrorism measures and torture by Ethiopian Security Forces Freedom of Association On January 6th, 2009 the Ethiopian parliament adopted the draconian Charities and Societies Proclamation Act (CSO law) which in effect criminalizes the human rights activities of both foreign and domestic non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and prohibits them from doing any work related to human rights, governance, protection of women’s rights, children's rights, disabled persons' rights and conflict resolution.
    [Show full text]