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TOGOLESE REPUBLIC Head of state Faure Gnassingbé Head of government Kwesi Ahoomey-Zunu (replaced Gilbert Houngbo) Demonstrations by political parties and students were dispersed by security forces using excessive force. Torture was used in order to extract confessions. Freedoms of expression, assembly and of the press were undermined by the authorities. The Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission (TJRC) published its first findings but by the end of the year no concrete measures had been taken to end impunity. Background Throughout the year, demonstrations in favour of political and economic changes were regularly organized, some of them resulting in clashes between protesters…

May 29, 2013

Report

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF TIMOR-LESTE Head of state José Maria Vasconcelos (replaced José Ramos-Horta) Head of government Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão Impunity persisted for crimes against humanity and gross human rights violations committed during the Indonesian occupation (1975-1999). Security forces were accused of human rights violations, including ill-treatment and excessive use of force. Women and girls faced high levels of domestic violence. Background Presidential and Parliamentary elections, held respectively in March-April and July, took place without incident. In December 2012, the UN Security Council ended the mandate of the UN Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste. Police and security forces Security forces faced…

May 29, 2013

Report

REPUBLIC OF UGANDA Head of state and government Yoweri Kaguta Museveni Restrictions on freedoms of expression and association continued. LGBTI people continued to face harassment. Police and other law enforcement officials continued to commit human rights violations, including torture, and perpetrators were not held to account. Background The government accepted recommendations on the rights to freedom of expression, assembly and non-discrimination in February during the assessment of the country's human rights record under the UN Universal Periodic Review in 2011. The courts nullified constituency election results from 2011 which led to by-elections. Opposition parties subsequently won seven out of the…

May 29, 2013

Report

Ukraine Head of state Viktor Yanukovich Head of government Mykola Azarov Torture and other ill-treatment remained widespread, and impunity for such acts continued. Failings in the criminal justice system led to lengthy periods of pre-trial detention, and a lack of safeguards for detainees. Refugees and asylum-seekers risked detention and forcible return to countries where they faced human rights violations. The rights of LGBTI individuals were at risk. Torture and other ill-treatment There were continuing reports of torture and other ill-treatment in police detention. In a report on a visit to Ukraine in 2011, published in November, the Council of Europe…

May 29, 2013

Press Release

As the Arms Trade Treaty opens for signature on June 3rd, Amnesty International USA, Arms Control Association, Oxfam America, and the Simson Center will host a press breakfast on Friday, May 31st at 9 a.m. at Old Ebbitt Grill to discuss why the United States must be one of the first signatories.

May 29, 2013

Report

Syrian Arab Republic Head of state Bashar al-Assad Head of government Wa’el al-Halqi (replaced Omar Ibrahim Ghalawangi) The internal armed conflict between government forces and the opposition, composed of the Free Syrian Army (FSA) and other armed opposition groups, was marked by gross human rights abuses, war crimes and crimes against humanity. Government forces, which were responsible for the vast majority of violations, carried out indiscriminate attacks on residential areas using aircraft, artillery shells, mortars, incendiary weapons and cluster bombs. Together with their support militias, they arrested thousands of people, including children, subjecting many to enforced disappearance. Torture and other…

May 29, 2013

Report

Kingdom of Thailand Head of state King Bhumibol Adulyadej Head of government Yingluck Shinawatra The armed conflict continued in the South as insurgents targeted civilians in violent attacks, while security forces enjoyed impunity for human rights violations. The Truth for Reconciliation Commission of Thailand issued its final report, placing responsibility for the 2010 political violence on both sides; however, accountability remained slow in coming. The government continued to use the lese-majesty law and the Computer Crimes Act to restrict freedom of expression. Asylum-seekers and refugees faced possible refoulement to their home countries. Internal armed conflict Civilians remained at risk of…

May 29, 2013

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Republic of Turkey Head of state Abdullah Gül Head of government Recep Tayyip Erdoğan Freedom of expression remained restricted despite limited legislative reforms. The police used excessive force to break up peaceful demonstrations. Investigations and prosecutions into alleged human rights abuses by state officials were flawed. The pattern of unfair trials under anti-terrorism legislation persisted. Bomb attacks claimed the lives of civilians. No progress was made in recognizing the right to conscientious objection or in outlawing discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation or gender identity. The number of refugees from Syria seeking shelter in Turkey reached almost 150,000. Turkey adopted…

May 29, 2013

Report

TURKMENISTAN Head of state and government Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov A law on political parties was passed allowing for formal political opposition. However, opposition figures, journalists and human rights defenders continued to suffer harassment by the state. Torture and other ill-treatment remained widespread. Background In February, President Berdimuhamedov was re-elected with 97.4% of the vote. The OSCE did not send election monitors, citing limited political freedom in Turkmenistan. In March, the UN Human Rights Committee concluded that although Turkmenistan showed a “new willingness” to improve its human rights record, a disparity between legislation and implementation persisted. Turkmenistan remained closed to international scrutiny:…

May 29, 2013

Report

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Head of state and government Barack H. Obama Forty-three men were executed during the year, and concerns about cruel prison conditions continued. Scores of detainees remained in indefinite military detention at Guantánamo. Pre-trial proceedings continued in six cases in which the administration was intending to seek the death penalty following trials by military commission. Use of lethal force in the counter-terrorism context continued to raise serious concerns, as did continuing reports of the use of excessive force in domestic law enforcement. Counter-terror and security Detentions at Guantánamo At the end of 2012, nearly three years after…

May 29, 2013

Report

Eastern Republic of Uruguay Head of state and government José Alberto Mujica Cordano Steps were taken to end impunity for crimes committed during the civil and military rule (1973-1985), including efforts to establish the identity of victims of enforced disappearance. Background Political debate centred around measures to combat crime and increase public security. In this context, the Electoral Court announced in September that enough signatures had been collected to hold a popular referendum to amend the Constitution and reduce the age at which juveniles can be tried as adults from 18 to 16. In May, Parliament nominated members to the…

May 29, 2013

Update

This week my brother's life could be taken for a "confession" he was tortured into making.

May 29, 2013