Newsroom

Report

Head of state and government Raúl Castro Ruz Death penalty retentionist Population 11.2 million Life expectancy 78.5 years Under-5 mortality (m/f) 9/6 per 1,000 Adult literacy 99.8 per cent Civil and political rights continued to be severely restricted by the authorities. Government critics continued to be imprisoned; many reported that they were beaten during arrest. Restrictions on freedom of expression were commonplace. The government continued to curtail freedom of association and assembly. The US embargo against Cuba remained operational, despite increasing opposition to it within and outside the USA. Background Relations between Cuba and the USA improved during the year.…

March 19, 2011

Report

Head of state and government Tabaré Vázquez Rosas Death penalty abolitionist for all crimes Population 3.4 million Life expectancy 76.1 years Under-5 mortality (m/f) 18/15 per 1,000 Adult literacy 97.9 per cent The law continued to grant impunity to those responsible for human rights violations under the military government (1973-1985). Background José Mujica won the November presidential elections. Uruguay's human rights record was assessed under the UN Universal Periodic Review in May and the government accepted all the recommendations made. Impunity for past violations In October, a referendum was held on the proposed annulment of the 1986 Law on the…

March 19, 2011

Report

Head of state Islam Karimov Head of government Shavkat Mirzioiev Death penalty abolitionist for all crimes Population 27.5 million Life expectancy 67.6 years Under-5 mortality (m/f) 65/63 per 1,000 Adult literacy 96.9 per cent The authorities persisted in their refusal to allow an independent, international investigation into the mass killing of protesters in Andizhan in 2005. Human rights defenders and journalists continued to be targeted, and some were sentenced to prison terms after unfair trials. Dozens of members of minority religious Islamic groups were given long prison terms after unfair trials. The space for freedom of religion and belief contracted…

March 19, 2011

Report

Head of state Nguyen Minh Triet Head of government Nguyen Tan Dung Death penalty status retentionist Population 88.1 million Life expectancy 74.3 years Under-5 mortality (m/f) 27/20 per 1,000 Adult literacy 90.3 per cent Severe restrictions on freedom of expression and assembly continued. Repression of dissidents intensified with new arrests of political and human rights activists, most of whom had criticized widespread corruption and government policies relating to China. Bloggers were briefly detained. In most cases, national security concerns were cited as a pretext for arrests and criminal investigations. Peaceful protests by Catholics over land ownership were met with excessive…

March 19, 2011

Report

Head of state 'Ali Abdullah Saleh Head of government Ali Mohammed Megawar Death penalty retentionist Population 23.6 million Life expectancy 62.5 years Head of state 'Ali Abdullah Saleh Head of government Ali Mohammed Megawar Death penalty retentionist Population 23.6 million Life expectancy 62.5 years Under-5 mortality (m/f) 84/73 per 1,000 Adult literacy 58.9 per cent The authorities detained thousands of people in connection with protests in the south and elsewhere, and amid renewed fighting in Sa'da in the north. Most of those detained were released or tried. Others, mostly arrested in previous years, were sentenced to death or prison terms…

March 19, 2011

Report

Head of state and government Robert Mugabe Death penalty retentionist Population 12.5 million Life expectancy 43.4 years Under-5 mortality (m/f) 100/88 per 1000 Head of state and government Robert Mugabe Death penalty retentionist Population 12.5 million Life expectancy 43.4 years Under-5 mortality (m/f) 100/88 per 1000 Adult literacy 91.2 per cent The human rights situation improved slightly with the setting up of a unity government in February. However, harassment and intimidation persisted of human rights defenders, political activists and supporters of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC-T) led by Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai. Scores of people perceived to be critics…

March 19, 2011

Report

Head of state and government Hifikepunye Pohamba Death penalty abolitionist for all crimes Population 2.1 million Life expectancy 51.6 years Under-5 mortality (m/f) 70/58 per 1,000 Adult literacy 85 per cent A long-running treason trial showed no sign of coming to a conclusion. Women and girls faced systemic discrimination and Indigenous communities continued to live in extreme poverty. Mass graves were found in the north of the country. Background Government officials from the ruling South West Africa People’s Organization (SWAPO) repeatedly accused the opposition Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP), a political party founded in late 2007, of promoting tribalism.…

March 19, 2011

Report

Head of state and government Yoweri Kaguta Museveni Death penalty retentionist Population 31.9 million Life expectancy 49.7 years Under-5 mortality (m/f) 132/119 per 1,000 Adult literacy 66.8 per cent Security in the north increased after progress was made in peace talks between the government and the armed group, the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), aimed at ending the 20-year conflict in northern Uganda. However, the final peace agreement was not signed by the end of 2008. The government continued to undermine freedom of expression and press freedom. Violence against women and girls persisted throughout the country. State security agents tortured or…

March 19, 2011

Report

REPUBLIC OF UGANDA Head of state and government Yoweri Kaguta Museveni Death penalty retentionist Population 30.9 million Life expectancy 49.7 years Under-5 mortality (m/f) 135/121 per 1,000 Adult literacy 66.8 per cent Peace talks continued between the government and the armed group, the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), aimed at ending the 20-year conflict in northern Uganda. The talks reportedly focused on withdrawal of the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrants for four senior LRA leaders. A ceasefire agreed in 2006 was extended. The independence of the judiciary was threatened and attacks on freedom of expression and press freedom continued. Violence against…

March 19, 2011

Report

UGANDA REPUBLIC OF UGANDA Head of state and government: Yoweri Kaguta Museveni Death penalty: retentionist International Criminal Court: ratified There was progress in peace talks in Southern Sudan between the government and the armed group, the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA), promising a possible end to 20 years of conflict in northern Uganda. Elections passed off relatively peacefully. Opposition presidential candidate Dr Kizza Besigye was acquitted of rape but continued to face treason charges. Attacks on freedom of expression and press freedom continued, as did reports of torture of detainees and harassment of people on account of their sexual orientation. Violence…

March 19, 2011

Report

REPUBLIC OF UGANDA Head of state and government: Yoweri Kaguta Museveni Death penalty: retentionist International Criminal Court: ratified UN Women’s Convention: ratified Optional Protocol to UN Women’s Convention: not signed Overview - Covering events from January - December 2005 The independence of the judiciary, freedom of expression and press freedom came under attack. Violence against women and girls was widespread. Torture by state security agents persisted. Background On 28 June Parliament voted to amend the Constitution and lifted the limit of two terms that a president could serve. Demonstrators protesting against this vote clashed with riot police. A national referendum…

March 19, 2011

Report

UGANDA REPUBLIC OF UGANDA Head of state: Yoweri Museveni Head of government: Apollo Nsibambi Death penalty: retentionist International Criminal Court: ratified A new joint anti-crime operation led to killings of civilians by members of the security forces. Civilians arrested during the operation faced trial by military courts. Soldiers reportedly committed abuses during a disarmament operation in the northwest. At least 24 death sentences were passed, and two soldiers were executed. Journalists continued to be subjected to excessive use of force by the police. A new law restricted the activities of political parties. Abuses by the armed opposition Lord's Resistance Army…

March 19, 2011