Newsroom

Report

Head of state Pratibha Patil Head of government Manmohan Singh Death penalty retentionist Population 1,198 million Life expectancy 63.4 years Under-5 mortality (m/f) 77/86 per 1,000 Adult literacy 63 per cent Tighter anti-terror and security legislation in the wake of the 2008 Mumbai attacks was linked to reports of arbitrary detention and torture. Maoist violence in central India spread to West Bengal, with local communities being targeted and at least 300 civilians killed. Extrajudicial executions took place in a number of states and human rights defenders were threatened and detained arbitrarily. Judicial processes continued to fail to ensure justice for…

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

Head of state: A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Head of government: Manmohan Singh (replaced Atal Bihari Vajpayee in May) Death penalty: retentionist International Criminal Court: not signed UN Women’s Convention: ratified with reservations Optional Protocol to UN Women’s Convention: not signed Summary Perpetrators of human rights violations continued to enjoy impunity in many cases. Gujarat state authorities failed to bring to justice those responsible for widespread violence in 2002. Security legislation was used to facilitate arbitrary arrests, torture and other grave human rights violations, often against political opponents and marginalized groups. In the north-eastern state of Manipur, local groups opposed human rights…

March 19, 2011

Report

Head of state: Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga Head of government: Mahinda Rajapakse (replaced Ranil Wickremasinghe in April) Death penalty: abolitionist in practice International Criminal Court: not signed UN Women’s Convention and its Optional Protocol: ratified Summary The ceasefire between the government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) remained in place, despite a number of violations and a failure to resume peace talks. The human rights situation in the north-east deteriorated following a violent split within the LTTE in April and a dramatic increase in politically motivated killings. Although a large number of child soldiers were released during the internal…

March 19, 2011

Report

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 Summary Abuses by the armed opposition Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) increased during the first half of the year. The government asked the International Criminal Court (ICC) to investigate war crimes and crimes against humanity in the context of the war in northern Uganda. Rape of girls was widespread, and other torture persisted. The media continued to be attacked. Background Throughout 2004, debate continued over the recommendations of the Constitutional Review Commission (CRC) on…

March 19, 2011

Report

UGANDA REPUBLIC OF UGANDA Head of state and government: Yoweri Kaguta Museveni Death penalty: retentionist UN Women's Convention: ratified Optional Protocol to UN Women's Convention: not signed Rulings by the Constitutional Court allowed political organizations to participate more freely in public life. Reports of torture increased against a background of government campaigns against crime and "terrorism". The 17-year conflict between the government and the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) intensified, resulting in a sharp rise in the number of internally displaced persons to over 1,200,000. There were many cases of violence against women. Freedom of speech was subject to additional restrictions.…

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