human-rights

News

Angola: Irregularities Marred Historic Elections
No Independent Oversight, Media Bias Angola?s parliamentary elections on September 5, 2008, reportedly won by the ruling MPLA party, were marred by numerous irregularities, Human Rights Watch said today. Preliminary results indicate that the MPLA won more than 80 percent of the vote, the first held in Angola since 1992. Key problems identified by Human Rights Watch include obstruction by the National Electoral Commission (CNE) of accreditation for national electoral observers, its failure to respond to media bias in favor of the ruling party, and severe delays by the Angolan government in providing funds to opposition parties. The evidence obtained by Human Rights Watch on these three key issues ? observers, media bias, and state funding ? suggests the polls did not meet the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections in key areas.
Source : Human Rights Watch | 15-Sep-2008 07:00

SADC: Adopt Gender and Development Protocol
Summit Leaders Should Act on Equality for Women Southern African leaders should adopt the proposed Gender and Development Protocol at their upcoming summit after amending it to include crucial provisions deleted in 2007, Human Rights Watch said today. One of the most important provisions that should be put back in to the protocol would commit states to criminalize marital rape.
Source : Human Rights Watch | 14-Aug-2008 07:00

Angola: Resume Negotiations with UN Rights Body
Government Seeks to Avoid Scrutiny Before Elections As a member of the United Nations Human Rights Council, Angola should reconsider its March 2008 order that the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Angola cease activities by the end of May 2008, Human Rights Watch said today.
Source : Human Rights Watch | 23-May-2008 07:00

Angola: Doubts Over Free and Fair Elections
Intimidation of Opposition, Media Before First Poll Since 1992 Intimidation of opposition parties and the media ahead of parliamentary elections in Angola, as well as interference in the electoral commission, threaten prospects for a free and fair vote in September, Human Rights Watch said today.
Source : Human Rights Watch | 01-Jan-2008 06:00

Angola: Thousands Forcibly Evicted in Postwar Boom
In the economic boom since the end of Angola?s civil war in 2002, the Angolan government has forcibly evicted thousands of poor residents of the capital Luanda, usually with violence and almost always without compensation, Human Rights Watch and the Angolan organization SOS Habitat said in a report released today.
Source : Human Rights Watch | 15-May-2007 07:00

South Africa: Migrants Abused by Officials and Farmers
South African officials involved in the arrest and deportation of undocumented migrant workers often assault and extort money from them, and commercial farmers employing them routinely violate their basic labor rights, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today.
Source : Human Rights Watch | 27-Feb-2007 06:00