Important tools for Anti-Deportation campaigners

Country reports from "authoritative" sources

Reports from "authoritative" sources means reports from reliable Governmental and Non Governmental organisations (NGOs) that the UK immigration tribunals and courts would deem credible. For example, the USA Bureau of Democracy.

(This page should be read in conjunciton with: Human Rights Watch - Word Report of events in 2007)

The USA Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, released its' annual 'Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2007' on Tuesday 11th March 2008
http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2007/100463.htm

The top four removal destination for the Home Office in the last quarter of 2007 were Afghanistan, Turkey, Nigeria and Pakistan.

The USA country reports for these four countries make pretty grim reading:

USA Country Reports on Human Rights Practices - Afghanistan 2007
The country's human rights record remained poor due to a deadly insurgency, weak governmental and traditional institutions, corruption, drug trafficking, and the country's legacy of two-and-a-half decades of conflict. Human rights problems continued, including extrajudicial killings; torture; poor prison conditions; official impunity; prolonged pretrial detention; increased restrictions on freedom of press; restrictions on freedoms of religion, movement, and association; violence and societal discrimination against women, religious converts, and minorities; trafficking in persons; abuse of worker rights; and child labor. While civilian authorities generally maintained effective control of the security forces, there were instances in which members of the security forces acted independently of government authority.
http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2007/100611.htm

USA Country Reports on Human Rights Practices - Turkey 2007
The government generally respected the human rights of its citizens; however, serious problems remained in several areas. During the year human rights organizations documented a rise in cases of torture, beating, and abuse by security forces. Security forces committed unlawful killings; the number of arrests and prosecutions in these cases was low compared with the number of incidents, and convictions remained rare. Prison conditions remained poor, with problems of overcrowding and insufficient staff training. Law enforcement officials did not always provide detainees immediate access to attorneys as required by law. Some government and military officers at times undermined the judiciary's independence, and the overly close relationship of judges and prosecutors continued to hinder the right to a fair trial. Excessively long trials were a problem. The government limited freedom of expression through the use of constitutional restrictions and numerous laws, including articles of the penal code prohibiting insults to the government, the state, "Turkishness," or the institution and symbols of the republic. Violence against women, including honor killings and rape, continued to be a widespread problem. Child marriage was a problem. Police corruption contributed to trafficking in women and children to, from, and within the country for sexual exploitation.
http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2007/100589.htm

USA Country Reports on Human Rights Practices - Nigeria 2007
The government's human rights record remained poor, and government officials at all levels continued to commit serious abuses. The most significant human rights problems included the abridgement of citizens' right to change their government; politically motivated and extrajudicial killings by security forces; the use of excessive force, including torture, by security forces; vigilante killings; impunity for abuses by security forces; beatings of prisoners, detainees, and suspected criminals; harsh and life?threatening prison conditions; arbitrary arrest and prolonged pretrial detention; executive influence on the judiciary and judicial corruption; infringement on privacy rights; restrictions on freedom of speech, press, assembly, religion, and movement; domestic violence and discrimination against women; female genital mutilation (FGM); child abuse and child sexual exploitation; societal violence; ethnic, regional, and religious discrimination; and trafficking in persons for the purpose of prostitution and forced labor.
http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2007/100498.htm

Country Reports on Human Rights Practices - Pakistan 2007
The human rights situation worsened during the year, stemming primarily from President Musharraf's decision to impose a 42-day State of Emergency (SOE), suspend the constitution, and dismiss the Supreme and High Provincial Courts. During the year the judiciary sought to check executive power and reverse President Musharraf's March decision to suspend the chief justice of the Supreme Court. Civil society and the press widely supported the judiciary. The restored chief justice then began a series of legal interventions that received some public support but were considered excessive by the government. When he believed the Supreme Court was about to rule him ineligible for reelection as president, on November 3 Musharraf declared the SOE and suspended the constitution, which enabled him to replace the Supreme and High Court justices. Additionally, he demanded, as he had in 1999, that all judges, both replacements and sitting judges, swear an oath of loyalty to his new legal order, which they did in December. Under the SOE, Musharraf suspended basic civil liberties, including freedom of speech and assembly. In December Musharraf lifted the SOE and restored an amended constitution, which enhanced presidential powers. Regulatory restrictions continued on press activities and freedom of assembly.
http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2007/100619.htm

End of Bulletin:

Source for this Message:
USA Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor