LGBT

Belarus: Ihar Tsikhanyuk: Beaten by the Police for being Gay

Published by on October 1, 2013

1st October 2013 Amnesty International Ihar Tsikhanyuk, an openly gay man and gay rights activist, was having hospital treatment for a stomach ulcer when two police officers entered the hospital ward and asked him to go with them. At the police station he was punched repeatedly by police officers. He was then verbally abused for being gay, and threatened with more violence. This incident occurred in February 2013, shortly after Ihar Tsikhanyuk tried to register the Human Rights Centre Lambda, an organization that supports the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people in Belarus. Nobody has been brought Read the full article…

South Africa: 2012 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices

Published by on July 26, 2013

United States Department of State 19 April 2013 South Africa is a multiparty parliamentary democracy in which constitutional power is shared between the president and the parliament. In 2009 the country held a largely free and fair election, in which the ruling African National Congress (ANC) won 65.9 percent of the vote and 264 of 400 seats in the National Assembly, which then elected ANC President Jacob Zuma as the country’s president. Security forces reported to civilian authorities. Principal human rights problems included police use of lethal and excessive force, including torture; prison overcrowding and abuse of prisoners, including beatings Read the full article…

Gambia: Operational Guidance Note

Published by on June 21, 2013

UK Home Office 21 June 2013 Introduction 1.1 This document provides UK Border Agency (UKBA) caseworkers with guidance on the nature and handling of the most common types of claims received from nationals/residents of the Gambia, including whether claims are or are not likely to justify the granting of asylum, Humanitarian Protection or Discretionary Leave. Caseworkers must refer to the relevant Asylum Instructions for further details of the policy on these areas. 1.2 Caseworkers must not base decisions on the country of origin information in this guidance; it is included to provide context only and does not purport to be Read the full article…

Malta: Amnesty International Annual Report 2013

Published by on May 23, 2013

Amnesty International 23 May 2013 Detention for up to 18 months remained mandatory for asylum-seekers and irregular migrants, and safeguards to challenge it were inadequate. Legal protection against hate crimes was extended to LGBTI people. Read the full report here.

Liberia: Amnesty International Annual Report 2013

Published by on May 23, 2013

Amnesty International 23 May 2013 The justice system continued to be inefficient. Access to prisons was restricted and discrimination continued against women and LGBTI people. Forty-one people were extradited to Côte d’Ivoire without due process. Read the full report here.

Jamaica: Amnesty International Annual Report 2013

Published by on May 23, 2013

Amnesty International 23 May 2013 High levels of gang-related murders and killings by police persisted in inner-city communities. There was no significant progress in the investigation into alleged human rights violations during the 2010 state of emergency. Attacks and harassment of LGBTI people were reported to be increasing. No death sentences were passed and there were no executions. Read the full report here.

Kenya: Country of Origin Information Report

Published by on May 22, 2013

UK Home Office 22 May 2013 The main text of this COI Report contains the most up to date publicly available information as at 22 April 2013. ‘The most serious human rights problems were abuses by the security forces, including unlawful killings, forced disappearances, torture, rape, and use of excessive force; interethnic violence; and widespread corruption and impunity throughout the government. ‘Other human rights problems included police corruption; harsh and life-threatening prison conditions; arbitrary arrest and detention; prolonged pretrial detention; some judicial corruption; arbitrary interference with the home and infringement on citizens’ privacy; restrictions on freedom of speech, press, and Read the full article…

Senegal: 2012 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices

Published by on April 19, 2013

United States Department of State 19 April 2013 Senegal is a moderately decentralized republic dominated by a strong executive branch. On March 25, voters elected Macky Sall president for a seven-year term in an election viewed as largely free and fair. On July 1, Sall’s Benno Bokk Yakaar coalition won the majority of seats in National Assembly elections. Security forces reported to civilian authorities. In the run-up to the two rounds of the presidential election in February and March, the country experienced significant unrest, including clashes between police and protesters who questioned the constitutionality of incumbent president Abdoulaye Wade’s decision Read the full article…

Jamaica: 2012 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices

Published by on April 19, 2013

US Department of State 19 April 2013 Jamaica is a constitutional parliamentary democracy. In December 2011, the opposition People’s National Party (PNP) won 42 of the 63 seats in the House of Representatives, and PNP leader Portia Simpson Miller took office as prime minister on January 5. International election observers deemed the elections transparent, free, fair, and without violence. During the year there were instances in which elements of security forces acted independently of civilian control. The most serious human rights problems were alleged unlawful security force killings; cases involving the violation of rights that were not resolved in a Read the full article…