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While making consistent progress, Human Rights in Grenada remains a concern for the nation. Based on periodic evaluations, Grenada has made significant gains on the issue of human rights. Its government is noted for demonstrating recognition and protection of the human rights of its citizens. Problems, however, still exist and these include allegations of police brutality, child abuse, and violence against women. [1]
Human rights in Grenada are guaranteed by the country’s constitution and various legal frameworks as part of its obligations to the international agreements that it is part of. As a member of the United Nations, it is a signatory to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It is also a member of the Organization of American States (OAS) and adheres to the American Declaration of Human Rights. [2] Its human rights record and obligations, thus, are monitored and evaluated by human rights commissions at the universal and regional levels. As part of the UN Convention Against Torture, for instance, it accedes to its Universal Periodic Review. [3] Grenada, however, does not accept the jurisdiction of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights. [2]
As legal protections for human rights in Grenada are enshrined in the country’s legal system, the judiciary plays an important role in upholding human rights. Mechanisms that protect and uphold human rights include the Office of the Ombudsman. It is mandated to address complaints involving the government and its officials as well as human rights abuses. Human rights watchdogs describe Grenada as a country with strong constitutional and regulatory frameworks that protect its citizens from human rights violations. [4]
Despite legal protections, there are still human rights issues that persist in Grenada and these include allegations of police brutality. Grenada’s police force, the Royal Grenada Police Force (RGPF), maintains the country’s law and order. While it is controlled by civilian authorities, there were still allegations of abuse by the police. [1] In October 2023, members of the RGPF were accused of committing violence against a man using a metal pipe. [5] The incident sparked nationwide outrage as the man was shown half-naked, tied and being dragged towards a police vehicle. There were previous cases of violence such as in 2011, when four police officers were accused of manslaughter after beating the Grenadian-born Canadian citizen Oscar Bartholomew, who died due to the attack. [6] From 1993 to 1995, Amnesty International had also identified several victims of reported police brutality, which included the killing of Lawrence Lincoln Adolphose. [7]
Violence committed against women and children is still widespread in Grenada. A study published in 2022 revealed that 29 percent of women in the country experienced physical or sexual violence in their lifetime. This is the case even if the country was already able to pass a domestic violence legislation in 2011. [8]
Through legislation such as the Child (Protection and Adoption) Act, Chapter 44A, (No. 20 of 2010), the rights of children are recognized and protected. An earlier iteration of this law, which was passed in 1998, established the Division of Social Services, which provided social services and counseling to children and families. [9] The Child Act of 2010 allows the investigation of actual and suspected cases of physical, sexual, and emotional abuse of children. [8] The Grenadian government also introduced several initiatives such as the Ministry of Social Development’s national parenting program, which educates parents on issues such as child care and the healthy development of children within families. [10]
However, despite measures established to protect children, cases of abuse still exist. Particularly, sexual abuse is a recurring problem. It is reported that one-third of Grenadian children suffered sexual violence and that many of these cases are unresolved due to stigma that drives families not to report such incidents. [11]
The legal framework that protects women and children has so far been undermined by limited enforcement. Attempts to address this include the launching of the Special Victims Unit within the RGPF. This unit is tasked to deal with sexual assault, domestic violence, and child abuse. [8]
There are also other recorded abuses aside from police brutality and domestic violence and these include government impunity. From 2017 to 2018, for instance, the Grenadian government attempted to take over the Grenadian Hotel from its owners. It only abandoned the move after the hotel was sold to another company. [8]
Human rights in Brazil include the right to life and freedom of speech; and condemnation of slavery and torture. The nation ratified the American Convention on Human Rights. The 2017 Freedom in the World report by Freedom House gives Brazil a score of "2" for both political rights and civil liberties; "1" represents the most free, and "7", the least.
Contributing to the establishment of human rights system in Africa are the United Nations, international law and the African Union which have positively influenced the betterment the human rights situation in the continent. However, extensive human rights abuses still occur in many sections of the continent. Most of the violations can be attributed to political instability, racial discrimination, corruption, post-colonialism, economic scarcity, ignorance, illness, religious bigotry, debt and bad financial management, monopoly of power, lack/absence of judicial and press autonomy, and border conflicts. Many of the provisions contained in regional, national, continental, and global agreements remained unaccomplished.
Child protection is the safeguarding of children from violence, exploitation, abuse, and neglect. It involves identifying signs of potential harm. This includes responding to allegations or suspicions of abuse, providing support and services to protect children, and holding those who have harmed them accountable.
Bolivia's constitution and laws technically guarantee a wide range of human rights, but in practice these rights very often fail to be respected and enforced. “The result of perpetual rights violations by the Bolivian government against its people,” according to the Foundation for Sustainable Development, “has fueled a palpable sense of desperation and anger throughout the country.”
According to the U.S. Department of State's annual report on human rights in Mali for 2003, Mali's government generally respects the human rights of its citizens and observes relevant constitutional provisions and prohibitions.
Technically speaking, Paraguayan law prohibits discrimination on grounds of gender, race, language, disability, or social status, but there is nonetheless widespread discrimination.
Human rights in Romania are generally respected by the government. However, there have been concerns regarding allegations of police brutality, mistreatment of the Romani minority, government corruption, poor prison conditions, and compromised judicial independence. Romania was ranked 59th out of 167 countries in the 2015 Democracy Index and is described as a "flawed democracy", similar to other countries in Central or Eastern Europe.
Current issues concerning human rights in Albania include domestic violence, isolated cases of torture, and police brutality, the general condition of prisons, human and sex trafficking and LGBT rights.
Human rights in the Middle East have been shaped by the legal and political development of international human rights law after the Second World War, and their application to the Middle East. The 2004 United Nations Arab Human Development Report (AHDR) claimed that although Arab-Islamic tradition does hold unique importance for ideas of human welfare, History has proven that "they were not sufficiently prevalent in society to foster a culture based on a political contract, and allow for the legitimacy of differences of opinion, dialogue and transfer of power." Issues of the validity of democracy in the region and human rights are at the very centre of the challenges facing Middle Eastern society today.
Human rights in Austria are generally respected by the government; however, there were problems in some areas. There were some reports of police abuse and use of unjustified force against prisoners. Antisemitic incidents, including physical attacks, name-calling, property damage, and threatening letters, telephone calls, and Internet postings occurred during the year. There was some governmental and societal discrimination against fathers, Muslims and members of unrecognized religious groups, particularly those considered "sects". There were incidents of neo-Nazi activity, rightwing extremism, and xenophobia. Trafficking in women and children for prostitution and labor also remained a problem.
The human-rights situation in Benin is considered to be generally above average for sub-Saharan Africa.
The Grenadian passport is a travel document issued to citizens of Grenada, in accordance with the Grenadian Citizenship Act of 1976 and the Grenada Constitution, for the purpose of facilitating international travel. It allows the bearer to travel to foreign countries and the Commonwealth of Nations, in accordance with visa requirements, and facilitates the process of securing assistance from Grenadian consular officials abroad, if necessary.
In 2022, Freedom House rated Burundi's human rights at 14 out 100.
Eswatini, Africa's last remaining absolute monarchy, was rated by Freedom House from 1972 to 1992 as "Partly Free"; since 1993, it has been considered "Not Free". During these years the country's Freedom House rating for "Political Rights" has slipped from 4 to 7, and "Civil Liberties" from 2 to 5. Political parties have been banned in Eswatini since 1973. A 2011 Human Rights Watch report described the country as being "in the midst of a serious crisis of governance", noting that "[y]ears of extravagant expenditure by the royal family, fiscal indiscipline, and government corruption have left the country on the brink of economic disaster". In 2012, the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights (ACHPR) issued a sharp criticism of Eswatini's human-rights record, calling on the Swazi government to honor its commitments under international law in regards to freedom of expression, association, and assembly. HRW notes that owing to a 40% unemployment rate and low wages that oblige 80% of Swazis to live on less than US$2 a day, the government has been under "increasing pressure from civil society activists and trade unionists to implement economic reforms and open up the space for civil and political activism" and that dozens of arrests have taken place "during protests against the government's poor governance and human rights record".
East Timor is a multiparty parliamentary republic with a population of approximately 1.1 million, sharing the island of Timor with Indonesia's East Nusa Tenggara province. During the 24 years of Indonesian occupation and after the 1999 independence referendum, pro Indonesian militias committed many human rights violations. The country gained independence in 2002, and free and fair elections were held in 2007. The United Nations Integrated Mission in East Timor (UNMIT) and the International Stabilization Force remain in the country while it develops its own security forces, the National Police (PNTL) and Defence Forces (F-FDTL).
The issue of human rights in Tanzania, a nation with a 2012 population of 44,928,923, is complex. In its 2013 Freedom in the World report, Freedom House declared the country "Partly Free".
Human rights in Sierra Leone are in a rather deplorable state, but have improved gradually since the end of its civil war in 2002. Among the major human-rights problems in Sierra Leone today, according to a 2011 U.S. State Department report, are "security force abuse and use of excessive force with detainees, including juveniles; harsh conditions in prisons and jails; official impunity; arbitrary arrest and detention; prolonged detention, excessive bail, and insufficient legal representation; interference with freedom of speech and press; forcible dispersion of demonstrators; widespread official corruption; societal discrimination and violence against women, discrimination based on sexual orientation; female genital mutilation (FGM); child abuse; trafficking in persons, including children; and forced child labor".
Many people migrating from Latin America to the United States are victims of sexual assault and sex trafficking in Mexico. People who migrate through or from Mexico without legal permission must enter into dealings with smugglers and, often, criminal gangs. Perpetrators may be smugglers or gang members, but can also be government officials, bandits, or other migrants. Sexual assault is sometimes part of the "price" of smuggling, and some women have reported preparing for it in advance by taking contraception.
Portugal is generally considered as successful in upholding the civil liberties and protecting the human rights of its citizens. Portugal has proved to be determined in promoting and respecting human rights at an international and national level. The country's minister of Justice as of September 2018, Francisca Van Dunem, said that Portugal has had "a good track record" on human rights but violations still do persist.
Human rights in Suriname are currently recognised under the Constitution of the Republic of Suriname of 1987. Suriname is a constitutional democracy with a president elected by the unicameral National Assembly. The National Assembly underwent elections in 2020, electing Chan Santokhi as president. The National Assembly has a commission pertaining to issues regarding the country's human rights. The Human Rights Office of the Ministry of Justice and Police is responsible for advising the government on regional and international proceedings against the state concerning human rights. Human rights in Suriname is periodically reviewed by the United Nations Human Rights Committee (UNHRC), on which it is often believed the level of human rights do not yet meet international standards.