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 Zambiaportal |
Human rights in Zambia are addressed in Zambia's constitution. However, the Zambia 2012 Human Rights Report of the United States Department of State (one of the United States' Country Reports on Human Rights Practices) noted that in general, the government's human rights record remained poor. [1] The 2021 version of this report noted improvements in many areas. [2]
The Zambia 2012 Human Rights Report of the US State Department noted the following serious human rights abuses: [1]
The following are Zambia's ratings since 1972 in the Freedom in the World reports, published annually by Freedom House (1 is best, 7 is worst). [4]
| Year | Political Rights | Civil Liberties | Status | President 1 |
| 1972 | 5 | 5 | Partly Free | Kenneth Kaunda |
| 1973 | 5 | 5 | Partly Free | Kenneth Kaunda |
| 1974 | 5 | 4 | Partly Free | Kenneth Kaunda |
| 1975 | 5 | 5 | Partly Free | Kenneth Kaunda |
| 1976 | 5 | 5 | Partly Free | Kenneth Kaunda |
| 1977 | 5 | 5 | Partly Free | Kenneth Kaunda |
| 1978 | 5 | 5 | Partly Free | Kenneth Kaunda |
| 1979 | 5 | 5 | Partly Free | Kenneth Kaunda |
| 1980 | 5 | 5 | Partly Free | Kenneth Kaunda |
| 1981 | 5 | 6 | Partly Free | Kenneth Kaunda |
| 1982 | 5 | 6 | Partly Free | Kenneth Kaunda |
| 1983 | 5 | 6 | Partly Free | Kenneth Kaunda |
| 1984 | 5 | 5 | Partly Free | Kenneth Kaunda |
| 1985 | 5 | 5 | Partly Free | Kenneth Kaunda |
| 1986 | 5 | 5 | Partly Free | Kenneth Kaunda |
| 1987 | 5 | 5 | Partly Free | Kenneth Kaunda |
| 1988 | 6 | 5 | Partly Free | Kenneth Kaunda |
| 1989 | 6 | 5 | Partly Free | Kenneth Kaunda |
| 1990 | 6 | 5 | Partly Free | Kenneth Kaunda |
| 1991 | 2 | 3 | Free | Frederick Chiluba |
| 1992 | 2 | 3 | Free | Frederick Chiluba |
| 1993 | 3 | 4 | Partly Free | Frederick Chiluba |
| 1994 | 3 | 4 | Partly Free | Frederick Chiluba |
| 1995 | 3 | 4 | Partly Free | Frederick Chiluba |
| 1996 | 5 | 4 | Partly Free | Frederick Chiluba |
| 1997 | 5 | 4 | Partly Free | Frederick Chiluba |
| 1998 | 5 | 4 | Partly Free | Frederick Chiluba |
| 1999 | 5 | 4 | Partly Free | Frederick Chiluba |
| 2000 | 5 | 4 | Partly Free | Frederick Chiluba |
| 2001 | 5 | 4 | Partly Free | Frederick Chiluba |
| 2002 | 4 | 4 | Partly Free | Levy Mwanawasa |
| 2003 | 4 | 4 | Partly Free | Levy Mwanawasa |
| 2004 | 4 | 4 | Partly Free | Levy Mwanawasa |
| 2005 | 4 | 4 | Partly Free | Levy Mwanawasa |
| 2006 | 3 | 4 | Partly Free | Levy Mwanawasa |
| 2007 | 3 | 4 | Partly Free | Levy Mwanawasa |
| 2008 | 3 | 3 | Partly Free | Rupiah Banda |
| 2009 | 3 | 4 | Partly Free | Rupiah Banda |
| 2010 | 3 | 4 | Partly Free | Rupiah Banda |
| 2011 | 3 | 4 | Partly Free | Michael Sata |
| 2012 [5] | 3 | 4 | Partly Free | Michael Sata |
| 2013 | 3 | 4 | Partly Free | Michael Sata |
| 2014 | 3 | 4 | Partly Free | Guy Scott |
| 2015 | 3 | 4 | Partly Free | Edgar Lungu |
| 2016 | 4 | 4 | Partly Free | Edgar Lungu |
| 2017 | 4 | 4 | Partly Free | Edgar Lungu |
| 2018 | 4 | 4 | Partly Free | Edgar Lungu |
| 2019 | 4 | 4 | Partly Free | Edgar Lungu |
| 2020 | 4 | 4 | Partly Free | Edgar Lungu |
| 2021 | 4 | 4 | Partly Free | Hakainde Hichilema |
| 2022 | 4 | 4 | Partly Free | Hakainde Hichilema |
Freedoms of expression and of the press are constitutionally guaranteed in Zambia, but the government frequently restricts these rights in practice. [6] Although the ruling Patriotic Front has pledged to free state-owned media—consisting of the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) and the widely circulated Zambia Daily Mail and Times of Zambia —from government editorial control, these outlets have generally continued to report along pro-government lines. Many journalists reportedly practice self-censorship since most government newspapers do have prepublication review. [6] The ZNBC dominates the broadcast media, though several private stations have the capacity to reach large portions of the population.
The rights group Freedom House, which publishes annual country reports on press freedom status, has ranked Zambia’s press as “Not Free” even in 2016. [7]
Telecommunications in Zambia includes radio, television, fixed and mobile telephones, and the Internet.
Bulgaria joined the Council of Europe and ratified the European Convention on Human Rights in 1992 and joined the European Union in 2007. Despite this, Bulgarian compliance with human rights norms falls below the standard expected of an ECHR signatory. The European Court of Human Rights noted that of 596 applications dealt with by the Court in 2022, 25 resulted in a judgement finding at least one human rights violation.
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.”
In 2011, the then Algerian president Abdelaziz Bouteflika lifted a state of emergency that had been in place since the end of the Algerian Civil War in 2002, as a result of the Arab Spring protests that had occurred throughout the Arab world.
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.
International organizations have frequently alleged that Azerbaijan has violated human rights standards established in international law.
Censorship in Bhutan refers to the way in which the Government of Bhutan controls information within its borders. There are no laws that either guarantee citizens' right to information or explicitly structure a censorship scheme. However, censorship in Bhutan is still conducted by restrictions on the ownership of media outlets, licensing of journalists, and the blocking of websites.
Human rights in Jordan are similar to or better than those elsewhere in the Middle East. Human Rights Watch reported in January 2018 that although recently there have been far-reaching reforms of the laws and regulations in the country, abuses against basic rights such as freedom of expression persisted.
Angola has long been severely criticized for its human rights record. A 2012 report by the U.S. Department of State said, "The three most important human rights abuses [in 2012] were official corruption and impunity; limits on the freedoms of assembly, association, speech, and press; and cruel and excessive punishment, including reported cases of torture and beatings as well as unlawful killings by police and other security personnel. Other human rights abuses included: harsh and potentially life-threatening prison conditions; arbitrary arrest and detention; lengthy pretrial detention; impunity for human rights abusers; lack of judicial process and judicial inefficiency; infringements on citizens' privacy rights and forced evictions without compensation; restrictions on nongovernmental organizations; discrimination and violence against women; abuse of children; trafficking in persons; discrimination against persons with disabilities, indigenous people, and persons with HIV/AIDS; limits on workers' rights; and forced labor." In 2022, Freedom House rated Angola "not free".
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.
Concerns about human rights in Chile include discrimination against indigenous populations; societal violence and discrimination against women, children, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people; child labor; and harsh prison conditions and treatment. Additional human rights concerns in the country include use of excessive force and abuse by security forces, isolated reports of government corruption, and anti-Semitism. Authorities generally maintain effective control over the security forces. However, security forces occasionally commit human rights abuses. The government generally takes steps to prosecute officials who commit abuses. Nevertheless, many human rights organizations contend that security officials accused of committing abuses have impunity.
The human-rights situation in Benin is considered to be generally above average for sub-Saharan Africa.
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".
Equatorial Guinea is known for human rights abuses. Under the current government it has "limited ability of citizens to change their government; increased reports of unlawful murders of civilians by security forces; government-sanctioned kidnappings; systematic torture of prisoners and detainees by security forces; life threatening conditions in prisons and detention facilities; impunity; arbitrary arrest and detention and incommunicado detention; harassment and deportation of foreign residents with limited due process; judicial corruption and lack of due process; restrictions on the right to privacy; restrictions on freedom of speech and of the press; restrictions on the rights of assembly, association, and movement; government corruption; violence and discrimination against women; suspected trafficking in persons; discrimination against ethnic minorities; and restrictions on labor rights."
Togo in West Africa is currently rated as "Partly Free" by Freedom House.
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".
This list of Internet censorship and surveillance in Europe provides information on the types and levels of Internet censorship and surveillance that is occurring in countries in Europe.
This list of Internet censorship and surveillance in the Americas provides information on the types and levels of Internet censorship and surveillance that is occurring in countries in the Americas.
This list of Internet censorship and surveillance in Africa provides information on the types and levels of Internet censorship and surveillance that is occurring in countries in Africa.
Human rights in Slovakia are governed by the laws of Slovakia and overseen by international organizations such as the Council of Europe.
