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US Department of State Releases 2010 Human Rights Report
April 11, 2011    
By: Carlos Aramayo | Printer Friendly

On April 8, the United States (US) Department of State released its annual Country Reports on Human Rights Practices. This year the report – commonly referred to as the Human Rights Reports – contains information on human rights conditions in 190 countries around the world. In an address to commemorate the report’s release, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said it “represents a year of sustained truth-telling” and pledged that the US would continue to support people around the world who work to promote human rights and democratic change.

The report outlined three prevailing trends that shaped human rights in 2010. These included the growth of nongovernmental organizations; the increase in access to the Internet, mobile phones, social media; and the continuing escalation of violence, persecution and discrimination in certain regions of the world. The report acknowledged that the impact of the ongoing protests in the Middle East and North Africa on international human rights is not yet known.

In Africa, the report noted the "generally free and fair" presidential elections in Benin, but that local and municipal elections were full of irregularities and that the country still faced vigilante violence, police abuse and female genital mutilation. In Kenya, despite the enactment of a new constitution following a free and fair national referendum, the country still faces multiple challenges including corruption, ethnic violence, discrimination and police abuse. In Somalia, the report outlined progress, particularly in the autonomous regions of Somaliland and Puntland, but also noted setbacks under the Transitional Federal Government in Mogadishu.

In East Asia and the Pacific, the report discussed a downward trend in human rights in China. Specifically the report stated that the Chinese government “took additional steps to rein in civil society, particularly organizations and individuals involved in rights advocacy and public interest issues” and intensified its crackdown on media freedom. China was also cited as being guilty of ongoing corruption and lack of due process for detained political prisoners, including 2010 Nobel Peace Prize recipient Liu Xiaobo. In Burma, the report accused the military government of severe human rights abuses, including "extrajudicial killings, custodial deaths, disappearances, rape, and torture," and the failure to investigate a 2003 attack on opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

 In Europe and Eurasia, the report is critical of France, Germany, Switzerland and Italy for their treatment of the Roma minority and the Swiss ban on Islamic architecture. Turkey also faced criticism over the rights of minorities, but noted improvement in rights. According to the report, Azerbaijan faces human rights issues, particularly relating to media freedom and the arrests of prominent journalists.

In the Middle East and North Africa, the report stated that recent protests and uprisings throughout the region currently have an ambiguous impact on human rights, particularly in the context of the government overthrows in Egypt and Tunisia. However, the report did point out the presence of extrajudicial killings, arbitrary detentions, police and military abuses and restrictions on freedom of expression.

In South and Central Asia, the governments of Afghanistan and Pakistan were criticized for their conduct in the war against the Taliban and al Qaeda. According to the report, Afghanistan presidential elections were marred by significant irregularities and voter intimidation. In contrast, the report alleges that the 2008 Pakistani elections were "competitive and reflective of the people's will," restoring democratic rule and leading to the restatement in human rights issues. 

In the Western Hemisphere, the report criticized the governments of Cuba and Venezuela for harassment by authorities, abuse and threats against political opponents by state security officials.  The report additionally identified that Haiti faced significant human rights abuses, especially after the breakdown of government control following the January 2010 earthquake.

The report also highlights positive developments in Colombia, Guinea and Indonesia, while noting backsliding in Ukraine.  Countries with “serious” human rights concerns include Cote d'Ivoire, Nigeria, Sudan, Zimbabwe, Burma, North Korea, Cambodia, Vietnam, Belarus, Russia, Bahrain, Libya, Syria and Uzbekistan.

To read the report, please see:
US Department of State – 2010 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices

Sources:
US Department of State - Secretary Clinton’s Remarks to the Press at the Release of the 2010 Human Rights Reports