Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

Usa: Lack Of Transparency In Government A Crucial Human Rights Probl

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • Usa: Lack Of Transparency In Government A Crucial Human Rights Probl

    USA: LACK OF TRANSPARENCY IN GOVERNMENT A CRUCIAL HUMAN RIGHTS PROBLEM IN ARMENIA

    ARMINFO
    Saturday, April 20, 16:36

    Corruption and lack of transparency in government remain the most
    significant human rights problems in Armenia, says the 2012 Report
    on Human Rights Practices issued by State Department.

    "The most significant human rights problems in Armenia are during
    the year were limitations on the right of citizens to change their
    government, corruption and lack of transparency in government, and
    the limited independence of the judiciary," the report says.

    One of the sections of the report is dedicated to the May parliamentary
    elections in Armenia.

    "Flaws in the conduct of May 6 legislative elections included the
    misuse of government resources to support the ruling party, credible
    allegations of vote buying, deficiencies in the complaints and appeals
    process, and continued shortcomings in the electoral code despite
    improvements. Allegations of persistent corruption at all levels of
    government undermined the rule of law, although the government took
    limited steps to punish low- to mid-level official corruption. Courts
    remained subject to political pressure from the executive branch, which
    resulted in some politically motivated prosecutions and sentencing,"
    the report says.

    Other abuses reported during the year included suspicious deaths in
    the military under noncombat conditions, continued hazing and other
    mistreatment of conscripts by officers and fellow soldiers, and a
    lack of accountability for such actions.

    "Police allegedly continued to employ torture to obtain confessions
    and reportedly beat citizens during arrest and interrogation. Many
    prisons were overcrowded, unsanitary, and lacking in medical services
    for inmates. Authorities continued to arrest and detain criminal
    suspects without reasonable suspicion and to detain individuals
    arbitrarily. Trials were often prolonged, and courts failed to enforce
    laws providing for fair trials. Laws against government intrusion on
    the right to privacy and unlawful searches were inadequately enforced.

    The pre-election period was marked by diverse media coverage; however,
    the media continued to lack diversity of political opinion and
    objective reporting outside the campaign period. Members of religious
    minorities suffered from societal discrimination. Domestic violence
    remained a problem but largely went unreported to authorities. Human
    trafficking was a problem, which authorities made efforts to combat.

    Persons with disabilities experienced discrimination in almost all
    areas of life. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) persons
    were subjected to societal abuse and discrimination by military
    and prison authorities. Workers' rights were limited and labor laws
    weakly enforced.

    Although the government took some steps to punish officials in the
    security forces and elsewhere who committed abuses, some members of the
    security forces continued to commit human rights abuses with impunity
    while under the direction of civilian leadership. The government issued
    a report in December 2011 on its investigation into the deaths of
    eight civilians and two police officers following the 2008 presidential
    election but, as of year's end, had not held anyone accountable."

Working...
X