Report points out DR human rights violations
The broad report tells of an increase of 37% in violent deaths with respect to 2007
Diario Libre
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC.- The report on Human Rights 2008 published by the Department of State of the United States indicates that serious problems persist in complying with human rights in the country because illegal deaths, beatings of suspects, limited access to justice, corruption and violence against women and minors continue.
The broad report tells of an increase of 37% in violent deaths with respect to 2007, and attributes 19% of these to the National Police. It adds that the law enforcement institution continued the practices of torturing prisoners and unarmed civilians, requested bribes from citizens and carried arbitrary arrests and detentions. Nevertheless, the report indicates that 312 agents were discharged and 563 were punished for these practices.
The judicial system got its quota of violations. The report attributes inefficiency and corruption within the justice department to the significant number of accused who were granted bail only to never appear in court for trial. It maintains that the majority of persons detained and jailed do not have money to pay found problems obtaining a lawyer, in spite of the law that facilitates legal council for the indigent. Likewise, it stresses that cases of political influence in the taking of judicial decisions are still evident, and "that on occasions it appears that some judges of superior court tried to influence, improperly, the decisions of lower courts."
The governmental corruption was seen as a "serious Problem, and states that "apparently there is a lack of interest by the authorities to investigate seriously and prepare trials in those cases that involve high ranking governmental authorities whether in the current government or in the former (referring to that of Hipolito Mejía).
The report indicates that in those cases that got to trial, the accusation was seldom successful in obtaining convictions or prison sentences. Likewise it emphasizes the little impact that the Ethics and anti-Corruption Commission has because it lack authorities and structures to take decisions that are well defined.
According to the report, the government regularly denies the registration of children on Haitian parents backed by the exception of them being in transit that is contained in the Constitution. The report also sets out that the problems of access to services that persons in this condition have, and maintains that persons of color are discriminated.
The violation of the rights of women and minors, handicapped and persons HIV+ is also emphasized, with the latter suffering principally in the work place. The report also mentions trafficking of persons and reported attempts to curtail the rights of workers to form unions in businesses. It also mentions threats to the press.
The broad report tells of an increase of 37% in violent deaths with respect to 2007, and attributes 19% of these to the National Police. It adds that the law enforcement institution continued the practices of torturing prisoners and unarmed civilians, requested bribes from citizens and carried arbitrary arrests and detentions. Nevertheless, the report indicates that 312 agents were discharged and 563 were punished for these practices.
The judicial system got its quota of violations. The report attributes inefficiency and corruption within the justice department to the significant number of accused who were granted bail only to never appear in court for trial. It maintains that the majority of persons detained and jailed do not have money to pay found problems obtaining a lawyer, in spite of the law that facilitates legal council for the indigent. Likewise, it stresses that cases of political influence in the taking of judicial decisions are still evident, and "that on occasions it appears that some judges of superior court tried to influence, improperly, the decisions of lower courts."
The governmental corruption was seen as a "serious Problem, and states that "apparently there is a lack of interest by the authorities to investigate seriously and prepare trials in those cases that involve high ranking governmental authorities whether in the current government or in the former (referring to that of Hipolito Mejía).
The report indicates that in those cases that got to trial, the accusation was seldom successful in obtaining convictions or prison sentences. Likewise it emphasizes the little impact that the Ethics and anti-Corruption Commission has because it lack authorities and structures to take decisions that are well defined.
According to the report, the government regularly denies the registration of children on Haitian parents backed by the exception of them being in transit that is contained in the Constitution. The report also sets out that the problems of access to services that persons in this condition have, and maintains that persons of color are discriminated.
The violation of the rights of women and minors, handicapped and persons HIV+ is also emphasized, with the latter suffering principally in the work place. The report also mentions trafficking of persons and reported attempts to curtail the rights of workers to form unions in businesses. It also mentions threats to the press.
Diario Libre
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