Human Rights Watch, November 2010
Liberia Publications
This month’s summary includes articles on governance & corruption, awaiting trial prisoners, parole & sentencing, prisoners’ rights and prison developments in other parts of Africa.
PRÉAMBULE Nous, Peuple nigérien souverain - Résolu à consolider les acquis de la République et de l'indépendance nationale proclamées respectivement le 18 décembre 1958 et le 3 août 1960 ainsi que ceux de la Conférence nationale souveraine qui a réuni du 29 juillet au 3 novembre 1991 l'ensemble des forces vives de la Nation ; - Résolu à bâtir un État de droit garantissant, d'une part, l'exercice des droits collectifs et individuels, la liberté, la justice, la dignité, l'égalité, la sûreté et le bien-être comme valeurs fondamentales de notre société et, d'autre part, l'alternance démocratique et la bonne gouvernance ; - Résolu à bâtir une nation unie, digne, pacifique, industrieuse et prospère ; - Profondément attaché aux valeurs de civilisation qui fondent notre personnalité ; - Soucieux de sauvegarder notre identité culturelle ; Proclamons notre attachement aux principes de la démocratie pluraliste et aux droits humains tels que définis par la Déclaration universelle des droits de l'Homme de 1948, le Pacte international relatif aux droits civils et politiques de 1966, le Pacte international relatif aux droits économiques, sociaux et culturels de 1966 et la Charte africaine des droits de l'Homme et des Peuples de 1981 ; Proclamons notre attachement aux instruments juridiques régionaux et internationaux de protection et de promotion des droits humains tels que signés et ratifiés par le Niger ; Réaffirmons notre attachement à l'Unité africaine et nous engageons à tout mettre en oeuvre pour réaliser l'intégration régionale et sous-régionale ; Exprimons notre volonté de coopérer dans l'amitié, l'égalité et le respect mutuel avec tous les peuples épris de paix, de justice et de liberté ; Réaffirmons notre opposition absolue à tout régime politique fondé sur la dictature, l'arbitraire, l'impunité, l'injustice, la corruption, la concussion, le régionalisme, l'ethnocentrisme, le népotisme, le pouvoir personnel et le culte de la personnalité ; Adoptons solennellement la présente Constitution, loi suprême de l'État à laquelle nous jurons respect, loyauté et fidélité et dont ce préambule est partie intégrante.
".. a murder suspect has a Constitutional Right to be released on bail. This is an inalienable right and can only be restricted by the court if there are compelling reasons for him not to be released"
The petitioners are civilians accused of acts of treason and misprision of treason committed between 2001 and 2004. The petitioners, together with 12 co-accused who have since been discharged, were committed to the High Court for trial. The High Court granted the 2nd to 9th petitioners and 6 of the discharged co-accused conditional bail. To prevent the release on bail, various officials, authorities and agencies of the State deliberately and systematically committed acts which contravene several provisions of the Constitution and which are severally and cumulatively calculated to gravely prejudice the petitioners’ joint and several rights to a fair trial on any charges arising out of or in any way connected with the allegation of a plot to overthrow the Government of Uganda by force of arms between 2001 and 2004. The first petition for an order sought for a stay of all relevant criminal proceedings in all the courts succeeds. The second petition for an order permanently prohibiting the State from using the process of any court, military or civilian so as to initiate and prosecute the petitioners in connection of the alleged plot to overthrow the Government of Uganda by force of arms between December 2001 and December 2004.
This report by Human Rights Watch covers lawlessness in Côte d’Ivoire, including failure of the judicial system (p.51).
covering the period 2003-2009.
This month’s articles include news on unsentenced prisoners, parole & sentencing, South Africans imprisoned abroad and prison-related news from other countries in Africa.
This issue contains news articles on security & escape, parole & sentencing, prison conditions and prison-related news from other African countries.
This Newsletter focuses on South Africa’s obligation to report on implementation of the UN Convention against Torture and the role of civil society and parliament in this process.
As published by the National Council for Law Reporting with the Authority of the Attorney General
Andrew Mujuni Mwenda, a journalist, sought declarations of nullification of the offences of sedition and promoting sectarianism preferred against him in the Chief Magistrate’s Court, contending that they were unconstitutional. The Eastern African Media Institution (U)Ltd on it’s own and in public interest petitioned the Court seeking declarations of nullification of the same offences of sedition, promoting sectarianism and criminal defamation. The court declared (i) Sections 39 and 40 of the Penal Code inconsistent with provisions of the Articles 29(1) (a) and 43(2) (c) of the Constitution and null and void (ii) Sections 42, 43 & 44 of the Penal Code which relate to sedition redundant (iii) Petitioners failed to prove that the offence of promoting sectarianism is inconsistent with the Constitution.
This submission to the South African Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Justice and Correctional Services on theCriminal Procedure Amendment Bill (Bill 39 of 2010) discusses the amendments to section 49 of the Criminal Procedure Act (use of deadly force by police) and its deviation from the Constitutional Court case Ex parte Minister of Safety and Security: In re S v Walters. The Bill was adopted in 21012 (Act 9 of 2012).
This month’s summary includes articles on governance & corruption, unsentenced prisoners, parole & sentencing and prison developments in other parts of Africa.
An Act to consolidate the law relating to children by making provision for child care and protection and for child justice; and for matters of social development of the child and for connected matters
by Ronald E Osborn, published in 'Health and Human Rights'. Les Mêmes Droits Pour Tous (MDT) is a human rights NGO in Guinea, West Africa that focuses on the rights of prisoners in Maison Centrale, the country’s largest prison located Conakry. In 2007, MDT completed a survey of the prison population to assess basic legal and human rights conditions. This article uses statistical tools to explore MDT’s survey results in greater depth, shedding light on human rights violations in Guinea.
This month's prison-related topics cover South African news articles on governance & corruption, awaiting trial, parole & sentencing and articles in other African countries.
This month’s articles include topics like parole & sentencing, security & escape and prison-related news from other countries in Africa.
Victimisation surveys have the potential to deepen our understanding of crime in South Africa. Using the example of a survey conducted in Galeshewe, this article considers the challenges facing analysts in analysing victimisation surveys and suggests ways to increase the information that can be mined from local and national victimisation surveys.
This month's summary of newspaper reports include topics like Governance & Corruption; Parole & Sentencing; Prison Conditions and prison-related news from other parts of Africa.
This is the statement that the Community Law Centre (predecessor of the Dullah Omar Institute) made a the 47th Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights, which was held from 12 to 26 May 2010. The submission addresses the issue of pre-trial detention in Africa.
This submission focuses on inmate labour in South Africa, with specific reference to the rights issues applicable and related to labour performed by sentenced inmates.
This Newsletter discusses the launch of the African HIV in Prison Partnership Network (AHPPN) along with its Declaration of Commitment for HIV and AIDS Prevention Care, Treatment and Support in Prisons (Adopted: Johannesburg, South Africa, 18 November).
Proceedings from the Regional Conference held in Dakar, Senegal, on 27‐28 April 2010
As amended by the following: Act 13 of 1952 Act 9 of 1955 Act 3 of 1956 Act 13 of 1957 Act 23 of 1957 Act 3 of 1959 Act 11 of 1959 Act 39 of 1960 Act 7 of 1961 Act 4 of 1963 Act 31 of 1964 Act 2 of 1965 Act 8 of 1966 Act 6 of 1968 S.I.51 of 1959 S.I.53 of 1962 S.I.7 of 1963 S.I. 23 of 1971 Act 29 of 1973 S.I. 99 of 1973 Act 2 of 1974 S.I. 95 of 1975 Act 14 of 1975 Act 19 of 1975 S.I. 72 of 1976 Act 23 of 1976 Act 32 of 1980 Act 20 of 1981 Act 23 of 1981 Act 5 of 1982 Act 4 of 1986 Act 4 of 2007 Act 17 of 2008 Act 2 of 2010
This report is the first analysis of prison health conditions in Zambia by independent human rights organizations. In preparing this report, PRISCCA, ARASA, and Human Rights Watch interviewed 246 prisoners, eight former prisoners, 30 prison officers, and conducted facility tours at six prisons throughout the central corridor of Zambia. The purpose of this research was to understand health conditions and human rights violations in Zambian prisons, and to provide recommendations for a future which respects the basic rights and minimum standards due to prisoners.
This month's prison-related topics cover South African newspaper articles on governance & corruption; parole & sentencing; prison conditions; security & escapes and articles in other African countries.
This Newsletter focuses on the Prison Reform in Mozambique: Early Achievements and Challenges Ahead.