27th February, 2004

DAVID ADAMS

Progress on human rights is being made in the world trouble spots such as Afghanistan and Iraq but many governments are still violating the most basic rights of their citizens, according to the United States Government’s annual report on human rights.

The report, released by US Secretary of State Colin Powell this week, highlights rights abuses by governments in China, North Korea, Burma as well as Cuba, Zimbabwe, Russia and a number for former Soviet Union republics.

Abuses ranged from killings, forcible repatriation and the use of an extensive prison camp regime in North Korea through to the “concerted campaign of violence, repression and intimidation” conducted by the Government in Zimbabwe.

Addressing the issue of freedom of religion, the report said the situation in Vietnam remained poor with restrictions on the operation of non-state approved religious organisations.

Other countries highlighted for restrictions on religious freedom included Burma, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Saudi Arabia and Eritrea in Africa where members of non-sanctioned Protestant religious groups and reformists within the Coptic Church were among those harassed, arrested and detained.

Highlighting a range of initiatives the US had been involved in to improve human rights around the world last year, Mr Powell told a journalist’s briefing that nonetheless, “too many governments across the globe still violate the most basic rights of their citizens”.