2013 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices from the U.S. Department of State

On February 27, 2014, Secretary Kerry submitted the 2013 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices (commonly known as the Human Rights Reports) to the United States Congress.  The reports, now in their 38th year, are available on State.gov and HumanRights.gov.  Mandated by Congress, the Human Rights Reports help inform U.S. government policy and foreign assistance.  They are also a reference for other governments, international institutions, non-governmental organizations, legal professionals, scholars, interested citizens, and journalists.

 

The following were among the most noteworthy human rights developments in 2013:

 

Increased Crackdown on Civil Society and the Freedoms of Association and Assembly

 

Governments in every region of the world continued to stifle civil society and restrict citizens’ universal right to freedoms of assembly and association.  Authorities increasingly used legislation to silence political dissidence and used excessive force to crack down on civil society and protest. 

 

Restrictions on Freedom of Speech and Press Freedom

 

Governments around the world also continued to restrict freedom of expression and press freedom as a means of tightly controlling or eliminating political criticism and opposition.  This included hampering the ability of journalists to report on issues deemed politically sensitive by placing onerous restrictions on members of the press, such as requiring government approval prior to meeting with international organizations or representatives, and limiting visas for foreign journalists.  Governments also used harassment and physical intimidation of journalists to create a climate of fear and self-censorship, both online and offline.  Authorities further censored the media by closing independent newspaper outlets and television stations.  Officials detained or arrested activists and journalists on false charges in order to limit criticism of the government and impede peaceful protest, and some have even been killed for simply voicing dissent. 

 

Accountability Deficits for Security Forces Abuses

 

In too many places, government security forces abused human rights with impunity and failed to protect their citizens.  Military and security forces in numerous countries engaged in unlawful arrests and extrajudicial killings, gender-based violence, rape, torture, and abductions throughout 2013. Weak or nonexistent justice institutions did not hold security forces accountable for human rights abuses and often failed to uphold the rights to due process and a fair trial.

 

Lack of Effective Labor Rights Protections

 

People continued to work in conditions that were hazardous to their health and safety, some – often migrant workers – against their will.  Workers’ attempts to organize and bargain collectively for improved labor rights protections were frequently impeded by governments’ inability or unwillingness to enforce labor protections, as well as government interference in their activities and violence and threats against labor leaders.  However, 2013 did see the entry-into-force of International Labor Organization (ILO) Convention 189, which set forth protections for fundamental rights at work, and several countries took steps to enact legislation to protect the rights of domestic workers.

 

The Continued Marginalization of Vulnerable Groups

 

2013 saw the continued marginalization of religious and ethnic minorities, women and children, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) persons, persons with disabilities, and other vulnerable populations.  Governments subjected these groups to repressive policies, societal intolerance, discriminatory laws, and disenfranchisement, and authorities failed to hold those who committed crimes against them accountable. Faith organizations and religious and ethnic minorities suffered growing intolerance and violence, as well as faced threats to and restrictions on their religious belief and practice.  Women and girls in all regions suffered endemic societal discrimination, and there was a surge in gender-based violence.  The rights of LGBT persons were increasingly threatened, as limitations on freedoms of association and assembly for the LGBT community and new laws criminalizing consensual same-sex relations unleashed increased violence and intimidation against LGBT persons.  Finally, persons with disabilities continued to experience a lack of access to quality inclusive education, inaccessible infrastructure, and weak non-discrimination protections.