Human rights in Africa

The situation of human rights in Africa is generally reported to be poor, and it is seen as an area of grave concern according to the UN, governmental, and non-governmental observers.

Democratic governments seem to be spreading, though are not yet the majority ("National Geographic" claims 13 African nations can be considered truly democraticFact|date=February 2007). As well, many nations have at least nominally recognized basic human rights for all citizens, though in practice these are not always recognized, and have created reasonably independent judiciaries.

Extensive human rights abuses still occur in several parts of Africa, often under the oversight of the state. Most of such violations occur for political reasons, often as a 'side-effect' of civil war. Notable countries with reported major violations include, but are not limited to, the Sudan, and Côte d'Ivoire. Reported violations include extrajudicial execution, mutilation, and rape.

The African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights is an international body which seeks to provide supranational monitoring and rights to citizens of Africa.

By country/entity

North Africa

*Algeria
*Egypt
*Libya
*Morocco
*Tunisia
*Western Sahara

ub-Saharan Africa

*Cameroon
*Congo (Brazzaville)
*Eritrea
*Ethiopia
*Kenya
*Mali
*Niger
*Nigeria
*São Tomé and Príncipe
*Somalia
*South Africa: generally noted for the widely-repudiated policy of Apartheid, or racial segregation, democracy and greater civil liberties have spread since the change of regime in 1994
*Sudan
*Uganda
*Zimbabwe

ee also

*Africa
*List of human rights articles by country

External links

*U.S. State Department - Human Rights Annual Reports
** [http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2007/c25283.htm 2007] [http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2006/c20794.htm 2006] [http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2005/c17092.htm 2005] [http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2004/c14133.htm 2004]