News from Islands
Freedom House: Cape Verde is a model in respect for freedom
Praia, Cape Verde, 19 May - A model for Africa in respect of political rights and civil liberties. This is how Freedom House classifies Cape Verde in its annual report on the country, published this month. Note negative for drug trafficking, police violence against detainees and the slowness of the judicial system.
The Freedom House report on the archipelago is adamant when he says that "Cape Verde has continued to serve as a model for political rights and civil liberties in Africa during 2010." The institution also pointed out that "the country has signed the Dakar initiative to combat trafficking and enhanced judicial systems, improving international cooperation."
One important issue highlighted by the report is that of Cape Verde provide shelter to many immigrants from Africa seeking to reach Europe. Freedom House relates this phenomenon to the special partnership between Cape Verde and the European Union, establishing that the archipelago should serve to "buffer" illegal migration.
"In addition to its role in the flow of migrants, Cape Verde is increasingly used as a transit point for drug traffickers from Latin America to Europe," reads the text. They justify this by saying that "according to data cited by the Associated Press in 2008, 25 percent of the passports of drug traffickers arrested in Europe from West Africa were Cape Verdeans.
The United Nations, ECOWAS, the European Union and the United States recognized this increase and pledged to donate funds to help in policing activities on the part of Cape Verde. Thus, in 2010, Cape Verde, along with other West African nations and the EU signed the Dakar Initiative to combat drug trafficking.
Justice slow and crowded jails
Freedom House says that the judiciary is independent in Cape Verde, but presents some obstacles such as limited efficiency and capacity of courts, "that detention before trial for one year or longer are common."
The police beatings of detainees have been mitigated by the denunciation by the media, analyzes Freedom House. Negative note for the young who are often held with adults and the poor and overcrowded jails.
Positive note for all "types" of freedoms
Moreover, the report cites several "types" of freedom throughout the document pointed to positive aspects as fourth in the 2010 Ibrahim Index. As to the press, Freedom House points out that while "government approval is needed for publishing newspapers, periodicals, press freedom is legally guaranteed and generally respected in practice." "The independent press is small but vigorous, and there are several private radio stations and managed by the community," he says. Safeguard even if the government does not try to prevent or control access to the internet. They also report that there is religious freedom, academic, assembly and association. "The Constitution also protects the right to unionize, and workers may form and join unions without restriction. However, only about 25 percent of the workforce is unionized and collective bargaining is reportedly rare," mark. They also say that ethnic divisions are not a salient issue in Cape Verde, although tensions occasionally occur between the authorities and immigrants from West Africa.
As for gender policies, Freedom House notes that the Cape Verdean government has signed the African Protocol on the Rights of Women, which defines the legal standards as the criminalization of female genital mutilation and the prohibition of abuse of women in advertising and pornography . Also noteworthy was the adoption of National Action Plan to combat gender violence in 2011. "However, despite legal prohibitions, domestic violence and discrimination against women continue to be common, and the protocols of traditional gender roles continue to hinder equality," the report notes.
Freedom House ("House of Liberty" in English) is a nonprofit organization based in Washington DC, United States, and was founded in 1941. The work of the institution is preparing a number of researchers, advocates and publications to promote human rights, democracy, free market economy, rule of law and independent media.
