US on human rights violations

[NewsWhore]

The report on Human Rights 2008 for the Dominican Republic published by the United States Department of State indicates that serious problems persist with the human rights situation in the country because illegal killings, beatings of suspects, limited access to justice, corruption and violence against women and minors continues. The broad report tells of an increase of 37% in violent deaths with respect to 2007, and attributes 19% of these to the National Police. It adds that the law enforcement institution continued the practice of torturing prisoners and unarmed civilians, requested bribes from citizens and carried out arbitrary arrests and detentions. Nevertheless, the report indicates that 312 agents were discharged and 563 were punished for these practices. The judicial system was also accused of its share of violations. The report attributes inefficiency and corruption within the justice department to the significant number of accused who were granted bail only to never appear in court for trial. It maintains that most people who are detained and jailed but do not have money to pay found it difficult to obtain a lawyer, despite the law that facilitates legal council for the destitute. Likewise, it stresses that cases of political influence on judicial decisions are still evident, and "that on occasions it appears that some high court judges tried to influence, improperly, decisions by lower courts." Government corruption was seen as a serious problem, and the report also states that "apparently there is a lack of interest on the part of the authorities to investigate seriously and prepare trials in those cases that involve high-ranking governmental authorities whether in the current government or in the former (referring to that of Hipolito Mejia)". The report indicates that when cases did go to trial, the accusation was seldom successful in obtaining convictions or prison sentences. Likewise it emphasizes the lack of impact that the Ethics and anti-Corruption Commission has because it lacks the authority and structures to take decisions that are well defined. According to the report, the government regularly denies the registration of children of Haitian parents backed by the exception of them being in transit that is contained in the Constitution. The report also sets out the problems experienced by people in this situation in accessing services, and maintains that racial discrimination persists. The violation of the rights of women and minors, the disabled and people with HIV-AIDS is also emphasized, with the latter mainly suffering in the work place. The report also mentions human trafficking and reported attempts to curtail the right of workers to form unions in businesses. It also mentions threats to the press.
See http://santodomingo.usembassy.gov/hr_report-2008.html

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