The report criticizes the EU’s efforts to limit human rights protection through migration and anti-terrorism legislation. In particular, it points to the proposed off-shore processing of asylum seekers and the under-funded and underdeveloped asylum and immigration procedures currently in place in the new EU member states. In addition, Human Rights Watch condemned the UK’s anti-terrorism act, allowing for indefinite detention of terrorist suspects and Spain’s policy of holding suspects in isolation.

The report also points to the human rights violations in many former soviet states. The report claims that Moscow controls all of Russia through President Vladimir Putin who has made moves to centralize power in the presidency. In Russia, the report states, police torture, military hazing, disappearances and extrajudicial executions of opponents in Chechnya remain the norm.

Belarus fares no better. In October, not one person from the opposition party gained a seat in the 110-member Chamber of Representatives. The report attributes this to severe repression of the media.

The governments of Armenia and Azerbaijan continue violate human rights as well, as presidential elections in both countries were fraudulent and protest movements in response to such fraud were violently suppressed.

The report touches on the Ukraine as well. While the election of opposition candidate Viktor Yushchenko is promising, much remains to be seen in terms of limitations placed on political freedoms by the new Ukraine government.

Please click here to read the report.

Compiled from:

• EU’s human rights protection critised, Lucia Kubosova, News, EUobserver, www.EUobserver.com, 14 January 2004.
• World: Human Rights Watch-Annual Report Paints Bleak Picture in Many Former Soviet States, Andrew Tully, Feature Articles, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, www.rferf.org, 13 January 2005.