 Liberian children were recruited as combatants in the civil war |
Human rights group Amnesty International has produced its annual report, which says the US-led "war on terror" is behind a surge of human rights abuses around the world. Governments everywhere were tempted to use it as an excuse for abandoning established rights and humanitarian principles, it said. But alongside the global human rights crisis, old abuses persisted. In Africa, 2003 saw widespread armed conflict, the repression of political opponents, the failure of governments to live up to their professed standards - and near total impunity for past and continuing abuses, the report said. The following are some of the abuses cited across Africa: Burundi Scores of civilians killed in armed conflict by government forces and armed groups Recruitment of child soldiers as combatants and sex slaves Women and girls raped and sexually abused by perpetrators from different parties to the conflict Widespread torture and ill-treatment of suspects Central African Republic Recruitment of child soldiers as combatants and sex slaves during armed conflict Numerous extrajudicial executions and widespread sexual violence reportedly carried out by those involved in the March 2003 coup, involving armed groups from neighbouring DR Congo Women and girls raped and sexually abused by perpetrators from different parties to the conflict  The worst abuses were found in areas of conflict, the report said |
Ivory Coast Recruitment of child soldiers as combatants and sex slaves Women and girls raped and sexually abused by perpetrators from different parties to the conflict Democratic Republic of Congo Mass slaughter, rape and mutilation of men, women and children during armed conflict Tens of thousands killed and internally displaced in the east due to clashes between armed ethnic groups supported by outside powers, including Rwanda and Uganda Recruitment of child soldiers as combatants and sex slaves Liberia Thousands of deaths, sexual violence against women and children and mass displacement within Liberia and to Cote d'Ivoire, Guinea and Sierra Leone Recruitment of child soldiers as combatants and sex slaves Nigeria Former Liberian President Charles Taylor offered refuge and implied immunity from prosecution Sharia (Islamic law) courts continued to hand down death sentences based on penal legislation passed since 1999 - but no executions reportedly carried out Culpable homicide used as charge in cases of abortion and miscarriage in some states Sudan Conflict in western region of Darfur killed hundreds and led to displacement of hundreds of thousands  Thousands have fled Sudan's Darfur region, where militias are accused of "ethnic cleansing" |
Recruitment of child soldiers as combatants and sex slaves Women and girls raped and sexually abused by perpetrators from different parties to the conflict Widespread torture and ill-treatment of suspects Uganda Lord's Resistance Army continued to abduct children and abuse them as combatants and sexual slaves Women and girls raped and sexually abused by perpetrators from different parties to the conflict Cameroon Malicious prosecution, arbitrary arrest and excessive force against demonstrators as tools of political repression Chad Malicious prosecution, arbitrary arrest and excessive force against demonstrators as tools of political repression Eritrea Malicious prosecution, arbitrary arrest and excessive force against demonstrators as tools of political repression Widespread torture and ill-treatment of suspects Ethiopia Malicious prosecution, arbitrary arrest and excessive force against demonstrators as tools of political repression Widespread torture and ill-treatment of suspects Rwanda Malicious prosecution, arbitrary arrest and excessive force against demonstrators as tools of political repression Togo Malicious prosecution, arbitrary arrest and excessive force against demonstrators as tools of political repression Widespread torture and ill-treatment of suspects  Zimbabwe was criticised for widespread torture |
Zimbabwe Malicious prosecution, arbitrary arrest and excessive force against demonstrators as tools of political repression Widespread torture and ill-treatment of suspects Commonwealth renewed suspension of Zimbabwe because of government's poor human rights record Kenya Legislation prepared to allow detraction from key human rights obligations on grounds of combating "terrorism" Zambia More than 40 people sentenced to death for participation in alleged coup attempt - but no executions reportedly carried out Chad Nine men executed in the first death sentences carried out since 1991 South Africa Failure to protect women effectively from criminally motivated sexual violence or to support them as survivors of violence - largely due to inadequate law enforcement and judicial process Swaziland Failure to protect women effectively from criminally motivated sexual violence or to support them as survivors of violence - largely due to inadequate law enforcement and judicial process
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