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March 31, 2003 |
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Table Of
Content |
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General
Briefing |
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Section
1 |
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Respect
for the Integrity of the Person, Including Freedom From: |
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a. |
Arbitrary or Unlawful Deprivation
of Life |
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b. |
Disappearance |
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c. |
Torture and Other Cruel,
Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment |
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d. |
Arbitrary Arrest, Detention,
or Exile |
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e. |
Denial of Fair Public Trial |
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f. |
Arbitrary Interference with
Privacy, Family, Home, or Correspondence |
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Section 2 |
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Respect
for Civil Liberties, Including: |
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a. |
Freedom of Speech and Press
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b. |
Freedom of Peaceful Assembly
and Association |
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c. |
Freedom of Religion |
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d. |
Freedom of
Movement Within the Country, Foreign Travel, Emigration, and
Repatriation |
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Section
3 |
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Respect
for Political Rights: The Right of Citizens to Change Their
Government |
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Section
4 |
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Government
Attitude Regarding International and Nongovernmental Investigation
of Alleged Violations of Human Rights |
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Section
5 |
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Discrimination
Based on Race, Sex, Disability, Language, or Social Status
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Women |
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Children |
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Persons with Disabilities
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National/Racial/Ethnic Minorities
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Section
6 |
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Worker Rights
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a. |
The Right of Association
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b. |
The Right to Organize and
Bargain Collectively |
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c. |
Prohibition of Forced or
Bonded Labor |
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d. |
Status of Child Labor Practices
and Minimum Age for Employment |
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e. |
Acceptable Conditions of
Work |
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f. |
Trafficking in Persons |
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Togo is a republic dominated by President Gnassingbe
Eyadema, who came to power in 1967 following a military coup.
Eyadema and his Rally of the Togolese People party (RPT), strongly
backed by the armed forces, have continued to dominate political
power and maintained firm control over all levels of the country's
highly centralized Government. Despite the Government's professed
intention to move from authoritarian rule to democracy, institutions
established to accomplish this transition did not do so in practice.
Procedural problems and significant fraud, particularly in the
misrepresentation of voter turnout, marred the 1998 presidential
elections. In February the Government made unilateral changes
to the electoral code and in May replaced the national independent
electoral commission (CENI) with a committee of seven magistrates
to manage the legislative elections. In response to these changes,
the traditional opposition boycotted the legislative races,
held October 27. The RPT won 72 of 81 seats in the National
Assembly; the remaining nine seats, eight went to newly formed
opposition parties and one to an independent candidate. On December
30, the newly elected National Assembly modified the 1992 Constitution,
which limited the president to two terms to allow President
Eyadema to run again. These 34 constitutional changes also helped
to consolidate presidential power. Eyadema and his supporters
maintained firm control over all facets and levels of the country's
highly centralized Government. The executive branch continued
to influence the judiciary.
The security forces consisted of the army (including the
elite Presidential guard), navy, air force, the Surete Nationale
(including the national police), and the Gendarmerie. The
police and Gendarmerie performed domestic intelligence functions.
Approximately 90 percent of the army's officers and 70 percent
of its soldiers were from the Kabye ethnic minority. Although
the Minister of the Interior nominally was in charge of the
national police and the Defense Minister had nominal authority
over most other security forces, President Eyadema effectively
controlled all security forces. Members of the security forces
effectively curtailed civil liberties of regime opponents,
especially in the northern part of the country. Members of
the security forces committed serious human rights abuses.
Approximately 80 percent of the country's estimated population
of 5 million was engaged in subsistence agriculture, but there
also was an active commercial sector. Economic growth continued
to lag behind population growth. The Government privatized
several companies during the year. Anti-corruption efforts
continued, but the Government's budgetary and fiscal discipline
eroded. International and bilateral donors continued to suspend
foreign aid because of the Government's weak democratization
efforts and poor human rights record, as well as repayment
arrears.
The Government's human rights record remained poor, and it
continued to commit numerous abuses. Citizens' right to change
their government was restricted. As in the past, human rights
abuses increased as the country neared elections; however,
because of the mainline opposition boycott, there were few
confrontations during the October 27 legislative elections.
Nevertheless, the Government forcibly dispersed political
rallies and protests, seized independent newspapers, and jailed
political opponents and critics of the Government. Although
there were no confirmed reports of extrajudicial killings,
security forces beat civilians. The Government in general
did not investigate or punish effectively those who committed
abuses, nor did it prosecute persons responsible in previous
years for extrajudicial killings and disappearances.
Prison conditions remained very harsh. Arbitrary arrest and
detention was a problem, and prolonged pretrial detention
was common. The Government continued to influence the understaffed
and overburdened judiciary and did not ensure fair and expeditious
trials. Security forces often infringed on citizens' privacy
rights. The Government and the security forces restricted
freedom of speech and of the press, often using investigative
detention and criminal libel prosecutions to harass journalists
and political opponents. The Government restricted academic
freedom and freedom of assembly, association, and movement.
The National Commission for Human Rights (CNDH) continued
to be dominated by supporters of the President, and the Government
restricted and impeded the work of independent human rights
groups. Violence and societal discrimination against women
remained a problem. Female genital mutilation (FGM) persisted
among some ethnic groups. Discrimination against ethnic minorities
remained a problem. The Government limited workers' rights
to collective bargaining. Child labor was a problem. Trafficking
in women and children remained problems.
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RESPECT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS |
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Section
1 |
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Respect for the Integrity
of the Person, Including Freedom From: |
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a. Arbitrary or Unlawful
Deprivation of Life
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There were no confirmed reports of the arbitrary or unlawful
deprivation of life committed by the Government or its agents
during the year, and no extrajudicial killings from previous
years were discovered during the year. However, one person
died during the year when police and demonstrators clashed
(see Section 2.b.).
There were no developments in the investigation of the March
2000 killing of an alleged government-paid agitator at the
University of Benin (now known as the University of Lome).
In April at the annual meeting of the U.N. Human Rights Commission,
the U.N./Organization of African Unity (OAU) Commission of
Inquiry into allegations of extrajudicial killings disbanded
without further investigations. In February 2001, the Commission
released the results of its investigation into reports that
the Government threw hundreds of bodies into the sea during
the 1998 presidential elections (see Sections 1.b. and 4),
including what it called credible evidence of some extrajudicial
killings that merited further investigation. The Commission's
report also alleged that security forces or militias linked
to government authorities were responsible for the following
previously unreported extrajudicial killings or disappearances
during the 1998 elections: Kodjo Ahadji; Anani Teko Allyn;
Koffi Amouzou; Koffi Roger Ahiakpo; Kossi Kossi; Koffie Tenou;
Germain Palanga N'Gamnouwe; Pele Keleou; and Hoffia Messan
Pomeavor. In March 2001, the Government established a National
Commission of Inquiry to investigate the Commission's allegations,
which concluded that these allegations were unfounded and
took no further action in any of the cases.
Following the September 1998 killing of Koffi Mathieu Kegbe,
an activist in the opposition Action for Renewal Committee
(CAR) party, police arrested Kodjovi Akomabu in 2001. He was
found to be the leader of a criminal gang and was sentenced
to 6 years in prison. He appealed the sentence, and it was
raised to 10 years. Akomabu began serving his time in August
2001. He was transferred to the prison in Kara in the north
during the year.
There still was no investigation into the April 2001 lynchings
in Akodessewa of Anani Adable and Apelete Koffi Klutse, two
alleged thieves; there was no suspicion of government involvement.
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b. Disappearance |
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There were no reports of politically motivated disappearances.
In a final report released in February 2001, the U.N./OAU
Commission of Inquiry reported the disappearance of the following
six persons, previously unreported, last seen under arrest
by security forces in 1998: Koffi "Hitler" Akakpossa;
Nicolas Assiongbon; Adrisse "Ringo" Djiewone; Yao
Homawoo; Kokou Akakpo; and Eugene Senyo. The Government denied
it had anything to do with their disappearances.
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c. Torture and Other
Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment |
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The law prohibits torture and physical abuse of prisoners
and detainees; however, security forces often beat detainees
after arresting them. Some suspects claimed credibly to have
been beaten, burned, or denied access to food and medical
attention. Impunity remained a problem, and the Government
did not prosecute publicly any officials for these abuses.
On June 26, security forces detained two opposition CAR Party
members who claimed they were beaten at the Para-Commando
military camp in Kara. They were released June 30. They were
accused of distributing political tracts, reportedly endorsing
a proposed presidential bid by RPT figure Dahuku Pere.
In November 2001, Union of Forces for Change (UFC) members
Andre Kuevi and Atanai Aboubakar were attacked and beaten
in the northern city of Kara. Kuevi was beaten on the head
with iron bars and required a blood transfusion. Atanai reportedly
slipped into a coma for 3 days. The Government vowed to investigate;
however, there were no developments during the year.
Security forces harassed, intimidated, and beat journalists
(see Section 2.a.).
Security forces dispersed demonstrators forcibly (see Section
2.b.).
On February 5, the Government forcibly retired former Army
Chief of Staff LTC Kouma Bitenewe. Following his April 2001
arrest, Bitenewe accused troops of holding him incommunicado
and torturing him. He was under house arrest for much of 2001.
There was no investigation into the April 2001 incident in
which the UFC claimed that RPT militants doused UFC Secretary
General Jean-Pierre Fabre with gasoline and threatened to
set him on fire.
Prison conditions reportedly remained very harsh, with serious
overcrowding, poor sanitation, and unhealthy food. According
to the First Instance Court, a bureau of the Appellate Court
in the Ministry of Justice, Lome's central prison, built for
350 prisoners, housed 1,100 inmates at its peak during the
year. In December the total prison population for Lome was
1,146, including 35 women awaiting trial and 3 judged guilty
as well as 871 men awaiting trial and 275 judged guilty. Medical
facilities were inadequate, and disease and drug abuse were
widespread. Prison guards in the overcrowded civil prison
of Lome charged prisoners a small fee to shower, use the toilet,
or have a place to sleep. Sick prisoners reportedly had to
pay $2 (1,500 CFA francs) to guards before being allowed to
visit the infirmary.
The children of convicted adults often were incarcerated
with the female inmates, who were housed separately from the
male prisoners. Juvenile prisoners were held separately from
adults. Political prisoners and pretrial detainees were not
held separately from convicted prisoners.
Although some international and local private organizations
had access to prisons for monitoring purposes, the International
Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) did not request a visit
during the year.
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d. Arbitrary Arrest,
Detention, or Exile |
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Arbitrary arrest and detention remained problems.
Judges or senior police officials may issue warrants. Although
detainees have the right to be informed of the charges against
them, police sometimes ignored this right. The law allows authorities
to hold arrested persons incommunicado without charge for 48
hours, with an additional 48-hour extension in cases deemed
serious or complex. Family members and attorneys officially
had access to a detainee after 48 or 96 hours of detention;
however, authorities often delayed, and sometimes denied, access.
The law stipulates that a special judge conduct a pretrial investigation
to examine the adequacy of evidence and decide on bail; however,
in practice detainees could be, and often were, held without
bail for lengthy periods with or without the approval of a judge.
A shortage of judges and other qualified personnel, as well
as official inaction, resulted in lengthy pretrial detention--in
some cases several years--and confinement of prisoners for
periods exceeding the time they would have served if tried
and convicted. For example, Kokou Alowou and Dela Atidepe
were arrested in 1993, charged with armed robbery and manslaughter,
and still were awaiting trial at year's end. In December an
estimated 70 percent of the prison population was pretrial
detainees (see Section 1.c.).
The Government continued to use brief investigative detentions
of less than 48 hours to harass and intimidate opposition
activists and journalists (see Section 2.a.). The Government
at times has resorted to false charges of common crimes to
arrest, detain, and intimidate opponents. On August 17, three
members of the UFC opposition party were arrested and briefly
detained for urging people to attend a political rally scheduled
for August 24. Five persons were arrested, detained, and ultimately
convicted of crimes for political reasons during the year
(see Section 1.e.).
On September 24, a member of the opposition CAR party, Kokou
Avigan, was arrested and charged with distributing political
tracts to Alabi Sofiou, another CAR member. At year's end,
both men remained in jail without being formally charged or
given a trial.
After forcibly dispersing demonstrations during the year,
members of the security forces arrested and detained participants,
sometimes without charges (see Section 2.b.).
Unlike in the previous year, there were no records that members
of the security forces detained human rights monitors and
activists during the year. The Constitution prohibits exile,
and the Government generally respected this prohibition; however,
several opposition and human rights workers remained in self-imposed
exile because they feared arrest. For example, some students
who fled in 2000 remained in Ghana due to fear of arrest if
they returned to the country.
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e. Denial of Fair Public
Trial |
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The Constitution provides for an independent judiciary; however,
in practice the executive branch continued to exert control
over the judiciary. A majority of the members of the Supreme
Council for the Magistrature were supporters of President
Eyadema. Judges who belonged to the pro-Eyadema Professional
Association of Togo Magistrates (APMT) reportedly received
the most prestigious assignments, while judges who advocated
an independent judiciary and belonged to the National Association
of Magistrates (ANM) were marginalized.
The Constitutional Court stands at the apex of the court
system. The civil judiciary system includes the Supreme Court,
Sessions (Court of Assizes), and Appeals Courts. A military
tribunal exists for crimes committed by security forces, but
its proceedings are closed. General Seyi Memene served as
Justice Minister. The court system remained overburdened and
understaffed. Magistrates, like most government employees,
were not always paid on time. The judicial system employs
both traditional law as well as the Napoleonic Code in trying
criminal and civil cases. Trials were open to the public,
and judicial procedures generally were respected. Defendants
have the right to counsel and to appeal. The Bar Association
provides attorneys for the indigent. Defendants may confront
witnesses, present evidence, and enjoy a presumption of innocence.
In rural areas, the village chief or council of elders may
try minor criminal and civil cases. Those who reject the traditional
ruling may take their cases to the regular court system, which
was the starting point for cases in urban areas.
Opposition figures were imprisoned for expressing political
opinions and frequently were denied a fair trial. On January
10, an appeals court ruled in favor of opposition CAR Party
President Yawovi Agboyibo, but only after President Eyadema
issued instructions for his release from prison after 7 months.
Agboyibo had been convicted in August 2001 of defaming then
Prime Minister Agbeyome Kodjo. The trial was flawed; there
were serious irregularities, including a disregard for proper
judicial procedure. In September former Prime Minister Kodjo
blamed President Eyadema for Agboyibo's imprisonment, saying
that Eyadema forced him to bring the suit against the opposition
party leader.
In June Yawovi Jules Kpizia, an opposition CAR political
party official, was released from prison after serving 1 year
for defamation of the President's son, LTC Ernest Gnassingbe.
In September the Government tried Claude Ameganvi, leader
of an opposition labor party and union activist, for defamation
of the President. The prosecutor allegedly changed Ameganvi's
statement; the prosecutor insisted the text included typographical
errors. The presiding judge rejected demands to withdraw the
document. Ameganvi was sentenced to 4 months for defamation
of the president's image and an additional 2 months after
the public prosecutor raised the sentence.
In June 2001, Harry Olympio, former Human Rights Minister
and opposition Rally for the Support of Democracy and Development
(RSDD) president, was arrested and convicted in a seriously
flawed trial for the production and possession of explosives.
He was sentenced to 18 months in prison and fined $500 (360,000
CFA francs); however, President Eyadema pardoned him in 2001.
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f. Arbitrary Interference
with Privacy, Family, Home, or Correspondence
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The Constitution provides for the sanctity of residences,
the confidentiality of correspondence and telecommunications,
and prohibits searches and seizures not prescribed by law;
however, security forces often infringed on these rights.
In criminal cases, a judge or senior police official may authorize
searches of private residences, and in political and national
security cases, the security forces need no prior authorization.
Police conducted searches without warrants, searching for
arms caches as well as for criminals, often under the guise
of searching for identity cards. Armed security checkpoints
existed throughout the country, and security forces regularly
searched vehicles, baggage, and individuals in the name of
security (see Section 2.d.).
Security forces entered private residences, particularly
in the north, for the purpose of disrupting meetings among
opposition political figures. On July 3, gendarmes and other
security officials reportedly searched the home of Dany Ayida,
a journalist and director of a human rights center in Lome
who was exiled in France and mistreated his wife. He remained
in Benin at year's end.
Citizens believed that the Government monitored telephones
and correspondence, although this surveillance was not confirmed.
The Government maintained a system of informers on the university
campus (see Section 2.a.).
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Section
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Respect for Civil Liberties,
Including: |
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a. Freedom of Speech
and Press |
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The Constitution provides for freedom of speech and of the
press; however, the Government restricted these rights in
practice. The Government repeatedly harassed and intimidated
print media journalists through threats, detentions, and criminal
libel prosecutions. Police and gendarmes occasionally harassed
newspaper vendors and confiscated issues of some opposition
newspapers. Advertisers reportedly often were intimidated.
Few opposition newspapers were allowed distribution outside
the Lome area, particularly in areas not known to be ruling
party strongholds.
On September 3, the National Assembly approved another revision
of the 1998 Press and Communication Code, further restricting
freedom of expression in the country. The revision focused
on Article 91, enacting a 5-year term of imprisonment (up
from 3 years in the previous code) and a $7,600 (up from $2,500)
fine for any journalist found guilty of defamation of military
or of government officials. The severest penalties were reserved
for offenses to the "honor, dignity ... and the public
functions" of "the president, prime minister, national
assembly president, parliamentarians, members of government
and public institutions." In addition, the new code requires
independent newspapers to constitute their reporting staffs
with at least one-third "professional journalists,"
a status accorded only by the government-appointed authority.
During the year, persons were charged with defamation (see
Section 1.e.).
Despite government interference, there was a lively press,
most of which was heavily politicized, and some of which was
highly critical of President Eyadema. More than 15 privately
owned newspapers published with some regularity. The only
daily newspaper, Togo-Presse, was government-owned and controlled.
There were several independent newspapers that published on
weekly and biweekly schedules.
There was no pre-publication censorship of print media in
law or practice; however, journalists practiced varying degrees
of self-censorship, and security forces frequently threatened
or detained print media journalists and interfered with the
distribution of newspapers.
During the year, authorities seized copies of newspapers
that criticized the Government. For example, on April 4, security
agents seized all copies of La Tribune du Peuple, apparently
for publishing an article entitled "Togo State of Terror:
FAT (Armed Forces of Togo) Members Mistreated Agbekodo."
On April 9, agents confiscated copies of the newspaper Le
Regard for commenting on a Human Rights Commission meeting
in Geneva in which the Amnesty International (AI) report entitled
"Togo: A State of Terror" was discussed. A former
minister threatened to put the director of Le Regard in jail
for life.
On April 16, security forces unsuccessfully sought to confiscate
all copies of Le Regard that contained a letter written by
Member of Parliament (M.P.) Dahuku Pere, a member of the ruling
RPT Party's Central Committee, that called on the RPT to convene
a party congress to discuss the party's performance and image
(see Section 3). On April 22, security agents seized copies
of two newspapers, Le Combat du Peuple and Motion d'Information,
for publishing Pere's letter.
Members of the security forces arrested and detained journalists,
sometimes without charging them with any offense.
For example, in June Basile Agboh, publisher of the weekly
newspaper Akekle, was jailed for publishing a story claiming
that the President's eldest son, LTC Ernest Gnassingbe, had
made death threats against then-Prime Minister Agbeyome Kodjo.
He was released after 70 days of detention.
On August 5, Julien Ayi, editor of Agoo Nami, and Alphonse
Klu, director of Nouvel Echo, were arrested for publishing
unsubstantiated information allegedly given to them by Claude
Ameganvi that Forbes Magazine had named President Eyadema
one of the world's wealthiest people. Ameganvi was arrested
the next day (see Section 1.e.). On September 13, Ameganvi
and Ayi were sentenced to 4 months in jail and each fined
$150 (100,000 CFA francs). Klu, still in hiding, was sentenced
to 6 months in prison and fined the same amount. At the time
of sentencing, the Government had not enacted the new press
code.
In October 2001, the Gendarmerie arrested journalist Komi
Nemvame Klu for publishing false information about a public
figure. He was released on October 30, 2001.
Unlike in the previous year, no press offices were closed
due to government threats.
Radio remained the most important medium of mass communication.
Two government-owned and 53 private radio stations were officially
licensed in December in response to the first government-enacted
licensing operation. Two of these, Radio Avenir and Galaxy
FM, were associated with the ruling RPT Party. Some private
radio stations broadcast domestic news; however, they offered
little of the political commentary and criticism of the Government
that was widespread in the print media. A private station,
Kanal FM, was a foreign affiliate and carried several hours
of news, music, and commentary daily.
Beginning on September 17, the Government blocked transmission
of Radio France International to prevent the broadcast of
an interview with former Prime Minister Kodjo. In the interview,
Kodjo criticized President Eyadema for controlling the judicial
and legislative as well as the executive branches of the Government.
He said that Eyadema's stepping down was the only way for
the country to complete its democratic transition.
The government-owned and controlled Television Togo, and
the independent TV-2 were the only major television stations
in the country. TV-2 carried France-based TV-5's international
news programming. Three smaller television stations operated
during the year but their broadcasts were limited to certain
localities, and their content primarily was of a religious
or entertainment nature.
The Constitution mandates equal access to state media; however,
the official media heavily slanted their contents in favor
of the President and the Government. The High Authority for
Audio-Visual and Communications (HAAC) was charged with providing
equal access to state media, as mandated by the Constitution.
Although nominally independent, in practice HAAC operated
as an arm of the Government. It was dominated by Eyadema supporters
and had not increased opposition access to the government
controlled media. Two opposition representatives were appointed
in 2001 to improve the HAAC's balance. In February HAAC sent
a letter to Radio Victoire telling it to stop all programming
until it signed the convention that authorized all broadcasting.
The Togolese Media Observatory (OTM), a nongovernmental organization
(NGO), was established to protect press freedom and to improve
the professionalism of journalists. OTM's board and membership
included both government and private journalists. During the
year, it met regularly to discuss journalistic ethics and
professional standards.
There were no reports that the Government restricted access
to the approximately 15 Internet service providers in the
country. Most Internet users were businesses rather than households.
Access to the Internet and fax machines also was available
in many small stores and cafes in Lome and other cities.
At the country's sole university, the University of Lome,
previously known as the University of Benin, academic freedom
was constrained by potential harassment by the Government
and anti-opposition militants, or both, and the lack of a
Rector elected by the faculty. Teachers' salaries and students'
stipends rarely were paid on time. Drastic increases in tuition
and cuts in scholarships reduced the total number of students,
and as a result, there were fewer interruptions to university
classes during the year. A government informer system reportedly
continued to intimidate students. The only officially tolerated
student groups; the High Council of the Student's Movement
(Haut Conseil des Mouvements Etudiants) and the General Union
of Students and Interns of Togo (Union General des Etudiants
et Stagiares du Togo), were pro-Eyadema. The independent student
organization CEUL has had longstanding unofficial recognition,
and its elected representatives have participated on university
committees.
Unlike in the previous year, security forces did not forcibly
disperse student protests at the University of Lome.
Thomas Gnandi and Kodjo Gbodzisi, the President and Vice
President of the CEUL, remained expelled at year's end, and
no action was taken against security forces who allegedly
tortured them following protests by students and professors
over their May 2001 expulsion.
There were no developments in the 2000 case of former CEUL
leader Lorempo Lamboni.
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b. Freedom of Peaceful
Assembly and Association |
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The Constitution provides for freedom of assembly; however,
the Government restricted this right in practice. Opposition
political parties rarely were permitted to hold public meetings
in Lome, and authorities systematically interfered with the
freedom of political opponents attempting to assemble in the
central and northern regions. Government officials prohibited,
and security forces forcibly dispersed, some public demonstrations
critical of the Government. For example, on August 3, Claude
Ameganvi, coordinator of a group called "What Solution
for Togo," organized a demonstration commemorating the
10th anniversary of the murder of opposition political leader
Tavio Amorin. In response to a request by the UFC party to
hold a rally August 3, the Minister of Interior organized
a "Clean the City" day, forcing the UFC party members
to postpone the rally until the following day. Police dispersed
the participants using batons, injuring several marchers,
including one who required medical treatment.
On August 17, UFC members were arrested for inviting people
to attend another rally scheduled for August 24. The Minister
of Interior convoked UFC leaders to his office and complained
about the statements made in the August 4 rally and the blocked
August 24 rally.
On September 28, security forces used tear gas and batons
to break up a public opposition UFC Party meeting, and at
least one UFC member was injured slightly. Police arrested
Secretary General Jean-Pierre Fabre but released him a few
hours later.
On November 9, security forces broke up a march organized
by a coalition of opposition parties. Police and opposition
members clashed when the group attempted to change from the
pre-approved route. Numerous persons from both sides were
injured, and one protestor, Alex Hedeka, a member of the opposition
UFC party, died a few days later from his injuries.
Opposition groups continued to accuse Northern Military Zone
Commander LTC Ernest Gnassingbe, the President's son, of blocking
or breaking up public and private political demonstrations
and meetings.
There were no official reports of student demonstrations
during the year. However, security forces remained present
on the University of Lome campus (see Section 2.a.).
No known action was taken against security forces that used
excessive force when dispersing demonstrations in 2001 and
2000.
Unlike in the previous year, the Government did not ban opposition
gatherings.
Under the Constitution, citizens have the right to organize
associations and political parties; however, the Government
restricted this right in practice. While political parties
were able to elect officers and register, few opposition party
offices and no pro-opposition newspapers operated in most
towns in the central and northern regions.
There were many NGOs; they were required to register with
the Government.
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c. Freedom of Religion
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The Constitution provides for freedom of religion, and the
Government generally respected this right in practice.
The Government has established requirements for recognition
of religious organizations outside the three main faiths--Roman
Catholicism, Protestantism, and Islam--which were recognized
officially. Applications for recognition must be submitted
to the Interior Ministry's Division of Civil Security. The
Interior Ministry issues official recognition. The Civil Security
Division also has enforcement responsibilities when there
are problems or complaints associated with a religious organization.
The Government recognized 109 religious groups, of which most
were smaller Protestant groups and some new Muslim groups
as well as new traditional religious groups. Members of those
religions not officially recognized were permitted to practice
their religion, but had no legal standing. During the year,
12 religious groups submitted applications to the government
requesting official recognition. Since 1991, 329 groups have
applied for recognition. There was no information available
regarding the criteria for recognition, the number of rejections,
or details about the groups that had been rejected. If an
application provided insufficient information for recognition
to be granted, the application often remained open indefinitely.
For a more detailed discussion see the 2002 International
Religious Freedom Report.
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d. Freedom of Movement
Within the Country, Foreign Travel, Emigration, and Repatriation
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The Constitution provides for these rights; however, the
Government restricted them in practice. Armed security checkpoints
and arbitrary searches of vehicles and individuals were common,
and government security forces searched cars throughout the
country. Undisciplined acts of some soldiers manning roadblocks,
such as frequent demands for bribes before allowing citizens
to pass, impeded free movement within the country. The Government
prevented opposition political parties from traveling and
campaigning in the north of the country and from traveling
or entering certain towns.
In June the Government placed former Prime Minister Agbeyome
Kodjo's French-citizen wife under house arrest, blocked her
attempts to leave her house, and prevented others from visiting
her. After 1 month, and appeals from the French Embassy and
international groups, the Government removed the security
forces. The Government insisted the troops had been placed
there for her protection.
In August the Government refused to act on the passport application
by the son of Dahuku Pere, a prominent critic of the Government
from within the ruling RPT, apparently in retaliation for
his father's views. By year's end, Pere's son still had not
been issued a passport. The Government permitted citizens
to use a national identity card instead of a passport for
travel to other member countries of the Economic Community
of West African States. The Government required that a married
woman have her husband's permission to apply for a passport.
There was no law that provided for the granting of asylum
or refugee status in accordance with the provisions of the
1951 U.N. Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees and
its 1967 Protocol. However, the Government provided first
asylum. The Government cooperated with the office of the U.N.
High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and other humanitarian
organizations in assisting refugees. During the year, a National
Refugee Assistance Coordination (CNAR) group was established.
In December UNHCR estimated there were 11,000 refugees from
Ghana living in the northern areas of the country, near the
cities of Bassar, Sotouboua, and Dankpen. A total of 508 Ghanaian
refugees were in the process of being repatriated at year's
end. According to the Government, there were approximately
800 refugees (mostly from Rwanda and the Democratic Republic
of the Congo) registered in Lome and an approximate 1,200
additional refugees living in rural villages. According to
UNHCR estimates, approximately 1,600 Togolese refugees lived
in Benin and another 800 in Ghana.
There were no reports of the forced return of persons to
a country where they feared persecution.
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Section
3 |
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Respect for Political
Rights: The Right of Citizens to Change Their Government |
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The Constitution provides for the right of citizens to change
their Government peacefully; however, the Government restricted
this right in practice. In the 1998 presidential election,
the Interior Ministry declared Eyadema the winner with 52
percent of the vote; however, serious irregularities in the
Government's conduct of the election strongly favored Eyadema
and appear to have affected the outcome materially.
Although the Government generally did not obstruct the actions
of political opponents openly, the President used the military
and his government allies to intimidate and harass citizens
and opposition groups (see Sections 1.d., 1.e., and 2.b.).
LTC Ernest Gnassingbe, the President's son, threatened the
leading legislative candidate for the opposition party CAR,
Palakizima Aweli, telling him to leave the city.
The Government and the State remained highly centralized.
President Eyadema's national Government appointed the officials
and controlled the budgets of all subnational government entities
including prefectures and municipalities, and influenced the
selection of traditional chiefs. The National Assembly has
little authority or influence on President Eyadema and has
limited influence on the Government. Aside from controlling
its own programs and activities and writing amendments to
the Constitution, the National Assembly largely approved the
proposals of the President and the Government.
After the 1999 legislative elections, boycotted by the opposition
and marred by procedural problems and significant fraud, the
Government announced that it would pursue dialog with the
opposition. In July 1999, all sides signed the "Lome
Framework Agreement," which included a pledge by President
Eyadema that he would respect the Constitution and not seek
another term as president after his term expires in 2003.
In 2000 the Government established the CENI, composed of 10
members of the President's RPT party and 10 members of the
opposition, and adopted a new Electoral Code largely drafted
by the opposition.
On February 1, in what it called a bid to speed up election
preparations, the Government amended the electoral code to
include: A requirement that legislative and presidential candidates
must be citizens; a reduction of the composition of the CENI
to 10 members (5 from the RPT and 5 representing the opposition);
and that all CENI decisions could be made by a simple majority
vote. On April 25, the Constitutional Court replaced the CENI
with a seven-magistrate commission (C7), which proceeded to
organize elections for October 27.
In April longtime RPT Party official and former president
of the National Assembly, Dahuku Pere, publicly criticized
the party's failure to break with its authoritarian one-party
past. Noting that excesses from 1991 to 1993 had included
murders and repression committed by the both the RPT and its
opponents, Pere called for a renewal of party values and recommitment
to success in a fairly fought democratic contest. Gendarmes
questioned and then released Pere. A nearly unanimous RPT
Central Committee vote rejected Pere's treatise, and President
Eyadema stripped him of his party position and decorations.
On June 27, Prime Minister Agbeyome Kodjo left his post and
fled to France. He was the only member of the RPT Central
Committee who did not sign the letter rejecting Pere's declaration.
Upon his departure, he released a 14-page letter criticizing
President Eyadema for his "monarchic-despotic" regime
and accusing him of looting public coffers to sustain a life
of luxury. As with Pere, the Government immediately stripped
Kodjo of his party membership and decorations and accused
him of treason.
In August four leading opposition parties united their agendas
to demonstrate solidarity against the Government. Opposition
parties that did not join the unified "Front" included
the UFC party of Gilchrist Olympio, the son of the former
president who was assassinated in 1963, and the Opposition
Pan-African Patriotic Convergence party of former Prime Minister
Edem Kodjo. In September several other minor opposition parties
also united their agendas, calling themselves the Republican
Opposition Front (FOR). Following the June 2001 presidential
pardon of Harry Olympio on coup-plotting charges, the former
Human Rights Minister and RSDD president stated that he intended
to participate in the October legislative elections.
Long-delayed legislative elections were held on October 27,
and the opposition parties who were members of the Lome Framework
Agreement boycotted the races. President Eyadema's RPT party
won 72 out of the total 81 seats in the National Assembly.
Three newly formed opposition parties and one independent
candidate shared the remaining nine seats. The Government
said voter turnout was 67 percent, a figure contested by the
main opposition parties as well as some of the government-sponsored
international election observers. There were reports of incidents
of intimidation and fraud.
On December 30, the newly elected National Assembly passed
34 modifications to the 1992 Constitution. President Eyadema
promulgated the law on December 31. Chief among the changes
was a rewrite of Article 59 erasing the two-term limit for
the presidency. In addition, the new Constitution lowered
the age of presidential candidates from 45 to 35; stipulated
only one-round of voting for all future elections; and created
a new legislative body, the Senate, making the National Assembly
a bicameral legislature, the Parliament. Many of the changes
restored powers to the presidency taken away by the 1992 Constitution,
including new language strengthening the president's authority
over national policy, the power to dismiss the prime minister,
and appoint a greater number of judges, especially to the
country's highest bench, the Constitutional Court. The Constitutional
Court now also was tasked as final arbiter in resolving future
election disputes.
There were no legal restrictions on the participation of
women and ethnic minorities in the government. There were
5 female members in the 81-member National Assembly and there
were 3 female ministers in the President's 20-member Cabinet.
Members of southern ethnic groups were underrepresented.
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Section
4 |
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Government Attitude Regarding
International and Nongovernmental Investigation of Alleged Violations
of Human Rights |
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There were several domestic private human rights groups,
including the LTDH, the Center of Observation and Promotion
of the Rule of Law (COPED), the CADEPROD, and the Togolese
Association for the Defense and Protection of Human Rights
(ATDPDH). In general the Government allowed groups to investigate
alleged violations of human rights; however, the Government
occasionally threatened or hindered the activities of human
rights activists and was inconsistent in following up on investigations
of abuses. Years of government threats and intimidation of
human rights leaders, combined with a lack of results from
human rights initiatives, have led some human rights monitors
to end their public activities.
Former officials of the domestic chapter of AI remained in
exile, although it resumed its activities in the country in
2000.
The National Commission for Human Rights (CNDH) continued
to be dominated by supporters of the President, individual
human rights groups, and activists. Although there were no
records of arrest and mistreatment, the CNDH found it difficult
to accomplish its agenda of making people more aware of their
rights.
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Section
5 |
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Discrimination Based
on Race, Sex, Disability, Language, or Social Status |
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The Constitution prohibits discrimination on the
basis of ethnic group, regional or family origin, sex, religion,
social or economic status, or personal, political, or other
convictions; however, the Government did not provide effective
redress for discrimination complaints. Discrimination against
women and ethnic minorities remained a problem. Members of President
Eyadema's Kabye ethnic group and other northern ethnic groups
dominated much of the public sector, especially the military.
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Women |
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Domestic violence against women continued to be
a problem. Although mechanisms for redress existed within formal
judicial structures, police were not given any authority to
protect women in abusive situations, and women were not made
aware of the formal judicial mechanisms that would give them
protection. As a result, the police rarely intervene in domestic
violence incidents. Wife beating was estimated to affect approximately
10 percent of married women.
FGM continued to be practiced. The most commonly practiced
form of FGM was excision, which usually was performed on girls
a few months after birth. Most of the larger ethnic groups
did not practice FGM; however, among the practicing groups
rates ranged from 40 to 98 percent. FGM is illegal and penalties
for practitioners ranged from 2 months to 5 years imprisonment
as well as substantial fines. The law rarely was applied because
most FGM cases occurred in rural areas where neither the victims
nor the police knew the law. Traditional customs often superseded
the legal system among certain ethnic groups. The Government
continued to sponsor seminars to educate and campaign against
FGM. Several NGOs, with international assistance, organized
educational campaigns to inform women of their rights and
how to care for victims of FGM.
There was some trafficking of young women (see Section 6.f.).
The Constitution declares women equal under the law; however,
women continued to experience discrimination, especially in
education, pension benefits, and inheritance as a consequence
of traditional law. A husband legally could restrict his wife's
freedom to work or control her earnings. In urban areas, women
and girls dominated market activities and commerce; however,
harsh economic conditions in rural areas, where most of the
population lived, left women with little time for activities
other than domestic tasks and agricultural fieldwork. Under
traditional law, which applied to the vast majority of women,
a wife has no maintenance or child support rights in the event
of divorce or separation and no inheritance rights upon the
death of her husband. Polygyny was practiced.
The Ministry of Health, Social Affairs, Promotion of Women,
and Protection of Children, along with independent women's
groups and related NGOs, continued to campaign actively during
the year to inform women of their rights.
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Children |
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Although the Constitution and family code laws
provide for the protection of children's rights, in practice
government programs often suffered from a lack of money, materials,
and enforcement. Although the law protected children, there
were many practices that discriminated against children, especially
girls. The Government provided free education in state schools.
School attendance was compulsory for both boys and girls until
the age of 15. Approximately 61 percent of children aged 6 to
15 years attended school, mostly boys. In the age group of 6
to 15 years, approximately 89 percent of boys and 66 percent
of girls started primary school; however, only an estimated
39 percent of boys and 13 percent of girls reached secondary
school. Approximately 3 percent of boys and 0.6 percent of girls
reached the university level. Literacy rates were 57 percent
for adult men and 31 percent for adult women. In its June 2001
General Direction of Education Planning (Direction Generale
de la Planification de l'Education), the Ministry of Education
estimated one-third of the national budget was spent on education.
Orphans and other needy children received some aid from extended
families or private organizations but less from the State.
There were social programs to provide free health care for
poor children. In rural areas, traditionally the best food
was reserved for adults, principally the father.
In November 2001, traditional chiefs met and agreed to set
up watchdog committees and conduct awareness campaigns against
the abuse of children, especially trafficking, confinement
in voodoo shrines, FGM, torture, forced marriages, and other
forms of sexual harassment. Without financial or legal support,
success of the committees was sporadic, and they continued
to function on a minimal level during the year. FGM was performed
on approximately 12 percent of girls (see Section 5, Women).
There were reports of trafficking in children (see Section
6.f.).
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Persons with Disabilities |
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The Government did not mandate accessibility to
public or private facilities for persons with disabilities.
Although the Constitution nominally obliged the Government to
aid persons with disabilities and shelter them from social injustice,
the Government provided only limited assistance in practice.
There was no overt state discrimination against persons with
disabilities and some held government positions. However, persons
with disabilities had no meaningful recourse against private
sector or societal discrimination, and in practice there was
discrimination against persons with disabilities. |
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National/Racial/Ethnic
Minorities |
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The country's population included members of approximately
40 ethnic groups that generally spoke distinct primary languages
and were concentrated regionally in rural areas. Major ethnic
groups included the Ewe (between 20 and 25 percent of the
population), the Kabye (between 10 and 15 percent), the Kotokoli
(between 10 and 15 percent), the Moba (between 10 to 15 percent),
and the Mina (approximately 5 percent). The Ewe and Mina were
the largest ethnic groups in the southern region and the Kabye
was the largest group in the less prosperous northern region.
Although prohibited by law, societal discrimination on the
basis of ethnicity was practiced routinely by members of all
ethnic groups. In particular discrimination against southerners
by northerners and against northerners by southerners was
evident in private sector hiring and buying patterns, in patterns
of de facto ethnic segregation in urban neighborhoods, and
in the relative rarity of marriages across the north-south
ethnic divide. Discrimination extended into the public sector,
where the centralization of the State allowed little scope
for regional or ethnic autonomy, except through the circumscribed
authority of traditional rulers and the use of dispute resolution
systems.
The relative predominance in private sector commerce and
professions by members of southern ethnic groups, and the
relative predominance in the public sector and especially
the security forces by members of President Eyadema's Kabye
group and other northern groups, were sources of political
tension. Political parties tended to have readily identifiable
ethnic and regional bases: The RPT party was more represented
among northern ethnic groups than among southern groups; the
reverse was true of the UFC and CAR opposition parties.
In each region, members of majority ethnic groups harassed
and attacked members of ethnic groups originating from the
other region, forcing them back to their home region. In addition,
due to the congruence of political divisions and ethnic and
regional divisions, human rights abuses motivated by politics
at times had ethnic and regional overtones.
There were reports of violence involving ethnic Ibos from
Nigeria. In October in the northern city of Dapaong, an Ibo
was accused of killing a taxi driver and a vigilante mob gathered
and demanded the police turn over the suspect for punishment.
Following an investigation that revealed the taxi driver
had stolen from the Ibo, the Ibo accused of killing him was
not turned over to the crowd but was detained by authorities.
No trial had been set at year's end. Some believe that Nigerian
Ibos kill young women, drain their blood, and steal their
sex organs to perform voodoo to accumulate wealth, health,
or protection.
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Section 6 |
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Worker Rights |
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a. The Right of Association
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The Constitution provides most workers with the right
to join unions; however, security forces, including firefighters
and police, did not have these rights. The Constitution also
prohibits discrimination against workers for reasons of sex,
origin, beliefs, or opinions. The World Bank estimates that
the country's total workforce was approximately 2 million
persons. The work force in the formal sector was approximately
20 percent of the total, of whom from 60 to 70 percent were
union members or supporters.
The 1974 Labor Code prohibits foreign nationals from performing
administrative or management functions in trade unions.
There were several major trade union federations, including
the the National Confederation of Togolese Workers (CNTT),
which was closely associated with the Government; the Labor
Federation of Togolese Workers (CSTT); the National Union
of Independent Syndicates (UNSIT); and the Union of Free Trade
Unions.
The Labor Code prohibits antiunion discrimination. The Ministry
of Labor was charged with resolving labor-related complaints,
but it did not always do so effectively.
Federations and unions were free to associate with international
labor groups. The CNTT and the UNSIT were affiliates of the
International Confederation of Free Trade Unions, and the
CSTT was an affiliate of the World Confederation of Labor.
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b. The Right to Organize
and Bargain Collectively |
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The Labor Code nominally provides workers with the right
to organize and bargain collectively; however, the Government
limited collective bargaining to producing a single nationwide
agreement that must be negotiated and endorsed by representatives
of the Government, labor unions, and employers. All formal
sector employees were covered by the collective bargaining
agreement that set nationwide wage standards for all formal
sector employees. The Government participated in this process
both as a labor-management mediator and as the largest employer
in the formal sector, managing numerous state-owned firms
that monopolize many sectors of the formal economy. Individual
groups in the formal sector could attempt to negotiate agreements
more favorable to labor through sector-specific or firm-specific
collective bargaining, but this option rarely was used.
The Constitution provides most workers with the right to
strike; however, security forces and government health workers
do not have this right. Government health care workers may
join unions.
There is no specific law prohibiting retribution against
strikers by employers. Air Afrique workers held a strike at
Lome's airport during the year.
The law allows the establishment of export processing zones
(EPZs). Many companies had EPZ status, and more than 30 were
in operation. The EPZ law provides exemptions from some provisions
of the Labor Code, notably the regulations on hiring and firing.
Employees of EPZ firms did not enjoy the same protection against
antiunion discrimination as did other workers. In practice
unions did not have free access to EPZs or the freedom to
organize workers.
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c. Prohibition of Forced
or Bonded Labor |
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The law does not specifically prohibit forced or bonded labor,
including by children, and children sometimes were subjected
to forced labor, primarily as domestic servants. In rural
areas, parents sometimes placed young children into domestic
work in other households in exchange for one-time fees as
low as $25 to $35 (15,000 to 20,000 CFA francs).
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d. Status of Child Labor
Practices and Minimum Age for Employment |
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The Labor Code prohibits the employment of children under
the age of 14 in any enterprise. Some types of industrial
and technical employment set a minimum age of 18. Inspectors
from the Ministry of Labor enforced these age requirements
but only in the formal sector in urban areas. In both urban
and rural areas, particularly in farming and small scale trading,
very young children traditionally assisted in their families'
work.
The Ministry of Health, Social Affairs, Promotion of Women,
and Protection of Children was responsible for enforcing the
prohibition of the worst forms of child labor; however, few
resources were allotted for its implementation and enforcement
was weak. Forced and bonded labor by children was a problem
(see Section 6.f.).
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e. Acceptable Conditions
of Work |
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The Government sets minimum wages for different categories,
ranging from unskilled labor through professional positions.
In practice less than the official minimum wage often was
paid, mostly to unskilled workers. Official monthly minimum
wages ranged from approximately $20 to $33 (14,700 to 23,100
CFA francs) and did not provide workers a decent standard
of living for themselves and their families. Many workers
supplemented their incomes through second jobs or subsistence
farming. The Ministry of Labor was responsible for enforcement
of the minimum wage system but did not enforce the law in
practice. The Labor Code, which regulated labor practices,
required equal pay for equal work, regardless of sex; however,
this provision generally was observed only in the formal sector.
Working hours of all employees in any enterprise, except
for those in the agricultural sector, normally must not exceed
72 hours per week; at least one 24-hour rest period per week
was compulsory, and workers must receive 30 days of paid leave
each year. The law requires overtime compensation, and there
were restrictions on excessive overtime work. However, the
Ministry of Labor's enforcement was weak, and employers often
ignored these provisions.
A technical consulting committee in the Ministry of Labor
set workplace health and safety standards. It may levy penalties
on employers who do not meet the standards, and employees
have the right to complain to labor inspectors of unhealthy
or unsafe conditions without penalty. In practice the Ministry's
enforcement of the various provisions of the Labor Code was
limited. Large enterprises were obliged by law to provide
medical services for their employees and usually attempted
to respect occupational health and safety rules, but smaller
firms often did not.
Workers have the legal right to remove themselves from unsafe
conditions without fear of losing their jobs; however, in
practice some could not do so.
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f. Trafficking in Persons
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The law does not prohibit specifically trafficking in persons,
although other statutes against kidnaping, procuring, and
other crimes linked to trafficking were used to prosecute
traffickers, and trafficking was a problem. Local committees
were set up in every region, and while they were voluntary
without financial or legal support, these committees investigated
reports of trafficking. The country remained a country of
origin and a transit point for trafficking in persons, primarily
children. Trafficking in women for the purpose of prostitution
or nonconsensual labor as domestic servants existed.
The Government had little or no funding to investigate traffickers
or trafficking rings. The police had limited success in intercepting
victims of trafficking, but prosecution of traffickers was
rare. In 2001 the Government reported that it detained 10
traffickers as well as 55 parents of the children stranded
in Cameroon in a boat-capsizing incident. Most persons arrested
or detained by security forces for alleged trafficking ultimately
were released for lack of evidence. No records were available
of the number of individual traffickers who were prosecuted
during the year.
Government agencies involved in antitrafficking efforts included
the Ministry of Social Affairs and Protection and Promotion
for Family and Children, the Ministry of the Interior and
Security, the Ministry of Justice, and security forces (especially
police, army, and customs units). The Government cooperated
with the Governments of Ghana, Benin, and Nigeria under a
Quadripartite Law allowing for expedited extradition among
those countries.
The majority of the country's trafficking victims were children
from the poorest rural areas, particularly those of Cotocoli,
Tchamba, Ewe, Kabye, and Akposso ethnicities and mainly from
the Maritime, Plateau, and Central Regions. Adult victims
usually were lured with phony lucrative jobs. Children usually
were approached by friends or family friends. Sometimes parents
sold their children to traffickers for bicycles, radios, or
clothing.
Children were trafficked to indentured and exploitative servitude,
which amounted at times to slavery. Victims were trafficked
to West and Central Africa, particularly Cote d'Ivoire, Gabon,
Nigeria; Europe, primarily France and Germany; the Middle
East, including Saudi Arabia and Kuwait; and Asia. Children
were trafficked to Benin for indentured servitude and to Cote
d'Ivoire and Ghana for domestic servitude. Boys were trafficked
for agricultural work in Cote d'Ivoire and domestic servitude
and street labor in Gabon. They were fed poorly, clothed crudely,
and cared for inadequately, and neither were educated nor
permitted to learn a trade. Children sometimes were trafficked
abroad by parents misled into allowing them to depart under
false pretenses. There were reports that young girls were
trafficked from the country to Nigeria for prostitution.
The country was a transit point for children trafficked from
Burkina Faso, Ghana, Cote d'Ivoire, and Nigeria. There were
credible reports of Nigerian women and children who trafficked
through the country to Europe (particularly Italy and the
Netherlands) for the purpose of prostitution.
From February 2001 until February, the Government reported
that authorities intercepted 351 children ages 10 to 17 in
the process of being trafficked.
Traffickers were believed to be men and women of Togolese,
Beninese, and Nigerian nationalities.
The Government provided limited assistance for victims. Terre
des Hommes, an NGO, assisted recovered children until their
parents or next-of-kin could be notified. There also was a
government-funded Social Center for Abandoned Children. During
the year, the ILO-sponsored International Program for the
Elimination of Child Labor (IPEC) program conducted a study
of trafficking in persons in the country and in West Africa.
During the year, ILO/IPEC worked with other NGOs to increase
awareness of the trafficking problem and to encourage the
Government to develop a law (which has been drafted but not
passed and enacted) setting fines and penalties for anyone
caught in the process of trafficking children. A World Bank
program, started in 2001 to educate domestic servants and
others at risk of being trafficked, was stopped when the country
fell into arrears to the Bank on December 31, 2001.
During the year, the Government continued to conduct public
awareness campaigns, with the help of UNICEF and NGOs such
as WAO-Afrique and CARE.
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Bureau of Democracy,
Human Rights and Labor
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Despite the Government's
professed intention to move from authoritarian rule to democracy,
institutions established to accomplish this transition did not
do so in practice ... |
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On December 30, the
newly elected National Assembly modified the 1992 Constitution,
which limited the president to two terms to allow President
Eyadema to run again. These 34 constitutional changes also helped
to consolidate presidential power. Eyadema and his supporters
maintained firm control over all facets and levels of the country's
highly centralized Government. The executive branch continued
to influence the judiciary ... |
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The Government continued
to use brief investigative detentions of less than 48 hours
to harass and intimidate opposition activists and journalists
(see Section 2.a.). The Government at times has resorted to
false charges of common crimes to arrest, detain, and intimidate
opponents ... |
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There were no official reports
of student demonstrations during the year. However, security
forces remained present on the University of Lome campus (see
Section 2.a.).
No known action was taken against
security forces that used excessive force when dispersing
demonstrations in 2001 and 2000 ...
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