Guarantee human rights, UN Commission says

The UN Commission on Human Rights on Tuesday urged the government of Equatorial Guinea to adopt quick, effective measures to guarantee the full enjoyment of basic rights. These include freedom of movement and association; freedom of information, opinion and expression; the rule of law; freedom from torture; the right to justice and the independence of the judiciary. It also urged Equatorial Guinea to ensure that military jurisdiction was not applied to civilians. According to Amnesty International, some 80 members of Equatorial Guinea's Bubi minority, were sentenced to jail in June 1998 by a military court after being accused of trying to overthrow the government. Many are reportedly still in jail. The Committee's call came in a resolution (E/CN.4/2000/L.27) on the situation of human rights in Equatorial Guinea and assistance in the field of human rights, that was adopted by consensus. The Committee welcomed the stated willingness of the government to implement a national human-rights action plan. It also encouraged the government to invite to the country an electoral observer mission for municipal elections to be held in May and decided to renew the mandate of the Special Representative on Equatorial Guinea for another year.