Officials deny that serious rights abuses exist

Togolese officials on Tuesday told The UN Human Rights Committee that no executions had taken place in Togo in five years and that claims of continuing ill-treatment, torture, extrajudicial executions and arbitrary detention in the country were not true. Presenting Togo's third periodic report on the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, Roland Yao Kpotsra, Togolese ambassador to the UN in Geneva, said his country was democratic and respected fundamental freedoms and good governance, the office of the UN High Commissioner on Human Rights (UNHCHR) reported on Tuesday. "Concerning the recommendations of the joint UN/Organization of African Unity, International Commission of Inquiry, the delegation said that the Government had submitted its report and the case was closed," UNHCHR said. "The government report was based on the findings of the National Inquiry Commission, set up to clear allegations of extrajudicial executions, forced or involuntary disappearances, and torture and ill-treatment. [It] found that the allegations of the International Commission of Inquiry and Amnesty International were false." Kpotsra's delegation said that Togo had endeavoured to bring its laws into conformity with the Covenant. Laws such as the family, labour and criminal codes, had been brought in line with the provisions of the international treaty. "The delegation said Togo had difficulties maintaining prison conditions. With regard to the prison population, food, access to health care and treatment of women and juveniles, prisons particularly in Lomé [the capital] were overcrowded," UNHCHR said. "There was a proposal to build new prison facilities, but due to lack of financial resources, no measures were taken to build any. Due to a break down in supplies, two meals a day might be reduced to one." The committee queried the Togolese officials on press and religious freedoms. According to UNHCHR, the officials said that "information on allegations concerning the harassment and intimidation of journalists from independent media, in particular with respect to what were considered to be the excessive fines imposed on them and their arbitrary arrests, were unfounded.". "Concerning the registration of religious organizations, the delegation said that 434 churches had applied, but only 95 were granted license to operate. The requests of many had been rejected as result of their moral conduct," UNHCHR said. Committee experts however told the Togolese officials that the practices on the ground did not correspond to the law of the country. An expert said there was too much repression against the press and fines imposed on the media too heavy, it added. On female genital mutilation, the delegation said that the practice was now disappearing and that the National Assembly had adopted an act prohibiting it. An expert said, however, that women in certain regions were subjected to rape and ill-treatment. "Female genital mutilation was a tradition among Togolese families, the delegation said. Although efforts had been made to prohibit the practice legally, still there was resistance with some women who believed that if excision was not carried out, they could be seen differently within the society," UN agency said. The Committee Chairperson, Prafullachandra Natwarlala Bhagwati, said the Committee had a constructive dialogue with the officials on the human rights situation in Togo. The Committee will release its recommendations on 1 November. Full report