West and Central Africa

 

Across the region, there is discrimination against people living with HIV/AIDS, the majority of whom are denied the right to medical treatment. Political repression is widespread and human rights defenders come under attack. Pervasive violence against women is exacerbated by poverty and lack of access to health care and education.

Killings, abductions and rape by government forces and armed opposition groups are widespread in armed conflicts in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda.

The region faces severe economic conditions. Massive corruption and illegal exploitation of natural resources contributes to denying many their economic, social and cultural rights, in particular the rights to food, water, health, housing and education.

Read more about the countries in this region in our 2013 Annual Report

Gambia: Journalist held incommunicado

Journalist Ebrima B. Manneh was arrested in July 2006 and has been held incommunicado and without trial ever since.

 

Call on the Gambian authorities to immediately release Ebrima