Human rights in Madagascar

Human rights in Madagascar are protected under the national constitution. However, the extent to which such rights are reflected in practice is subject to debate. The 2009 Human Rights Report by the United States Department of State noted concerns regarding the suspension of democratic electoral processes as the result of recent political unrest.^[1] Furthermore, reports of corruption, arbitrary arrest and child labor highlight the prevalence of human rights issues in the country.^[1][2]

Constitution and statutory responses

The Constitution of Madagascar was adopted in 2010.^[3] It addresses the notion of universal suffrage, individual rights and the freedom of speech.^[4]

Laws regarding a minimum age for employment as well as the prohibition of child labor were passed.^[1]

International treaties

Madagascar's stances on international human rights treaties are as follows:

International treaties

Treaty Organization Introduced Signed Ratified Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide[5] United Nations 1948 - - International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination[6] United Nations 1966 1967 1969 International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights[7] United Nations 1966 1970 1971 International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights[8] United Nations 1966 1969 1971 First Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights[9] United Nations 1966 1969 1971 Convention on the Non-Applicability of Statutory Limitations to War Crimes and Crimes Against Humanity[10] United Nations 1968 - - International Convention on the Suppression and Punishment of the Crime of Apartheid[11] United Nations 1973 - 1977 Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women[12] United Nations 1979 1980 1989 Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment[13] United Nations 1984 2001 2005 Convention on the Rights of the Child[14] United Nations 1989 1990 1991 Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, aiming at the abolition of the death penalty[15] United Nations 1989 - - International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families[16] United Nations 1990 - - Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women[17] United Nations 1999 2000 - Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict[18] United Nations 2000 2000 2004 Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography[19] United Nations 2000 2000 2004 Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities[20] United Nations 2006 2007 - Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities[21] United Nations 2006 2007 - International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance[22] United Nations 2006 2007 - Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights[23] United Nations 2008 2009 - Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on a Communications Procedure[24] United Nations 2011 - -

Issues

Censorship

Accusations of media censorship have risen due to the alleged restrictions on the coverage of government opposition.^[25] During the leadership conflict, Ravalomanana ordered the closure of "Viva TV", which was owned by his opponent, Rajoelina.^[1]

Equality

Women's suffrage was officially recognized in 1959.^[26] However violence against women and human trafficking continues to be an issue in society.^[1]

Legal system

The existence of key legal principles such as the rule of law and due process, is in question due to the increase in arbitrary and politically motivated arrests during the leadership conflict. In December 2014, the List of Goods Produced by Child Labor or Forced Labor indicated that children in Madagascar engaged in three activities, namely vanilla production, stone quarrying, and sapphire mining. ^{[citation needed]}

Poverty

The people of Madagascar are afflicted by extreme levels and rates of poverty. As of 2005, the Eastern coast of the country had astoundingly high poverty rates of around 80% while urban areas are just over 50%.^[27] Over 20% of the population lived on under $11.25 per day and over 80% of the population on under $15.00 per day as of 2010.

The country has seen major improvements in literacy rates. Generally, a correlation exists between literacy rates and poverty. Should the progress in increasing the number of literate Madagascans continue, poverty rates should begin to decline respectively.^[28]

Historical situation

The following chart shows Madagascar's ratings since 1972 in the Freedom in the World reports, published annually by Freedom House. A rating of 1 is "free"; 7, "not free".^[29]1

Historical ratings

Year Political Rights Civil Liberties Status Head of State^2 1972 5 3 Partly Free Philibert Tsiranana 1973 5 4 Partly Free Gabriel Ramanantsoa 1974 5 4 Partly Free Gabriel Ramanantsoa 1975 5 5 Partly Free Gabriel Ramanantsoa 1976 6 5 Not Free Didier Ratsiraka 1977 5 5 Partly Free Didier Ratsiraka 1978 6 6 Not Free Didier Ratsiraka 1979 6 6 Not Free Didier Ratsiraka 1980 7 6 Not Free Didier Ratsiraka 1981 6 6 Not Free Didier Ratsiraka 1982^3 6 6 Not Free Didier Ratsiraka 1983 5 6 Partly Free Didier Ratsiraka 1984 5 6 Partly Free Didier Ratsiraka 1985 5 6 Partly Free Didier Ratsiraka 1986 5 5 Partly Free Didier Ratsiraka 1987 5 5 Partly Free Didier Ratsiraka 1988 5 5 Partly Free Didier Ratsiraka 1989 5 4 Partly Free Didier Ratsiraka 1990 4 4 Partly Free Didier Ratsiraka 1991 4 4 Partly Free Didier Ratsiraka 1992 4 4 Partly Free Didier Ratsiraka 1993 2 4 Partly Free Didier Ratsiraka 1994 2 4 Partly Free Albert Zafy 1995 2 4 Partly Free Albert Zafy 1996 2 4 Partly Free Albert Zafy 1997 2 4 Partly Free Norbert Ratsirahonana 1998 2 4 Partly Free Didier Ratsiraka 1999 2 4 Partly Free Didier Ratsiraka 2000 2 4 Partly Free Didier Ratsiraka 2001 2 4 Partly Free Didier Ratsiraka 2002 3 4 Partly Free Didier Ratsiraka 2003 3 3 Partly Free Marc Ravalomanana 2004 3 3 Partly Free Marc Ravalomanana 2005 3 3 Partly Free Marc Ravalomanana 2006 4 3 Partly Free Marc Ravalomanana 2007 4 3 Partly Free Marc Ravalomanana 2008 4 3 Partly Free Marc Ravalomanana 2009 6 4 Partly Free Marc Ravalomanana 2010 6 4 Partly Free Andry Rajoelina 2011 6 4 Partly Free Andry Rajoelina 2012 6 4 Partly Free Andry Rajoelina 2013 5 4 Partly Free Andry Rajoelina 2014 4 4 Partly Free Andry Rajoelina 2015 3 4 Partly Free Hery Rajaonarimampianina 2016 3 4 Partly Free Hery Rajaonarimampianina 2017 3 4 Partly Free Hery Rajaonarimampianina 2018 3 4 Partly Free Hery Rajaonarimampianina 2019 3 3 Partly Free Rivo Rakotovao 2020 3 4 Partly Free Andry Rajoelina 2021 3 4 Partly Free Andry Rajoelina 2022 3 4 Partly Free Andry Rajoelina 2023 3 4 Partly Free Andry Rajoelina

See also

• Human trafficking in Madagascar
• Internet censorship and surveillance in Madagascar
• Politics of Madagascar
• 2006 Malagasy coup d'état attempt

Notes

1.^ Note that the "Year" signifies the "Year covered". Therefore the information for the year marked 2008 is from the report published in 2009, and so on.

2.^ As of 1 January.

3.^ The 1982 report covers 1981 and the first half of 1982, and the following 1984 report covers the second half of 1982 and the whole of 1983. In the interest of simplicity, these two aberrant "year and a half" reports have been split into three year-long reports through interpolation.

References

1. 2009 U.S Dept of State Human Rights Report: Madagascar
2. Lawson H, Bertucci M.L, Encyclopedia of human rights, Taylor & Francis, 1996. p.978
3. "Madagascar's Constitution of 2010" (PDF). Constitution Project.
4. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain. Peter J. Schraeder (August 1994). "Constitution and Institutions of Governance". In Meditz, Helen Chapin (ed.). Indian Ocean: five island countries. Federal Research Division, Library of Congress. LCCN 95016570.
5. United Nations. "United Nations Treaty Collection: Chapter IV: Human Rights: 1. Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. Paris, 9 December 1948". Archived from the original on 20 October 2012. Retrieved 2012-08-29.
6. United Nations. "United Nations Treaty Collection: Chapter IV: Human Rights: 2. International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. New York, 7 March 1966". Archived from the original on 11 February 2011. Retrieved 2012-08-29.
7. United Nations. "United Nations Treaty Collection: Chapter IV: Human Rights: 3. International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. New York, 16 December 1966". Archived from the original on 17 September 2012. Retrieved 2012-08-29.
8. United Nations. "United Nations Treaty Collection: Chapter IV: Human Rights: 4. International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. New York, 16 December 1966". Archived from the original on 1 September 2010. Retrieved 2012-08-29.
9. United Nations. "United Nations Treaty Collection: Chapter IV: Human Rights: 5. Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. New York, 16 December 1966". Archived from the original on 2019-03-24. Retrieved 2012-08-29.
10. United Nations. "United Nations Treaty Collection: Chapter IV: Human Rights: 6. Convention on the non-applicability of statutory limitations to war crimes and crimes against humanity. New York, 26 November 1968". Archived from the original on 2018-11-16. Retrieved 2012-08-29.
11. United Nations. "United Nations Treaty Collection: Chapter IV: Human Rights: 7. International Convention on the Suppression and Punishment of the Crime of Apartheid. New York, 30 November 1973". Archived from the original on 18 July 2012. Retrieved 2012-08-29.
12. United Nations. "United Nations Treaty Collection: Chapter IV: Human Rights: 8. Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. New York, 18 December 1979". Archived from the original on 23 August 2012. Retrieved 2012-08-29.
13. United Nations. "United Nations Treaty Collection: Chapter IV: Human Rights: 9. Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. New York, 10 December 1984". Archived from the original on 8 November 2010. Retrieved 2012-08-29.
14. United Nations. "United Nations Treaty Collection: Chapter IV: Human Rights: 11. Convention on the Rights of the Child. New York, 20 November 1989". Archived from the original on 11 February 2014. Retrieved 2012-08-29.
15. United Nations. "United Nations Treaty Collection: Chapter IV: Human Rights: 12. Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, aiming at the abolition of the death penalty. New York, 15 December 1989". Archived from the original on 20 October 2012. Retrieved 2012-08-29.
16. United Nations. "United Nations Treaty Collection: Chapter IV: Human Rights: 13. International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families. New York, 18 December 1990". Archived from the original on 25 August 2012. Retrieved 2012-08-29.
17. United Nations. "United Nations Treaty Collection: Chapter IV: Human Rights: 8b. Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. New York, 6 October 1999". Archived from the original on 2011-05-20. Retrieved 2012-08-29.
18. United Nations. "United Nations Treaty Collection: Chapter IV: Human Rights: 11b. Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict. New York, 25 May 2000". Archived from the original on 2016-04-25. Retrieved 2012-08-29.
19. United Nations. "United Nations Treaty Collection: Chapter IV: Human Rights: 11c. Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography. New York, 25 May 2000". Archived from the original on 2013-12-13. Retrieved 2012-08-29.
20. United Nations. "United Nations Treaty Collection: Chapter IV: Human Rights: 15. Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. New York, 13 December 2006". Archived from the original on 19 August 2012. Retrieved 2012-08-29.
21. United Nations. "United Nations Treaty Collection: Chapter IV: Human Rights: 15a. Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. New York, 13 December 2006". Archived from the original on 13 January 2016. Retrieved 2012-08-29.
22. United Nations. "United Nations Treaty Collection: Chapter IV: Human Rights: 16. International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance. New York, 20 December 2006". Archived from the original on 2019-07-17. Retrieved 2012-08-29.
23. United Nations. "United Nations Treaty Collection: Chapter IV: Human Rights: 3a. Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. New York, 10 December 2008". Archived from the original on 2012-07-18. Retrieved 2012-08-29.
24. United Nations. "United Nations Treaty Collection: Chapter IV: Human Rights: 11d. Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on a communications procedure . New York, 19 December 2011. New York, 10 December 2008". Archived from the original on 25 August 2012. Retrieved 2012-08-29.
25. "Madagascar: Media Under Attack One Month After New President Installed". AllAfrica. 23 April 2009.
26. "Women's Suffrage". archive.ipu.org.
27. "IMF Staff Country Reports Volume 2006 Issue 303: Republic of Madagascar: Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper Annual Progress Report (2006)". imfsg.
28. "Face of Poverty in Madagascar". openknowledge.worldbank.org.
29. Freedom House (2024). "Country and Territory Ratings and Statuses, FIW 1973-2024" (XLS). Retrieved 21 December 2024.

External links

• 2022 Annual Report, by Amnesty International
• Freedom in the World 2023 Report, by Freedom House
• Human rights in Madagascar on OHCHR website