AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL REPORT 2016/17

FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION
The authorities continued to impose further
restrictions on the media and reduced access
to independent information. In August the
government issued a five-year decree giving it
the right to “regulate and control” the content
of all television and radio networks through
the State Broadcasting Committee.
Independent media outlets and individual
journalists faced intimidation and harassment
by police and the security services for
covering the IRPT case and other politically
sensitive issues. Some were forced to leave
the country. In November, independent
newspaper Nigoh and independent website
Tojnews announced their closure because
“conditions no longer exist for independent
media and free journalism”. Nigoh had
reported on the trial of lawyer Buzurgmekhr
Yorov.
The authorities continued to order internet
service providers to block access to certain
news or social media sites, but without
acknowledging this publicly. Individuals and
groups affected by the measures were not
able to effectively challenge them in court. A
government decree also required internet
providers and telecommunications operators
to channel their services through a new
single communications centre under the
state-owned company Tajiktelecom. In
March, the UN Special Rapporteur on
freedom of expression expressed concern
that “the widespread blocking of websites
and networks, including mobile services…
was disproportionate and incompatible with
international standards”.
RIGHTS TO WATER AND SANITATION
In July the UN Special Rapporteur on the
human right to safe drinking water and
sanitation published his report on Tajikistan.
The report found that approximately 40% of
the population, and nearly half of the rural
population, relied on water supply sources
which were often insufficient or did not meet
water quality standards. This put a significant
burden on women and children, some of
whom spent on average four to six hours
each day fetching water. The Special
Rapporteur noted that the lack of water and
sanitation in public institutions in particular
had a direct negative impact on other rights,
such as the rights to health, education, work
and life. He urged the government to
eliminate disparities in access to water and
sanitation and to address the needs of the
most vulnerable groups, including women
and girls in rural areas, resettled people,
refugees, asylum-seekers and stateless
persons.
The government accepted
recommendations from the UPR process to
improve access to safe drinking water but
rejected recommendations to ratify the
Optional Protocol to the ICESCR.
1. Tajikistan: A year of secrecy, growing fears and deepening injustice
(EUR 60/4855/2016)
2. Tajikistan: A year of secrecy, growing fears and deepening injustice
(EUR 60/4855/2016)
TANZANIA
United Republic of Tanzania
Head of state: John Magufuli
Head of government: Kassim Majaliwa
Head of Zanzibar government: Ali Mohamed Shein
The rights to freedom of expression and of
peaceful assembly were restricted. The
authorities failed to address discrimination
on grounds of gender identity and sexual
orientation.
FREEDOM OF ASSEMBLY
The months leading up to elections in
Zanzibar in March were marked by violence.
At least 200 people were injured, 12 women
sexually assaulted and one woman was
raped. More than 100 members of the
opposition Civic United Front (CUF),
including the Director of Publicity, were
arrested for protesting against the election rerun,
after the 2015 general elections were
nullified following claims of irregularities.
There were reports of excessive use of force
against CUF supporters by the police, and an
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