Human Rights Developments

Defending Human Rights

The Role of the International Community

Open discussion about rights abuses became more acceptable in government areas, and a range of church groups and local and international NGOs were visibly promoting the respect of human rights. Although a local NGO was launched in June that attempted to document and expose appalling prison conditions in Luanda, there was little action of this kind by other local NGOs. In December 1999, Human Rights Watch launched its report, Angola Explicada, in Luanda, the first ever public release of a detailed report of government and UNITA's human rights abuses in Angola. Some two hundred people, including government officials, parliamentarians, including the speaker of the national assembly, as well as diplomats, members of church groups and NGOs attended. In September, the Committee to Protect Journalists visited Angola, heading a delegation that included Human Rights Watch, and discussed the draft media bill with senior government officials, journalists and NGOs. Meanwhile Amnesty International continued to be denied an official invitation to visit the country.