• Human Rights in Chile

    Chile has made positive reforms to its counterterrorism law and military justice system.  Nonetheless, while military courts no longer exercise jurisdiction over civilians, they continue to try police accused of human rights abuses. The Piñera administration has not pressed “terrorism” charges against indigenous protesters, but some prosecutors charge them under the counterterrorism law for actions that should be considered common crimes.

    The government took some important steps to remedy overcrowding and inhumane conditions in Chilean prisons, but prison conditions remain a problem.

    Most recorded cases of extrajudicial executions and enforced disappearances committed during military rule (1973-1990) have been heard in court or are under judicial investigation.  

  • Chile: Investigate Police Violence Against Mapuches
    Aug 10, 2012
    The Chilean authorities should carry out a prompt, thorough, and impartial investigation into the alleged unlawful use of force by police against members of the Mapuche indigenous community, Human Rights Watch said today. Officers found responsible for any unlawful use of force should be held to account and the injured civilians ensured an effective remedy.
  • Chile: Amend and Pass Anti-discrimination Bill
    Apr 9, 2012
    Chile’s congress should address significant shortcomings in an anti-discrimination bill currently in the final stages of parliamentary debate.
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Chile

  • Chile: Investigate Police Violence Against Mapuches
    Aug 10, 2012
    The Chilean authorities should carry out a prompt, thorough, and impartial investigation into the alleged unlawful use of force by police against members of the Mapuche indigenous community, Human Rights Watch said today. Officers found responsible for any unlawful use of force should be held to account and the injured civilians ensured an effective remedy.
  • Chile: Amend and Pass Anti-discrimination Bill
    Apr 9, 2012
    Chile’s congress should address significant shortcomings in an anti-discrimination bill currently in the final stages of parliamentary debate.
  • Chile: Letter to Congress on Anti-discrimination Bill
    Apr 9, 2012

    The recent tragic death of 24-year old Daniel Zamudio following a brutal attack by alleged neo-nazis has brought the scourge of homophobic violence to world attention and cast a spotlight on Chile’s lack of legislation to protect and defend the rights of vulnerable minorities.

  • Chile: Gay Rights Ruling a Leap Forward
    Mar 23, 2012
    The Inter-American Court of Human Rights’ ruling that sexual orientation cannot be used to deny custody rights is a landmark case for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people throughout the Americas. The judgment, in Atala Riffo and Daughters v Chile, was issued on February 24, 2012, and made public on March 21.
  • Chile: Overhaul Prison System
    Dec 9, 2010
    In a sequence of events on December 8, 2010, in the San Miguel prison in Santiago, a fire broke out after a riot, leaving 81 prisoners dead. In addition, 15 inmates, 5 guards, and a firefighter were treated for burns, according to press accounts. The San Miguel prison housed 1,900 inmates, despite the fact that it was built to accommodate only 1,000. Chile should immediately overhaul its prison system to end overcrowding and improve prison conditions.
  • Chile: Amend Anti-Terrorism Law and Military Jurisdiction
    Sep 27, 2010
    Chile should limit the scope of its military justice system and reform the country’s anti-terrorism law so that it can no longer be used to prosecute actions that do not constitute grave crimes of political violence.
  • Chile: Abolish Criminal Defamation Provisions
    Jan 13, 2010
    Chile should not use criminal libel laws to prevent individuals, in particular journalists, from fulfilling their role in disseminating information on matters of serious public concern.
  • Pinochet's European Vacation
    Oct 16, 2008
    On October 16, 1998, London police arrested General Pinochet on a warrant from a Spanish judge for human rights crimes. In the ten years since, the world has become a smaller place for brutal despots.
  • We do believe that former heads of state deserve a fair trial
    Oct 18, 2007
    John Laughland suggests that human rights organisations, including Human Rights Watch, are more concerned about the conviction of former heads of state than about them getting fair trials. Nothing could be further from the truth.
  • Chilean Supreme Court Extradites Fujimori
    Oct 1, 2007
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