Chili

Although Chile’s parliament debated reform of a counterterrorism law and decriminalization of abortion in limited circumstances, as promised by President Michelle Bachelet, neither passed in 2015. Other long-needed reforms were not introduced, including an expected bill to end the jurisdiction of military courts over human rights abuses by the Carabineros, a law enforcement institution responsible for public order and crime prevention. While courts continue to prosecute people for abuses committed during military rule, the Supreme Court has used its discretionary powers in many cases to reduce sentences against human rights violators, resulting in punishments incommensurate with the gravity of the crimes.