Algeria Human Rights

Human Rights Concerns

• Torture
• Impunity
• Women's Rights

Amendments to the Penal Code introduced a specific crime of torture, carrying severe penalties. However, the authorities did not generally investigate torture allegations. The U.N. Special Rapporteur on torture reported that the Algerian authorities had denied without investigation all allegations of torture submitted to them.

No full, independent or impartial investigations were carried out into the gross human rights abuses committed since 1992, including thousands of cases of civilians killed in targeted or indiscriminate attacks, extra judicial executions, torture, ill-treatment and "disappearances." Members of armed groups who surrendered to the authorities reportedly continued to benefit from clemency or exemption from prosecution.

Women continued to be subjected to discrimination in law and practice. Twenty years after the introduction of the discriminatory Family Code, women's organizations reinforced their campaigning activities for women's legal equality. The authorities did not act with due diligence to prevent, punish and redress acts of sexual violence against women or violence against women in the family.

Report: A Legacy of Impunity: A Threat to Algeria's Future

As Algeria is preparing for its third multi-party presidential elections since the end of the worst of the violence that ravaged the country in the 1990s, the failure to adequately address the legacy of grave human rights violations and abuses in its context continues to undermine any prospects for genuine national reconciliation and lasting peace.  For report, click here.

Take Action: Louisa Saker

Louisa Saker has not seen or heard from her husband, Salah Saker, since May 1994, when he was arrested without a warrant at their home in the city of Constantine. In October 2002, having been unable to uncover the truth about her husband despite numerous appeals to the Algerian authorities, Louisa Saker turned to the UN Human Rights Committee and won a landmark case.  Despite this, judicial authorities in Constantine dismissed Louisa Saker's complaint.  To take action, click here.

Algeria: Detention without trial – the case of Malik Medjnoun and Abdelhakim Chenoui
Malik Medjnoun and Abdelhakim Chenoui were taken into custody in September 1999, after which they were held in secret, unacknowledged detention, respectively for seven and six months. Both allege that they were tortured during this period of enforced disappearance. » More actions

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