| TOGO Togolese Republic Republique Togolaise Joined United Nations: 20 September 1960 Human Rights as assured by their constitution Click here Updated 12/28/10 |
| CAPITAL |
| POPULATION |
| CHIEF OF STATE |
| SELECTION PROCESS |
Lome
6,587,239
note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality
due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death
rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age
and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2010 est.)
note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality
due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death
rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age
and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2010 est.)
Gilbert Houngbo
Prime Minister since 7 September 2008
Prime Minister since 7 September 2008
President elected by popular vote for a five-year term (no term
limits); Note - Gnassingbe Eyadema died on 5 February 2005 and
was succeeded by his son, Faure Gnassingbe, with the support of
the military. He later won popular elections in April 2005; election
last held on 4 March 2010
Next scheduled election: 2015
limits); Note - Gnassingbe Eyadema died on 5 February 2005 and
was succeeded by his son, Faure Gnassingbe, with the support of
the military. He later won popular elections in April 2005; election
last held on 4 March 2010
Next scheduled election: 2015
HEAD OF GOVERNMENT
SELECTION PROCESS
Prime minister appointed by the president
Next scheduled election: 2015
Next scheduled election: 2015
| DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS |
| ETHNIC GROUPS |
African (37 tribes; largest and most important are Ewe, Mina, and Kabre) 99%, European and Syrian-Lebanese less than 1%
| RELIGIONS |
Christian 29%, Muslim 20%, indigenous beliefs 51%
| GOVERNMENT STRUCTURE |
Republic under transition to multiparty democratic rule with 5 regions (regions, singular - region); Legal system is a French-based court
system; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Executive: President elected by popular vote for a five-year term (no term limits); election last held 24 March 2010 (next to be held in
2015); prime minister appointed by the president
Legislative: Unicameral National Assembly (81 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held on 14 October 2007 (next to be held in 2012)
Judicial: Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel; Supreme Court or Cour Supreme
system; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Executive: President elected by popular vote for a five-year term (no term limits); election last held 24 March 2010 (next to be held in
2015); prime minister appointed by the president
Legislative: Unicameral National Assembly (81 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held on 14 October 2007 (next to be held in 2012)
Judicial: Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel; Supreme Court or Cour Supreme
| LANGUAGES |
French (official and the language of commerce), Ewe and Mina (the two major African languages in the south), Kabye (sometimes
spelled Kabiye) and Dagomba (the two major African languages in the north)
spelled Kabiye) and Dagomba (the two major African languages in the north)
| BRIEF HISTORY |
Little is known about the history of Togo before the late 15th century, when Portuguese explorers arrived, although there are signs
of Ewe settlement for several centuries before their arrival. Various tribes moved into the country from all sides - the Ewe from
Nigeria and Benin, and the Mina and the Guin from Ghana. These three groups settled along the coast. When the slave trade began
in earnest in the 16th century, the Mina benefited the most. They became ruthless agents for the European slave-traders and would
travel north to buy slaves from the Kabye and other northern tribes. Europeans built forts in neighboring Ghana (at Elmina) and
Benin (at Ouidah), but not in Togo, which had no natural harbours. For the next 200 years, the coastal region was a major raiding
center for Europeans in search of slaves, earning Togo and the surrounding region the name "The Slave Coast." In an 1884 treaty
signed at Togoville, Germany declared a protectorate over a stretch of territory along the coast and gradually extended its control
inland. Because it became Germany's only self-supporting colony, Togoland was known as its model possession. On August 8,
1914, French and British forces invaded Togoland and the German forces there surrendered on August 26. In 1916, Togoland was
divided into French and British administrative zones. Following the war, Togoland formally became a League of Nations mandate
divided for administrative purposes between France and the United Kingdom. After World War I, newly founded Czechoslovakia
was also interested in this colony but this idea did not succeed. After World War II, the mandate became a UN trust territory
administered by the United Kingdom and France. During the mandate and trusteeship periods, western Togo was administered as
part of the British Gold Coast. In December 1956, the residents of British Togoland voted to join the Gold Coast as part of the new
independent nation of Ghana. By statute in 1955, French Togoland became an autonomous republic within the French union,
although it retained its UN trusteeship status. A legislative assembly elected by universal adult suffrage had considerable power over
internal affairs, with an elected executive body headed by a prime minister responsible to the legislature. These changes were
embodied in a constitution approved in a 1956 referendum. On September 10, 1956, Nicolas Grunitzky became prime minister of
the Republic of Togo. However, due to irregularities in the plebiscite, an unsupervised general election was held in 1958 and won
by Sylvanus Olympio. On April 27, 1960, in a smooth transition, Togo severed its constitutional ties with France, shed its UN
trusteeship status, and became fully independent under a provisional constitution with Olympio as president. A new constitution in
1961 established an executive president, elected for 7 years by universal suffrage and a weak National Assembly. The president
was empowered to appoint ministers and dissolve the assembly, holding a monopoly of executive power. In elections that year,
from which Grunitzky's party was disqualified, Olympio's party won 90% of the vote and all 51 National Assembly seats, and he
became Togo's first elected president. On January 13, 1963, President Olympio was assassinated in an uprising of army
non-commissioned officers dissatisfied with conditions following their discharge from the French army. Grunitzky returned from exile
2 days later to head a provisional government with the title of prime minister. On May 5, 1963, the Togolese adopted a new
constitution which reinstated a multi-party system, chose deputies from all political parties for the National Assembly, and elected
Grunitzky as president and Antoine Meatchi as vice president. Nine days later, President Grunitzky formed a government in which
all parties were represented. During the next several years, the Grunitzky government's power became insecure. On November 21,
1966, an attempt to overthrow Grunitzky, inspired principally by civilian political opponents in the UT party, was unsuccessful.
Grunitzky then tried to lessen his reliance on the army, but on January 13, 1967, a coup led by Lt. Col. Étienne Eyadéma (later
Gen. Gnassingbé Eyadéma) and Kléber Dadjo ousted President Grunitzky in a bloodless military coup. Political parties were
banned, and all constitutional processes were suspended. Dadjo became the chairman of the "committee of national reconciliation",
which ruled the country until April 14, when Eyadéma assumed the presidency. In late 1969, a single national political party, the
Rally of the Togolese People (RPT), was created, and President Eyadéma was elected party president on November 29, 1969. In
1972, a national referendum, in which Eyadéma ran unopposed, confirmed his role as the country's president. In late 1979,
Eyadéma declared a third republic and a transition to greater civilian rule with a mixed civilian and military cabinet. In 1989 and
1990, Togo, like many other countries, was affected by the winds of democratic change sweeping Eastern Europe and the Soviet
Union. On October 5, 1990, the trial of students who handed out antigovernment tracts sparked riots in Lomé. Antigovernment
demonstrations and violent clashes with the security forces marked the months that followed. In April 1991, the government began
negotiations with newly formed opposition groups and agreed to a general amnesty that permitted exiled political opponents to
return to Togo. After a general strike and further demonstrations, the government and opposition signed an agreement to hold a
"national forum" on June 12, 1991. In July and August 1992, a commission composed of presidential and opposition representatives
negotiated a new political agreement. On September 27, the public overwhelmingly approved the text of a new, democratic
constitution, formally initiating Togo's fourth republic. On March 25, 1993, armed Togolese dissident commandos based in Ghana
attacked Lomé's main military camp and tried unsuccessfully to kill President Eyadéma. They inflicted significant casualties,
however, which set off lethal reprisals by the military against soldiers thought to be associated with the attackers. On April 22,
President Eyadéma named Edem Kodjo, the head of the smaller opposition party, the UTD, as prime minister instead of Yawovi
Agboyibo, whose CAR party had far more seats. Kodjo's acceptance of the post of prime minister provoked the CAR to break
the opposition alliance and refuse to join the Kodjo government. The second multi-party legislative elections of Eyadéma's 33-year
rule were held on March 21, 1999. However, the opposition boycotted the election, in which the ruling party won 79 of the 81
seats in the National Assembly. President Eyadéma died on February 5, 2005 while onboard an airplane en route to France for
treatment for a heart attack. His son Faure Gnassingbé, the country's former minister of public works, mines, and
telecommunications, was named President by Togo's military following the announcement of his father's death. Under international
pressure from the African Union and the United Nations however, who both denounced the transfer of power from father to son as
a coup, Gnassingbé was forced to step down on February 25, 2005, shortly after accepting the nomination to run for elections in
April. Deputy Speaker Bonfoh Abbass was appointed interim president until the inauguration of the April 24 election winner. As to
official results, the winner of the election was Gnassingbé who garnered 60% of the vote. Opposition leader Emmanuel Bob-Akitani
however disputed the election and declared himself to be the winner with 70% of the vote. After the announcement of the results,
tensions flared up and to date, 100 people have been killed. On May 3, 2005, Gnassingbé was sworn in and vowed to concentrate
on "the promotion of development, the common good, peace and national unity". In August 2006 President Gnassingbe and
members of the opposition signed the Global Political Agreement (GPA), bringing an end to the political crisis trigged by
Gnassingbe Eyadema's death in February 2005 and the flawed and violent electoral process that followed. The GPA provided for a
transitional unity government whose primary purpose would be to prepare for benchmark legislative elections, originally scheduled
for June 24, 2007. CAR opposition party leader and human rights lawyer Yawovi Agboyibo was appointed Prime Minister of the
transitional government in September 2006. Leopold Gnininvi, president of the CDPA party, was appointed minister of state for
mines and energy. The third opposition party, UFC, headed by Gilchrist Olympio, declined to join the government, but agreed to
participate in the national electoral commission and the National Dialogue follow-up committee, chaired by Burkina Faso President
Blaise Compaore. Parliamentary elections took place on October 14, 2007. Mr Olympio, who returned from exile to campaign,
took part for the first time in 17 years. The ruling party, Rally of the Togolese People(RPT), won a majority of the parliamentary
seats in the election which international observers declared the poll "largely" free and fair. Despite these assurances, the
secretary-general of the opposition party Union of Forces for Change(UFC) initially state that his party would not accept the
election results.. Mr Olympio states that the election results did not properly represent the voters' will, pointing out that the UFC
received nearly as many votes as the RPT, but that due to the way the electoral system was designed the UFC won far fewer seats.
Source: Wikipedia: History of Togo
of Ewe settlement for several centuries before their arrival. Various tribes moved into the country from all sides - the Ewe from
Nigeria and Benin, and the Mina and the Guin from Ghana. These three groups settled along the coast. When the slave trade began
in earnest in the 16th century, the Mina benefited the most. They became ruthless agents for the European slave-traders and would
travel north to buy slaves from the Kabye and other northern tribes. Europeans built forts in neighboring Ghana (at Elmina) and
Benin (at Ouidah), but not in Togo, which had no natural harbours. For the next 200 years, the coastal region was a major raiding
center for Europeans in search of slaves, earning Togo and the surrounding region the name "The Slave Coast." In an 1884 treaty
signed at Togoville, Germany declared a protectorate over a stretch of territory along the coast and gradually extended its control
inland. Because it became Germany's only self-supporting colony, Togoland was known as its model possession. On August 8,
1914, French and British forces invaded Togoland and the German forces there surrendered on August 26. In 1916, Togoland was
divided into French and British administrative zones. Following the war, Togoland formally became a League of Nations mandate
divided for administrative purposes between France and the United Kingdom. After World War I, newly founded Czechoslovakia
was also interested in this colony but this idea did not succeed. After World War II, the mandate became a UN trust territory
administered by the United Kingdom and France. During the mandate and trusteeship periods, western Togo was administered as
part of the British Gold Coast. In December 1956, the residents of British Togoland voted to join the Gold Coast as part of the new
independent nation of Ghana. By statute in 1955, French Togoland became an autonomous republic within the French union,
although it retained its UN trusteeship status. A legislative assembly elected by universal adult suffrage had considerable power over
internal affairs, with an elected executive body headed by a prime minister responsible to the legislature. These changes were
embodied in a constitution approved in a 1956 referendum. On September 10, 1956, Nicolas Grunitzky became prime minister of
the Republic of Togo. However, due to irregularities in the plebiscite, an unsupervised general election was held in 1958 and won
by Sylvanus Olympio. On April 27, 1960, in a smooth transition, Togo severed its constitutional ties with France, shed its UN
trusteeship status, and became fully independent under a provisional constitution with Olympio as president. A new constitution in
1961 established an executive president, elected for 7 years by universal suffrage and a weak National Assembly. The president
was empowered to appoint ministers and dissolve the assembly, holding a monopoly of executive power. In elections that year,
from which Grunitzky's party was disqualified, Olympio's party won 90% of the vote and all 51 National Assembly seats, and he
became Togo's first elected president. On January 13, 1963, President Olympio was assassinated in an uprising of army
non-commissioned officers dissatisfied with conditions following their discharge from the French army. Grunitzky returned from exile
2 days later to head a provisional government with the title of prime minister. On May 5, 1963, the Togolese adopted a new
constitution which reinstated a multi-party system, chose deputies from all political parties for the National Assembly, and elected
Grunitzky as president and Antoine Meatchi as vice president. Nine days later, President Grunitzky formed a government in which
all parties were represented. During the next several years, the Grunitzky government's power became insecure. On November 21,
1966, an attempt to overthrow Grunitzky, inspired principally by civilian political opponents in the UT party, was unsuccessful.
Grunitzky then tried to lessen his reliance on the army, but on January 13, 1967, a coup led by Lt. Col. Étienne Eyadéma (later
Gen. Gnassingbé Eyadéma) and Kléber Dadjo ousted President Grunitzky in a bloodless military coup. Political parties were
banned, and all constitutional processes were suspended. Dadjo became the chairman of the "committee of national reconciliation",
which ruled the country until April 14, when Eyadéma assumed the presidency. In late 1969, a single national political party, the
Rally of the Togolese People (RPT), was created, and President Eyadéma was elected party president on November 29, 1969. In
1972, a national referendum, in which Eyadéma ran unopposed, confirmed his role as the country's president. In late 1979,
Eyadéma declared a third republic and a transition to greater civilian rule with a mixed civilian and military cabinet. In 1989 and
1990, Togo, like many other countries, was affected by the winds of democratic change sweeping Eastern Europe and the Soviet
Union. On October 5, 1990, the trial of students who handed out antigovernment tracts sparked riots in Lomé. Antigovernment
demonstrations and violent clashes with the security forces marked the months that followed. In April 1991, the government began
negotiations with newly formed opposition groups and agreed to a general amnesty that permitted exiled political opponents to
return to Togo. After a general strike and further demonstrations, the government and opposition signed an agreement to hold a
"national forum" on June 12, 1991. In July and August 1992, a commission composed of presidential and opposition representatives
negotiated a new political agreement. On September 27, the public overwhelmingly approved the text of a new, democratic
constitution, formally initiating Togo's fourth republic. On March 25, 1993, armed Togolese dissident commandos based in Ghana
attacked Lomé's main military camp and tried unsuccessfully to kill President Eyadéma. They inflicted significant casualties,
however, which set off lethal reprisals by the military against soldiers thought to be associated with the attackers. On April 22,
President Eyadéma named Edem Kodjo, the head of the smaller opposition party, the UTD, as prime minister instead of Yawovi
Agboyibo, whose CAR party had far more seats. Kodjo's acceptance of the post of prime minister provoked the CAR to break
the opposition alliance and refuse to join the Kodjo government. The second multi-party legislative elections of Eyadéma's 33-year
rule were held on March 21, 1999. However, the opposition boycotted the election, in which the ruling party won 79 of the 81
seats in the National Assembly. President Eyadéma died on February 5, 2005 while onboard an airplane en route to France for
treatment for a heart attack. His son Faure Gnassingbé, the country's former minister of public works, mines, and
telecommunications, was named President by Togo's military following the announcement of his father's death. Under international
pressure from the African Union and the United Nations however, who both denounced the transfer of power from father to son as
a coup, Gnassingbé was forced to step down on February 25, 2005, shortly after accepting the nomination to run for elections in
April. Deputy Speaker Bonfoh Abbass was appointed interim president until the inauguration of the April 24 election winner. As to
official results, the winner of the election was Gnassingbé who garnered 60% of the vote. Opposition leader Emmanuel Bob-Akitani
however disputed the election and declared himself to be the winner with 70% of the vote. After the announcement of the results,
tensions flared up and to date, 100 people have been killed. On May 3, 2005, Gnassingbé was sworn in and vowed to concentrate
on "the promotion of development, the common good, peace and national unity". In August 2006 President Gnassingbe and
members of the opposition signed the Global Political Agreement (GPA), bringing an end to the political crisis trigged by
Gnassingbe Eyadema's death in February 2005 and the flawed and violent electoral process that followed. The GPA provided for a
transitional unity government whose primary purpose would be to prepare for benchmark legislative elections, originally scheduled
for June 24, 2007. CAR opposition party leader and human rights lawyer Yawovi Agboyibo was appointed Prime Minister of the
transitional government in September 2006. Leopold Gnininvi, president of the CDPA party, was appointed minister of state for
mines and energy. The third opposition party, UFC, headed by Gilchrist Olympio, declined to join the government, but agreed to
participate in the national electoral commission and the National Dialogue follow-up committee, chaired by Burkina Faso President
Blaise Compaore. Parliamentary elections took place on October 14, 2007. Mr Olympio, who returned from exile to campaign,
took part for the first time in 17 years. The ruling party, Rally of the Togolese People(RPT), won a majority of the parliamentary
seats in the election which international observers declared the poll "largely" free and fair. Despite these assurances, the
secretary-general of the opposition party Union of Forces for Change(UFC) initially state that his party would not accept the
election results.. Mr Olympio states that the election results did not properly represent the voters' will, pointing out that the UFC
received nearly as many votes as the RPT, but that due to the way the electoral system was designed the UFC won far fewer seats.
Source: Wikipedia: History of Togo
| ECONOMIC OVERVIEW |
This small, sub-Saharan economy is heavily dependent on both commercial and subsistence agriculture, which provides employment
for 65% of the labor force. Some basic foodstuffs must still be imported. Cocoa, coffee, and cotton generate about 40% of export
earnings with cotton being the most important cash crop. Togo is the world's fourth-largest producer of phosphate. The
government's decade-long effort, supported by the World Bank and the IMF, to implement economic reform measures, encourage
foreign investment, and bring revenues in line with expenditures has moved slowly. Progress depends on follow through on
privatization, increased openness in government financial operations, progress toward legislative elections, and continued support
from foreign donors. Togo is working with donors to write a Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility (PRGF) that could eventually
lead to a debt reduction plan. Economic growth remains marginal due to declining cotton production, underinvestment in phosphate
mining, and strained relations with donors.
Source: CIA World Factbook (select Togo)
for 65% of the labor force. Some basic foodstuffs must still be imported. Cocoa, coffee, and cotton generate about 40% of export
earnings with cotton being the most important cash crop. Togo is the world's fourth-largest producer of phosphate. The
government's decade-long effort, supported by the World Bank and the IMF, to implement economic reform measures, encourage
foreign investment, and bring revenues in line with expenditures has moved slowly. Progress depends on follow through on
privatization, increased openness in government financial operations, progress toward legislative elections, and continued support
from foreign donors. Togo is working with donors to write a Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility (PRGF) that could eventually
lead to a debt reduction plan. Economic growth remains marginal due to declining cotton production, underinvestment in phosphate
mining, and strained relations with donors.
Source: CIA World Factbook (select Togo)
| POLITICAL CLIMATE |
On February 5, 2005, Eyadéma died of a heart attack. Shortly afterwards, his son Faure Gnassingbé was named by Togo's military
as the country's leader, raising numerous eyebrows. Army Chief of Staff General Zakari Nandja announced the succession, saying
the speaker of parliament (who should have taken over under the constitution) was out of the country. African Union leaders
described the naming of Faure Gnassingbé as a military coup. The constitution of Togo declared that in the case of the president's
death, the speaker of Parliament takes his place, and has 60 days to call new elections. However, on February 6, Parliament
retroactively changed the Constitution, declaring that Faure would hold office for the rest of his father's term, with elections deferred
until 2008.
On May 3, 2005, Gnassingbé was sworn in as the new president garnering 60% of the vote according to official results. Disquiet
has continued however with the opposition declaring the voting rigged, claiming the military stole ballot boxes from various polling
stations in the South, as well as other election irregularities, such as telecommunication shutdown. The European Union has
suspended aid in support of the opposition claims, while the African Union and the United States have declared the vote
"reasonably fair" and accepted the outcome. The Nigerian president and Chair of the AU, Olusẹgun Ọbasanjọ, has sought to
negotiate between the incumbent government and the opposition to establish a coalition government, but surprisingly rejected an AU
Commission appointment of former Zambian president, Kenneth Kaunda, as special AU envoy to Togo.
A presidential election was held in Togo on 4 March 2010. Incumbent President Faure Gnassingbé—who won his first term in a
presidential election that followed the death of his father, long-time President Gnassingbé Eyadema, in 2005—faced radical
opposition candidate Jean-Pierre Fabre, the Secretary-General of the Union of the Forces of Change (UFC), as well as several
minor opposition candidates.
Source: Wikipedia: Politics of Togo
as the country's leader, raising numerous eyebrows. Army Chief of Staff General Zakari Nandja announced the succession, saying
the speaker of parliament (who should have taken over under the constitution) was out of the country. African Union leaders
described the naming of Faure Gnassingbé as a military coup. The constitution of Togo declared that in the case of the president's
death, the speaker of Parliament takes his place, and has 60 days to call new elections. However, on February 6, Parliament
retroactively changed the Constitution, declaring that Faure would hold office for the rest of his father's term, with elections deferred
until 2008.
On May 3, 2005, Gnassingbé was sworn in as the new president garnering 60% of the vote according to official results. Disquiet
has continued however with the opposition declaring the voting rigged, claiming the military stole ballot boxes from various polling
stations in the South, as well as other election irregularities, such as telecommunication shutdown. The European Union has
suspended aid in support of the opposition claims, while the African Union and the United States have declared the vote
"reasonably fair" and accepted the outcome. The Nigerian president and Chair of the AU, Olusẹgun Ọbasanjọ, has sought to
negotiate between the incumbent government and the opposition to establish a coalition government, but surprisingly rejected an AU
Commission appointment of former Zambian president, Kenneth Kaunda, as special AU envoy to Togo.
A presidential election was held in Togo on 4 March 2010. Incumbent President Faure Gnassingbé—who won his first term in a
presidential election that followed the death of his father, long-time President Gnassingbé Eyadema, in 2005—faced radical
opposition candidate Jean-Pierre Fabre, the Secretary-General of the Union of the Forces of Change (UFC), as well as several
minor opposition candidates.
Source: Wikipedia: Politics of Togo
| INTERNATIONAL DISPUTES |
In 2001, Benin claimed Togo moved boundary monuments - joint commission continues to resurvey the boundary; in 2006 14,000
Togolese refugees remain in Benin and Ghana out of the 40,000 who fled there in 2005
Togolese refugees remain in Benin and Ghana out of the 40,000 who fled there in 2005
| REFUGEES AND INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS (IDPS) |
Refugees (country of origin): 5,000 (Ghana)
IDPs: 1,500 (2007)
IDPs: 1,500 (2007)
| ILLICIT DRUGS |
Transit hub for Nigerian heroin and cocaine traffickers; money laundering not a significant problem
| HUMAN RIGHTS STATEMENTS, ANALYSIS AND CRITIQUES |
2009 Human Rights Report: Togo
Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor
2009 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices
March 11, 2010
Togo, with a population of 6.3 million, is a republic governed by President Faure Gnassingbe, who was declared president in 2005 in an
election marred by severe irregularities. President Faure Gnassingbe replaced his father, former president Gnassingbe Eyadema, who
died in 2005 after 38 years in power. Eyadema and his party, Rally of the Togolese People (RPT), strongly backed by the armed forces,
dominated politics and maintained firm control over all levels of the highly centralized government until his death. In 2007 the
Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) organized generally free and fair legislative elections for the 81 seats in the National
Assembly. All major opposition parties participated in the elections, and the opposition won a total of 31 seats. While civilian authorities
generally maintained effective control of the security forces, there were instances in which elements of the security forces acted
independently.
The human rights situation in the country improved; however, serious human rights problems continued, including the following:
Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor
2009 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices
March 11, 2010
Togo, with a population of 6.3 million, is a republic governed by President Faure Gnassingbe, who was declared president in 2005 in an
election marred by severe irregularities. President Faure Gnassingbe replaced his father, former president Gnassingbe Eyadema, who
died in 2005 after 38 years in power. Eyadema and his party, Rally of the Togolese People (RPT), strongly backed by the armed forces,
dominated politics and maintained firm control over all levels of the highly centralized government until his death. In 2007 the
Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) organized generally free and fair legislative elections for the 81 seats in the National
Assembly. All major opposition parties participated in the elections, and the opposition won a total of 31 seats. While civilian authorities
generally maintained effective control of the security forces, there were instances in which elements of the security forces acted
independently.
The human rights situation in the country improved; however, serious human rights problems continued, including the following:
- partial inability of citizens to change their government;
- abuse of detainees;
- official impunity;
- harsh and life-threatening prison conditions;
- arbitrary arrests and detention;
- lengthy pretrial detention;
- executive influence over the judiciary; infringement of citizens' privacy rights;
- restrictions on the press;
- restrictions on freedom of assembly and movement;
- corruption;
- female genital mutilation (FGM);
- discrimination and violence against women;
- regional and ethnic favoritism;
- trafficking in persons, especially children;
- child labor, including forced child labor;
- lack of workers' rights in export processing zones.
4 March 2009
HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL
Tenth session, Agenda item 3
PROMOTION AND PROTECTION OF ALL HUMAN RIGHTS, CIVIL, POLITICAL, ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL
RIGHTS, INCLUDING THE RIGHT TO DEVELOPMENT
Report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, Mrs. Margaret Sekaggya*
Addendum
MISSION TO TOGO**
Summary
The Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders conducted a country visit to Togo from 28 July to 4 August 2008
during which she met with senior government officials as well as a broad range of human rights defenders. The purpose of the visit was
to assess the situation of human rights defenders in Togo in light of the principles set forth in the Declaration on Human Rights
Defenders.
Following an introductory section (I), in section II the Special Rapporteur presents the general context in which human rights defenders
in Togo operate. Since 2005, Togo has been engaged in a process of political transition and, as a consequence, the prospects for the
promotion and protection of human rights are improving.
In section III, the Special Rapporteur describes the legal and institutional framework for the promotion and protection of human rights in
Togo. She welcomes the series of initiatives aimed at ensuring an environment conducive to the work of human rights defenders. She
regrets, however, that insufficient funds are allocated to the institutions undertaking such initiatives. In section IV, the Special
Rapporteur details the current challenges faced by human rights defenders in Togo in their legitimate activities. She points out that
defenders must first achieve unity and coordination within the defenders community. Other challenges include the stigmatization of
defenders by authorities who see them as belonging to the political opposition, the plight of women defenders and the difficulties inherent
to their work, unjustified delays in delivering registration certificates to NGOs, illegitimate restrictions on the exercise of the rights to
freedom of peaceful assembly and freedom of opinion and expression, and impunity for past abuses against human rights defenders.
Finally, in section V the Special Rapporteur formulates her conclusions and recommendations for consideration by the Government.
Click here to read more »
HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL
Tenth session, Agenda item 3
PROMOTION AND PROTECTION OF ALL HUMAN RIGHTS, CIVIL, POLITICAL, ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL
RIGHTS, INCLUDING THE RIGHT TO DEVELOPMENT
Report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, Mrs. Margaret Sekaggya*
Addendum
MISSION TO TOGO**
Summary
The Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders conducted a country visit to Togo from 28 July to 4 August 2008
during which she met with senior government officials as well as a broad range of human rights defenders. The purpose of the visit was
to assess the situation of human rights defenders in Togo in light of the principles set forth in the Declaration on Human Rights
Defenders.
Following an introductory section (I), in section II the Special Rapporteur presents the general context in which human rights defenders
in Togo operate. Since 2005, Togo has been engaged in a process of political transition and, as a consequence, the prospects for the
promotion and protection of human rights are improving.
In section III, the Special Rapporteur describes the legal and institutional framework for the promotion and protection of human rights in
Togo. She welcomes the series of initiatives aimed at ensuring an environment conducive to the work of human rights defenders. She
regrets, however, that insufficient funds are allocated to the institutions undertaking such initiatives. In section IV, the Special
Rapporteur details the current challenges faced by human rights defenders in Togo in their legitimate activities. She points out that
defenders must first achieve unity and coordination within the defenders community. Other challenges include the stigmatization of
defenders by authorities who see them as belonging to the political opposition, the plight of women defenders and the difficulties inherent
to their work, unjustified delays in delivering registration certificates to NGOs, illegitimate restrictions on the exercise of the rights to
freedom of peaceful assembly and freedom of opinion and expression, and impunity for past abuses against human rights defenders.
Finally, in section V the Special Rapporteur formulates her conclusions and recommendations for consideration by the Government.
Click here to read more »
Freedom In The World 2010 Report
Political Rights Score: 5
Civil Liberties Score: 4
Status: Partly Free
Ratings Change
Togo’s civil liberties rating improved from 5 to 4 due to the launch of a Truth and Reconciliation Commission to investigate
past human rights abuses, as well as a decrease in violence throughout the country.
Overview
The government oversaw notable reforms to the electoral code and election commission in 2009 as the country prepared for a
presidential election in early 2010. The political environment was generally more peaceful than in previous years, and a Truth and
Reconciliation Commission was launched in May to address past human rights abuses. However, President Faure Gnassingbe’s tolerance
for dissent remained limited, and in April the army violently repressed an alleged coup plot led by his brother.
By the end of 2008, the EU had restored full economic aid, and the World Bank and International Monetary Fund also resumed
cooperation that year. Relations with international donors were bolstered in part by Gnassingbe’s appointment of Gilbert Fossoun
Houngbo, a former UN Development Programme official, as prime minister in September.
In June 2009, the government, opposition parties, and civil society members reached agreement on the reformation of the electoral code
and the composition of the main electoral commission in preparation for the 2010 presidential election. By October, the government had
agreed to drop residency requirements that previously barred Gilchrist Olympio of the UFC from running, and the electoral code reform
was adopted by year’s end. However, in November both major opposition parties threatened to boycott the poll unless the government
agreed to hold a runoff if no candidate won a majority in the first round.
While there were a number of minor confrontations between security forces and opposition demonstrators during 2009, Gnassingbe
showed the least tolerance for opposition within the RPT and his own family. In April, the army raided the home of his elder brother,
Kpatcha, on suspicion that he was planning a coup. The raid led to a gun battle that left three people dead. Kpatcha Gnassingbe, 18
soldiers, and 10 civilians were eventually arrested and charged with rebellion.
Togo is not an electoral democracy. Despite international consensus that the 2007 legislative elections were relatively free and fair, the
2005 presidential vote was blatantly fraudulent and marked by serious violence. The president is elected to five-year terms and appoints
the prime minister. Members of the 81-seat, unicameral National Assembly are also elected to five-year terms, using a party-list system
in multimember districts. The RPT remains the dominant party, but the opposition UFC and CAR parties won a significant share of seats
in 2007.
Click here to read more »
Political Rights Score: 5
Civil Liberties Score: 4
Status: Partly Free
Ratings Change
Togo’s civil liberties rating improved from 5 to 4 due to the launch of a Truth and Reconciliation Commission to investigate
past human rights abuses, as well as a decrease in violence throughout the country.
Overview
The government oversaw notable reforms to the electoral code and election commission in 2009 as the country prepared for a
presidential election in early 2010. The political environment was generally more peaceful than in previous years, and a Truth and
Reconciliation Commission was launched in May to address past human rights abuses. However, President Faure Gnassingbe’s tolerance
for dissent remained limited, and in April the army violently repressed an alleged coup plot led by his brother.
By the end of 2008, the EU had restored full economic aid, and the World Bank and International Monetary Fund also resumed
cooperation that year. Relations with international donors were bolstered in part by Gnassingbe’s appointment of Gilbert Fossoun
Houngbo, a former UN Development Programme official, as prime minister in September.
In June 2009, the government, opposition parties, and civil society members reached agreement on the reformation of the electoral code
and the composition of the main electoral commission in preparation for the 2010 presidential election. By October, the government had
agreed to drop residency requirements that previously barred Gilchrist Olympio of the UFC from running, and the electoral code reform
was adopted by year’s end. However, in November both major opposition parties threatened to boycott the poll unless the government
agreed to hold a runoff if no candidate won a majority in the first round.
While there were a number of minor confrontations between security forces and opposition demonstrators during 2009, Gnassingbe
showed the least tolerance for opposition within the RPT and his own family. In April, the army raided the home of his elder brother,
Kpatcha, on suspicion that he was planning a coup. The raid led to a gun battle that left three people dead. Kpatcha Gnassingbe, 18
soldiers, and 10 civilians were eventually arrested and charged with rebellion.
Togo is not an electoral democracy. Despite international consensus that the 2007 legislative elections were relatively free and fair, the
2005 presidential vote was blatantly fraudulent and marked by serious violence. The president is elected to five-year terms and appoints
the prime minister. Members of the 81-seat, unicameral National Assembly are also elected to five-year terms, using a party-list system
in multimember districts. The RPT remains the dominant party, but the opposition UFC and CAR parties won a significant share of seats
in 2007.
Click here to read more »
08 September 2010
URGENT ACTION
FOUR ACTIVISTS RELEASED IN TOGO
Four political activists, arrested in March this year ahead of the Togolese presidential election, have been released. They were not ill-
treated during the six months they spent in custody.
Fulbert Attisso, Guillaume Coco, Yaovi Abobiand Eric Solewassi, were provisionally released on 1 September. The four men are
members of the Citizens’ Movement for an Alternative (Mouvement Citoyen pour l'Alternance, MCA) and were charged with "an attempt
on the security of the state" (atteinte à la sûreté de l’État). A further twelve political activists arrested at the same time were released after
a month. The charges against all the men have not been dropped.
One of the men told Amnesty International: “During our detention, our friends were keeping us informed of all the actions your
organization undertook on our behalf. We would like to thank you very much.”
No further action is required. Thanks to all those who sent appeals.
Click here to read more »
URGENT ACTION
FOUR ACTIVISTS RELEASED IN TOGO
Four political activists, arrested in March this year ahead of the Togolese presidential election, have been released. They were not ill-
treated during the six months they spent in custody.
Fulbert Attisso, Guillaume Coco, Yaovi Abobiand Eric Solewassi, were provisionally released on 1 September. The four men are
members of the Citizens’ Movement for an Alternative (Mouvement Citoyen pour l'Alternance, MCA) and were charged with "an attempt
on the security of the state" (atteinte à la sûreté de l’État). A further twelve political activists arrested at the same time were released after
a month. The charges against all the men have not been dropped.
One of the men told Amnesty International: “During our detention, our friends were keeping us informed of all the actions your
organization undertook on our behalf. We would like to thank you very much.”
No further action is required. Thanks to all those who sent appeals.
Click here to read more »
Policy Paralysis
February 11, 2009
Summary
The story of the HIV/AIDS crisis in Africa, which has already claimed more than 20 million lives, is one of massive neglect and denial.
Millions of Africans had already died before the continent's AIDS epidemic even registered on the global radar screen or was publicly
recognized as a problem by decision-makers in affected countries. It took even longer for Africa and the world to notice that in this
epidemic, unlike AIDS in other regions of the world, women and girls became ill and died in greater numbers than men and boys. Sadly,
policymakers still are not taking into account the extent to which AIDS prevalence in Africa is a direct result of relentless human rights
abuses that women and girls suffer because of their gender.
The protection of the rights of women and girls in sub-Saharan Africa is a key to turning around the continent's AIDS crisis. Relative to
the scale of the problem, however, such protection is virtually ignored as a policy tool and certainly not viewed as a central element in
ever larger national AIDS programs. The challenge of protecting women and girls from these AIDS-related human rights abuses is
enormous. The abuses are many and varied, including rape within and outside of marriage, other sexual violence and coercion often
abetted by poverty, domestic violence, unequal property and inheritance rights, divorce laws that exacerbate women's economic
dependence on their husbands, and discriminatory barriers to education and health services. All of these human rights abuses have
existed for a long time and many have been life-threatening, but with HIV/AIDS they are lethal on a massive scale.
HIV/AIDS impoverishes families. Its spectral presence in the household makes it less likely that girls will be enrolled or kept in school
because families prefer to use their scarce resources for boys' education. Girls are also more readily called upon to care for the sick or
to earn income in times of need. The absence of antiretroviral treatment, still the rule and not the exception in Africa, means that people
are dying, not living, with AIDS. Women widowed by AIDS suffer the injustice of both statutory and customary law that militates
against their being able to retain marital property. The stigma of AIDS often leads to their being abandoned or abused. The millions of
children orphaned by AIDS face a stunning array of human rights abuses, many of them more frequent and deadly among girls than
boys. Girls and women in households touched by AIDS and by poverty frequently find their choices and possibilities so diminished that
they have to turn for survival to the sex trade or to situations of lodging or work that expose them to sexual abuse and violence,
increasing the risk that they themselves will die of AIDS.
Child trafficking is a shocking and long-standing crime in many parts of Africa, and it, too, takes on lethal dimensions in the face of a
raging AIDS epidemic. Orphans and other children without parental care are plainly more vulnerable to being lured into trafficking with
the promise of schooling or lucrative work, as Human Rights Watch discovered in its encounters with previously trafficked children in
Togo. Boys are also trafficked, but girls may be the first to be pulled out of school and sent abroad in cases where parents cannot afford
school fees. Trafficking of girls is also more likely to lead to situations of domestic work or work in streets and markets where sexual
violence is a high risk. A number of girls who told us their stories had also been exposed to the risk of sexual and physical violence in the
course of their transportation from Togo to another country in the region. Combating child trafficking has been the subject of numerous
high-profile declarations by virtually all affected countries in Africa, but states continue to allow anti-trafficking programs to be
underfinanced and inadequately supported by effective national and regional laws and law enforcement practices. The link between child
trafficking and AIDS appears not to be appreciated at the policy level.
Click here to read more »
February 11, 2009
Summary
The story of the HIV/AIDS crisis in Africa, which has already claimed more than 20 million lives, is one of massive neglect and denial.
Millions of Africans had already died before the continent's AIDS epidemic even registered on the global radar screen or was publicly
recognized as a problem by decision-makers in affected countries. It took even longer for Africa and the world to notice that in this
epidemic, unlike AIDS in other regions of the world, women and girls became ill and died in greater numbers than men and boys. Sadly,
policymakers still are not taking into account the extent to which AIDS prevalence in Africa is a direct result of relentless human rights
abuses that women and girls suffer because of their gender.
The protection of the rights of women and girls in sub-Saharan Africa is a key to turning around the continent's AIDS crisis. Relative to
the scale of the problem, however, such protection is virtually ignored as a policy tool and certainly not viewed as a central element in
ever larger national AIDS programs. The challenge of protecting women and girls from these AIDS-related human rights abuses is
enormous. The abuses are many and varied, including rape within and outside of marriage, other sexual violence and coercion often
abetted by poverty, domestic violence, unequal property and inheritance rights, divorce laws that exacerbate women's economic
dependence on their husbands, and discriminatory barriers to education and health services. All of these human rights abuses have
existed for a long time and many have been life-threatening, but with HIV/AIDS they are lethal on a massive scale.
HIV/AIDS impoverishes families. Its spectral presence in the household makes it less likely that girls will be enrolled or kept in school
because families prefer to use their scarce resources for boys' education. Girls are also more readily called upon to care for the sick or
to earn income in times of need. The absence of antiretroviral treatment, still the rule and not the exception in Africa, means that people
are dying, not living, with AIDS. Women widowed by AIDS suffer the injustice of both statutory and customary law that militates
against their being able to retain marital property. The stigma of AIDS often leads to their being abandoned or abused. The millions of
children orphaned by AIDS face a stunning array of human rights abuses, many of them more frequent and deadly among girls than
boys. Girls and women in households touched by AIDS and by poverty frequently find their choices and possibilities so diminished that
they have to turn for survival to the sex trade or to situations of lodging or work that expose them to sexual abuse and violence,
increasing the risk that they themselves will die of AIDS.
Child trafficking is a shocking and long-standing crime in many parts of Africa, and it, too, takes on lethal dimensions in the face of a
raging AIDS epidemic. Orphans and other children without parental care are plainly more vulnerable to being lured into trafficking with
the promise of schooling or lucrative work, as Human Rights Watch discovered in its encounters with previously trafficked children in
Togo. Boys are also trafficked, but girls may be the first to be pulled out of school and sent abroad in cases where parents cannot afford
school fees. Trafficking of girls is also more likely to lead to situations of domestic work or work in streets and markets where sexual
violence is a high risk. A number of girls who told us their stories had also been exposed to the risk of sexual and physical violence in the
course of their transportation from Togo to another country in the region. Combating child trafficking has been the subject of numerous
high-profile declarations by virtually all affected countries in Africa, but states continue to allow anti-trafficking programs to be
underfinanced and inadequately supported by effective national and regional laws and law enforcement practices. The link between child
trafficking and AIDS appears not to be appreciated at the policy level.
Click here to read more »
TRANSLATED FROM FRENCH BY GOOGLE TRANSLATE
07/03/2010
The Togolese renew their confidence Faure
Faure Gnassingbe (RPT) was reelected president of Togo for a second term, according to preliminary results disclosed Saturday by the
Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI).
Gnassingbe obtained 60.92% of votes (1,243,044) against 33.94% (692,584) for his main challenger, the candidate of the UFC,
Jean-Pierre Fabre.
The other candidates were relegated behind. Thus, Yawovi Agboyibo RAC gets only 2.96%, Nicolas Lawson (Party for Renewal and
Redemption (PRR, opposition) 0.29% Bassabi Kagbara (Panafrican Democratic Party (PDP opposition) 0.41% Brigitte Kafui Adjamagbo
Johnson (CDPA) 0.66%.
Finally Agbeyome Kodjo of Obut who had campaigned very dynamic and aggressive towards the candidate of the RPT only gets 0.85%
of the vote.
The turnout in this election was 64.68% for approximately 3.2 million subscribers.
"These results will be forwarded to the Constitutional Court within eight days. The remedies may be introduced," said the chairman of
INEC, Issifou Taffa Tabiou.
This election marks in any case a polarization of Togolese politics with two dominant parties, the RPT and the UFC.
Faure Gnassingbe's victory is the result of a campaign well done to all segments of the population with a label RPT not severe. It is also
the result of the reforms which the Togolese are only beginning to receive dividends.
Click here to read more »
07/03/2010
The Togolese renew their confidence Faure
Faure Gnassingbe (RPT) was reelected president of Togo for a second term, according to preliminary results disclosed Saturday by the
Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI).
Gnassingbe obtained 60.92% of votes (1,243,044) against 33.94% (692,584) for his main challenger, the candidate of the UFC,
Jean-Pierre Fabre.
The other candidates were relegated behind. Thus, Yawovi Agboyibo RAC gets only 2.96%, Nicolas Lawson (Party for Renewal and
Redemption (PRR, opposition) 0.29% Bassabi Kagbara (Panafrican Democratic Party (PDP opposition) 0.41% Brigitte Kafui Adjamagbo
Johnson (CDPA) 0.66%.
Finally Agbeyome Kodjo of Obut who had campaigned very dynamic and aggressive towards the candidate of the RPT only gets 0.85%
of the vote.
The turnout in this election was 64.68% for approximately 3.2 million subscribers.
"These results will be forwarded to the Constitutional Court within eight days. The remedies may be introduced," said the chairman of
INEC, Issifou Taffa Tabiou.
This election marks in any case a polarization of Togolese politics with two dominant parties, the RPT and the UFC.
Faure Gnassingbe's victory is the result of a campaign well done to all segments of the population with a label RPT not severe. It is also
the result of the reforms which the Togolese are only beginning to receive dividends.
Click here to read more »
TRANSLATED FROM FRENCH BY GOOGLE TRANSLATE
11 December 2010
Day of human rights: NHRC educates people against discriminatory practices with respect to the fairer sex.
The National Commission of Human Rights (NCHR) has organized the 09 and 10 December 2010, two meetings of awareness and
Tabligbo Vogan, localities north-east of Lome. These events are part of the International Day of Human Rights, a day which
commemorates the adoption by the General Assembly of the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) ,
namely 10 December 1948. The theme this year focuses on the importance of non-discrimination.
These outreach meetings chaired by local administrative authorities have been attended by a large crowd composed among others,
traditional leaders, parents, pupils, students and faculty. They focused on the consequences of discriminatory practices in our societies
and the need to stop it.
The theme chosen by the NHRC to commemorate the 62nd anniversary of the adoption of the UDHR on December 10 was "The fight
against discrimination against the girl and woman in rural areas". This theme is indicative of the discrimination that prevails in our
societies and is the source of many problems related to human rights. There is also a priority for the United Nations.
As for choosing and Vogan Tabligbo he explained not only by the low enrollment of girls in these communities but also by negative
cultural practices that prevail in these environments. Moreover, admitting some bias point that women have a right to inheritance or
estate. It follows therefore that the realization of human rights - the social, economic and cultural rights as civil and political - is hindered
by discriminatory practices obsolete. It was important for the NHRC to raise awareness among people to get them to change their
behavior.
Thus, recalling the provisions of Article 1 of the UDHR, that "All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights ...", the
Commission stressed the need to help promote companies without discrimination and a world of equal treatment for all.
She also reminded his audience's attention all the legal instruments adopted by the international community and ratified by Togo, to
eliminate, if not reduce gender inequalities, among others, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against
Women (CEDAW), Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination
(CERD) ...
Finally, the NHRC asked the people of Vogan and Tablibgo and all social actors to engage with governments in the fight for equal rights
and Women as a factor in any development human development.
Click here to read more »
11 December 2010
Day of human rights: NHRC educates people against discriminatory practices with respect to the fairer sex.
The National Commission of Human Rights (NCHR) has organized the 09 and 10 December 2010, two meetings of awareness and
Tabligbo Vogan, localities north-east of Lome. These events are part of the International Day of Human Rights, a day which
commemorates the adoption by the General Assembly of the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) ,
namely 10 December 1948. The theme this year focuses on the importance of non-discrimination.
These outreach meetings chaired by local administrative authorities have been attended by a large crowd composed among others,
traditional leaders, parents, pupils, students and faculty. They focused on the consequences of discriminatory practices in our societies
and the need to stop it.
The theme chosen by the NHRC to commemorate the 62nd anniversary of the adoption of the UDHR on December 10 was "The fight
against discrimination against the girl and woman in rural areas". This theme is indicative of the discrimination that prevails in our
societies and is the source of many problems related to human rights. There is also a priority for the United Nations.
As for choosing and Vogan Tabligbo he explained not only by the low enrollment of girls in these communities but also by negative
cultural practices that prevail in these environments. Moreover, admitting some bias point that women have a right to inheritance or
estate. It follows therefore that the realization of human rights - the social, economic and cultural rights as civil and political - is hindered
by discriminatory practices obsolete. It was important for the NHRC to raise awareness among people to get them to change their
behavior.
Thus, recalling the provisions of Article 1 of the UDHR, that "All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights ...", the
Commission stressed the need to help promote companies without discrimination and a world of equal treatment for all.
She also reminded his audience's attention all the legal instruments adopted by the international community and ratified by Togo, to
eliminate, if not reduce gender inequalities, among others, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against
Women (CEDAW), Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination
(CERD) ...
Finally, the NHRC asked the people of Vogan and Tablibgo and all social actors to engage with governments in the fight for equal rights
and Women as a factor in any development human development.
Click here to read more »
TRANSLATED FROM FRENCH BY GOOGLE TRANSLATE
2010 Annual Report
12 December 2010
PREFACE
Mr. Adama Kpodar Ferdinand,
- Associate Professor of Public Law and Political Science, Vice Dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Lome (Togo)
Many have always maintained, both internally and externally that Togo to Faure Gnassingbe is not a democracy in 2010 has given them
reason and evidence are made if there can be democracy in Togo is a democracy locked. The year end is an action officer. Like any
presidential Togo, the issue is super great and with it the thousand and one means used to "win" at all costs. March 4 presidential no
exception to the rule.
The human rights. These words have particular resonance for defenders Human Rights who lead a fierce struggle against impunity
despite the many barriers they face and often risking their lives.
Yes, human rights, anyone who utters these words, in our country democratization, seems intone a litany traditional sacred litany of
course, but now we listen with half an ear.
Respect for human rights is something to be said, repeat, celebrate, sacred.
Respect, but nothing more. At worst, we impose a television spot humanitarian about distant countries, nations with uncertain names,
with boundaries drawn to the rule, as those of deepest Africa, we talk about areas that we manage images of repressed events, trade
unionists and journalists arrested and languishing in prisons, NGOs under high surveillance, bloodied children in crying, screaming rape,
massacres of new and sometimes new protests, new UN interventions, as limited as the previous ones.
In this context deliquescent, organized crime eventually subvert weak states, imposing its bloody and brutal logic.
It aggravates inequality in developing an economy in which human life has no value.
Defenders denouncing human rights violations and abuses are found so often in the crosshairs of the perpetrators of these crimes. Yet
international law reminds us that it is the responsibility of states, not only against violations of human rights but also protect defenders of
human rights who denounce these violations and to ensure a environment for the conduct of their activities.
That's why no debate is more relevant today than on human man. This is the fundamental debate that should allow us to define what is a
human, which leads him to his path, and especially to confirm once again that where there is not free to be, to move, speak, speak,
demonstrate, and to decide its own destiny, a man ceases to be a Man. René Cassin, one of the fathers of the Universal Declaration of
Human Rights, had already made the statements according to which:
"There will be no peace on this planet as human rights will be violated some of the world whatsoever ".
But in most cases: nothing. The human rights would become a field reserved for specialists or independent NGOs, as if the rights issue
man was still a hand, as if he was actually still and always other problem.
It is sometimes difficult to prove that the problem, however, concerns us all and all, wherever we were, not only for moral reasons, or a
shred of conscience.
Must demonstrate that the world is one and indivisible, that Togo is too, and that our ethnic boundaries, political and partisan, our
democratic constitutions will not be enough not to protect us against the forces that govern this world really, and why the Charter of
Human Rights is an Arles.
The times we live are perhaps those where, because of the news, every citizen become aware that human rights are a daily requirement,
which does not arise only in distant lands, imaginary and desert, or in the worlds bombed.
Human rights are part of the air we breathe, and give up knowledge, know and act, means giving oneself completely to the other, and the
future what we will.
Because every time a man stands an ideal or acts to improve the lives of others or slaying injustice, he creates a tiny ripple of hope and
these ripples, million households come from energy and daring, are, by joining a current that can scan the strongest walls of oppression
and adversity.
That's the LTDH, once again, the opportunity to make a fitting tribute to these women and those men who, sometimes at the cost of
their lives, fought because they are inhabited the idea that the issue of human rights concerns us all.
It expresses its strong support to journalists, defenders of human rights, threatened with death, subject to judicial harassment, arrest and
detention arbitrary, ill-treatment, torture and persecution. In the words of Albert Einstein: "The world is a dangerous place, not so much
because of those who do evil, but because of those who watch and do nothing. "
Always keep your eyes open and not forget those who fight for freedom, equality and justice. Together we can and must ensure it
imprisons fight anyone, but liberates us all.
Click here to read more>>
2010 Annual Report
12 December 2010
PREFACE
Mr. Adama Kpodar Ferdinand,
- Associate Professor of Public Law and Political Science, Vice Dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Lome (Togo)
Many have always maintained, both internally and externally that Togo to Faure Gnassingbe is not a democracy in 2010 has given them
reason and evidence are made if there can be democracy in Togo is a democracy locked. The year end is an action officer. Like any
presidential Togo, the issue is super great and with it the thousand and one means used to "win" at all costs. March 4 presidential no
exception to the rule.
The human rights. These words have particular resonance for defenders Human Rights who lead a fierce struggle against impunity
despite the many barriers they face and often risking their lives.
Yes, human rights, anyone who utters these words, in our country democratization, seems intone a litany traditional sacred litany of
course, but now we listen with half an ear.
Respect for human rights is something to be said, repeat, celebrate, sacred.
Respect, but nothing more. At worst, we impose a television spot humanitarian about distant countries, nations with uncertain names,
with boundaries drawn to the rule, as those of deepest Africa, we talk about areas that we manage images of repressed events, trade
unionists and journalists arrested and languishing in prisons, NGOs under high surveillance, bloodied children in crying, screaming rape,
massacres of new and sometimes new protests, new UN interventions, as limited as the previous ones.
In this context deliquescent, organized crime eventually subvert weak states, imposing its bloody and brutal logic.
It aggravates inequality in developing an economy in which human life has no value.
Defenders denouncing human rights violations and abuses are found so often in the crosshairs of the perpetrators of these crimes. Yet
international law reminds us that it is the responsibility of states, not only against violations of human rights but also protect defenders of
human rights who denounce these violations and to ensure a environment for the conduct of their activities.
That's why no debate is more relevant today than on human man. This is the fundamental debate that should allow us to define what is a
human, which leads him to his path, and especially to confirm once again that where there is not free to be, to move, speak, speak,
demonstrate, and to decide its own destiny, a man ceases to be a Man. René Cassin, one of the fathers of the Universal Declaration of
Human Rights, had already made the statements according to which:
"There will be no peace on this planet as human rights will be violated some of the world whatsoever ".
But in most cases: nothing. The human rights would become a field reserved for specialists or independent NGOs, as if the rights issue
man was still a hand, as if he was actually still and always other problem.
It is sometimes difficult to prove that the problem, however, concerns us all and all, wherever we were, not only for moral reasons, or a
shred of conscience.
Must demonstrate that the world is one and indivisible, that Togo is too, and that our ethnic boundaries, political and partisan, our
democratic constitutions will not be enough not to protect us against the forces that govern this world really, and why the Charter of
Human Rights is an Arles.
The times we live are perhaps those where, because of the news, every citizen become aware that human rights are a daily requirement,
which does not arise only in distant lands, imaginary and desert, or in the worlds bombed.
Human rights are part of the air we breathe, and give up knowledge, know and act, means giving oneself completely to the other, and the
future what we will.
Because every time a man stands an ideal or acts to improve the lives of others or slaying injustice, he creates a tiny ripple of hope and
these ripples, million households come from energy and daring, are, by joining a current that can scan the strongest walls of oppression
and adversity.
That's the LTDH, once again, the opportunity to make a fitting tribute to these women and those men who, sometimes at the cost of
their lives, fought because they are inhabited the idea that the issue of human rights concerns us all.
It expresses its strong support to journalists, defenders of human rights, threatened with death, subject to judicial harassment, arrest and
detention arbitrary, ill-treatment, torture and persecution. In the words of Albert Einstein: "The world is a dangerous place, not so much
because of those who do evil, but because of those who watch and do nothing. "
Always keep your eyes open and not forget those who fight for freedom, equality and justice. Together we can and must ensure it
imprisons fight anyone, but liberates us all.
Click here to read more>>
| Click map for larger view |
| Click flag for Country Report |
Faure Gnassingbe
President since 4 May 2005
President since 4 May 2005
| TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS |
None reported.
