Amnesty International Gives Africa's Rights Record Mixed Review

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28 May 2008

Amnesty International marks the 60th anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights with a report finding, among other things, that, despite decolonization, Africa has not seen many promises of the charter realized. From London Tendai Maphosa has more in this report from London.

Amnesty's Secretary-General Irene Khan says it is time for governments to deliver the promises contained in the Universal Declaration of Human rights.

"The Universal Declaration of Human Rights does not need to be renegotiated, rewritten or scrapped, it needs to be respected. At 60 it is not up for retirement but for renewed commitment," she said.

Governments, Khan added, cannot continue denying citizens basic rights, such as freedom of expression, assembly and association and attack political activists and human rights defenders, as more people are becoming aware of these rights and prepared to demand them.