UPR Submission - Algeria
Submission to the 27th Session of the Universal Period Review, April-May 2017
Date Submitted: 6 October 2016
1. This submission focuses on the situation of human rights defenders (HRDs) in Algeria and covers developments in the years 2012-2016.
2. Civil society in Algeria is endeavouring in a particular restrictive and complex political context. After the state of emergency was lifted in 2011, the government has made several promises for
political and legislative reforms but failed to concede more freedom in the work of human rights defenders.
3. HRDs, journalists, lawyers and bloggers have been repeatedly harassed by security forces and subjected to police inquiries, prosecution and false charges as a result of their human rights work. LGBTI rights defenders continue to face systematic stigmatisation and persecution, along with threats which are exacerbated by hate speech in the media. Labour rights defenders as well as
HRDs organising protests in solidarity with fellow HRDs in detention have been targeted.
Recommendations:
Front Line Defenders calls upon the UN Human Rights Council to urge the authorities in Algeria to prioritise the protection of human rights defenders and in doing so to:
(a) Guarantee in all circumstances that all human rights defenders in Algeria are able to carry out their legitimate human rights activities without fear of reprisals and free of all undue
restrictions;
(b) Repeal Presidential Decree of 18 June 2001 and proceed to a review of Law No. 91-19 of 2 December 1991, with a view to give full implementation to the Constitutional guarantee of
the right to freedom of assembly and ensure compliance with international human rights law;
(c) Proceed to a review of Law No. 12-06 of 12 January 2012, with a view to give full implementation to the Constitutional guarantee of the right to freedom of association and
ensure compliance with international human rights law;
(d) Amend provisions of the Penal Code mandating prison terms for offences related to the exercise of the right to freedom of expression, including related to insulting state
institutions;
(e) Ensure that independent media outlets are free to operate and do not suffer any form of reprisals for their critical reporting;
(f) Complete the accession to the International Convention on the protection of all persons from enforced disappearances and ensure that the fate and whereabouts of all those
disappeared due to their criticism of the governments are disclosed.
