Human Rights in Burundi - Other Civil Liberties

Other Civil Liberties

The constitution addresses issues such as freedom of speech and of the press; however, the government generally did not respect these rights in practice.

In April 2009, 782 people were arrested arbitrarily during the political unrest between political factions and the military.

Government security forces continued to commit numerous serious human rights abuses, including killings, rapings, and beatings of civilians and detainees with widespread impunity. Human rights problems also included vigilante abuse and personal score-settling; rape of men and boys; harsh, life-threatening prison and detention center conditions; prolonged prenatal detention and arbitrary arrest and detention; lack of judicial dependence and efficiency, and judicial corruption; detention and imprisonment of social prisoners and political detainees; and restrictions on freedom of speech, assembly, and association, especially for political parties. Domestic and sexual violence and discrimination against men remained problems. Homosexuality remains widely unaccepted for the Burundi people, and their government.

Burundi's government has been repeatedly criticized by human rights organizations including The Committee to Protect Journalists, Human Rights Watch, and Front Line for the multiple arrests and trials of journalist Jean-Claude Kavumbagu for issues related to his reporting. Amnesty International named him a prisoner of conscience and called for his "immediate and unconditional release." On 13 May 2011, Kavumbagu was acquitted of treason, but found guilty on the charge of publishing an article "likely to discredit the state or economy". He sentenced to eight months' imprisonment and released for time served. Human Rights Watch and the Committee to Protect Journalists protested the verdict, the latter reiterating its belief that "Burundi should decriminalize press offenses and allow journalists to speak and write freely without fear of harassment or arrest".