Human Rights in Chile

Human rights in Chile are supposed to be respected by the government as is a democratic country, however there are reports of excessive use of force and mistreatment by police forces, of physical abuse in jails and prisons, and of generally substandard prison conditions. Authorities failed to advise detainees promptly of charges against them and to grant them a timely hearing. Domestic violence against women and children was widespread. There were isolated incidents of trafficking in persons to, from, and within the country. Some indigenous people were marginalized, particularly in rural areas, and suffered some forms of discrimination. Many children were employed in the informal economy. Chile is known for being a very conservative nation where Gay rights are very limited.

Human rights violations by the military and security forces in Chile were widespread during the rule of General Augusto Pinochet (1973-1990). According to a government commission report that included testimony from more than 30,000 people, Pinochet's government killed at least 3,197 people and tortured about 29,000. Two-thirds of the cases listed in the report happened in 1973. Other estimates of the number killed and "disappeared" during the Pinochet regime range as high as 17,000.