Human rights in Madagascar are protected under the national constitution. However, the extent to which such rights are reflected in practice is subject to debate. The 2009 Human Rights Report by the United States Department of State noted concerns regarding the suspension of democratic electoral processes as the result of recent political unrest.2009 U.S Dept of State Human Rights Report: Madagascar Furthermore, reports of corruption, arbitrary arrest and child labor highlight the prevalence of human rights issues in the country.Lawson H, Bertucci M.L, Encyclopedia of human rights, Taylor & Francis, 1996. p.978
Constitution and statutory responses
The Constitution of Madagascar was adopted in 2010. It addresses the notion of universal suffrage, individual rights and the freedom of speech.
Laws regarding a minimum age for employment as well as the prohibition of child labor were passed.
International treaties Madagascar's stances on international human rights treaties are as follows:
International treaties Treaty Organization Introduced Signed Ratified Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide United Nations1948-- International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination United Nations196619671969 International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights United Nations196619701971 International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights United Nations196619691971 First Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights United Nations196619691971 Convention on the Non-Applicability of Statutory Limitations to War Crimes and Crimes Against Humanity United Nations1968-- International Convention on the Suppression and Punishment of the Crime of Apartheid United Nations1973-1977 Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women United Nations197919801989 Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment United Nations198420012005 Convention on the Rights of the Child United Nations198919901991 Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, aiming at the abolition of the death penalty United Nations1989-- International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families United Nations1990-- Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women United Nations19992000- Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict United Nations200020002004 Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography United Nations200020002004 Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities United Nations20062007- Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities United Nations20062007- International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance United Nations20062007- Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights United Nations20082009- Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on a Communications Procedure United Nations2011--
Issues Censorship Accusations of media censorship have risen due to the alleged restrictions on the coverage of government opposition. During the leadership conflict, Ravalomanana ordered the closure of "Viva TV", which was owned by his opponent, Rajoelina. There are concerns of spyware and surveillance on the opposition, and arbitrary detainments of journalists and politicians. Opposition parties are also sometimes restricted.
Peaceful protests are sometimes violently suppressed by the authorities.
Ethnic Minorities Madagascar is an ethnically diverse country. While the majority of the population is Malagasy, they are divided into 18 tribes. The Merina people are the largest, living in the highlands, and they are sometimes in conflict with the Cotiers, or coastal people, who have more African origins. 20,000 of the Karana people, with historic origins of India, are stateless. Precise demographic information in Madagascar is unavailable. In 2017, an amendment to the nationality law allowed children to receive citizenship from their mother if she was married to a foreign man (which previously had been prohibited).
Mob violence and kidnapping and ransoming of ethnic minorities, like people of Indian origin, are common, because it is believed they are rich.
Equality Women's suffrage was officially recognized in 1959. However violence against women and human trafficking continues to be an issue in society. Pregnant young women and girls often face barriers in education, with schools banning them, considering them a "bad example". Women continue to face barriers in the workforce. People with albinism are sometimes kidnapped and murdered, due to superstition.
There are no anti-discrimination laws for LGBTQ people.
Legal system The existence of key legal principles such as the rule of law and due process, is in question due to the increase in arbitrary and politically motivated arrests during the leadership conflict. In December 2014, the List of Goods Produced by Child Labor or Forced Labor indicated that children in Madagascar engaged in three activities, namely vanilla production, stone quarrying, and sapphire mining.
According to Amnesty International, jails are heavily overcrowded, and often have inadequate food, and poor sanitation and medical care. Prisoners sometimes face lengthy pretrial detention, and denial of bail without justification. Citizens are also sometimes unaware of their rights. The US State Department, in their Madagascar report of 2022, highlighted excessive force sometimes used by security forces. Due to corruption, there is often inadequate punishment in these cases.
Poverty The people of Madagascar are afflicted by extreme levels and rates of poverty. As of 2005, the Eastern coast of the country had astoundingly high poverty rates of around 80% while urban areas are just over 50%. Over 20% of the population lived on under $11.25 per day and over 80% of the population on under $15.00 per day as of 2010.
The country has seen major improvements in literacy rates. Generally, a correlation exists between literacy rates and poverty. Should the progress in increasing the number of literate Madagascans continue, poverty rates should begin to decline respectively.
Historical situation
The following chart shows Madagascar's ratings since 1972 in the Freedom in the World reports, published annually by Freedom House. A rating of 1 is "free"; 7, "not free". Historical ratings YearPolitical RightsCivil LibertiesStatusHead of State 197253Partly FreePhilibert Tsiranana 197354Partly FreeGabriel Ramanantsoa 197454Partly FreeGabriel Ramanantsoa 197555Partly FreeGabriel Ramanantsoa 197665Not FreeDidier Ratsiraka 197755Partly FreeDidier Ratsiraka 197866Not FreeDidier Ratsiraka 197966Not FreeDidier Ratsiraka 198076Not FreeDidier Ratsiraka 198166Not FreeDidier Ratsiraka 198266Not FreeDidier Ratsiraka 198356Partly FreeDidier Ratsiraka 198456Partly FreeDidier Ratsiraka 198556Partly FreeDidier Ratsiraka 198655Partly FreeDidier Ratsiraka 198755Partly FreeDidier Ratsiraka 198855Partly FreeDidier Ratsiraka 198954Partly FreeDidier Ratsiraka 199044Partly FreeDidier Ratsiraka 199144Partly FreeDidier Ratsiraka 199244Partly FreeDidier Ratsiraka 199324Partly FreeDidier Ratsiraka 199424Partly FreeAlbert Zafy 199524Partly FreeAlbert Zafy 199624Partly FreeAlbert Zafy 199724Partly FreeNorbert Ratsirahonana 199824Partly FreeDidier Ratsiraka 199924Partly FreeDidier Ratsiraka 200024Partly FreeDidier Ratsiraka 200124Partly FreeDidier Ratsiraka 200234Partly FreeDidier Ratsiraka 200333Partly FreeMarc Ravalomanana 200433Partly FreeMarc Ravalomanana 200533Partly FreeMarc Ravalomanana 200643Partly FreeMarc Ravalomanana 200743Partly FreeMarc Ravalomanana 200843Partly FreeMarc Ravalomanana 200964Partly FreeMarc Ravalomanana 201064Partly FreeAndry Rajoelina 201164Partly FreeAndry Rajoelina 201264Partly FreeAndry Rajoelina 201354Partly FreeAndry Rajoelina 201444Partly FreeAndry Rajoelina 201534Partly FreeHery Rajaonarimampianina 201634Partly FreeHery Rajaonarimampianina 201734Partly FreeHery Rajaonarimampianina 201834Partly FreeHery Rajaonarimampianina 201933Partly FreeRivo Rakotovao 202034Partly FreeAndry Rajoelina 202134Partly FreeAndry Rajoelina 202234Partly FreeAndry Rajoelina 202334Partly FreeAndry Rajoelina
See also
Human trafficking in Madagascar Internet censorship and surveillance in Madagascar Politics of Madagascar 2006 Malagasy coup d'état attempt
Notes 1.Note that the "Year" signifies the "Year covered". Therefore the information for the year marked 2008 is from the report published in 2009, and so on. 2.As of 1 January. 3.The 1982 report covers 1981 and the first half of 1982, and the following 1984 report covers the second half of 1982 and the whole of 1983. In the interest of simplicity, these two aberrant "year and a half" reports have been split into three year-long reports through interpolation.
References
External links 2022 Annual Report, by Amnesty International Freedom in the World 2023 Report, by Freedom House Human rights in Madagascar on OHCHR website