By REBECCA MUSHOTA –
THE latest United States (US) Human Rights Report on Zambia has highlighted improvements in several key sectors.
According to a statement released by the United States Embassy in Zambia, noteworthy improvements in several key sectors, notably in prison capacity, anti-corruption investigations, and mine safety have been highlighted by the US Human Rights Report on Zambia of 2013.
The statement said the increased visibility of the Human Rights Commission gives evidence that an independent Government organisation was actively working to ensure all Zambians exercised their human rights.
At the same time, however, the US government in 2013 observed serious human rights problems.
These include arbitrary arrest, extrajudicial killings, prolonged pretrial detention, arbitrary interference with privacy, restrictions on freedoms of speech, assembly, and the Press.
Other areas of concern were government corruption, violence and discrimination against women, child abuse, trafficking in persons, discrimination against persons with disabilities and members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community, restrictions on labour rights, forced labour and child labour.
The statement said the US government appreciated its ongoing dialogue with the Zambian Government about the internationally recognised human rights that both the nations had pledged to uphold.
“These are important commitments we make with all our citizens.  We firmly believe both the United States and Zambia are more secure in a world where governments protect their peoples’ rights and freedoms,” the statement said.
US Secretary of State, John Kerry on Thursday released the 2013 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices.
The country-specific Human Rights reports are documents the US Congress, by law, requires the State Department to prepare annually and make public.
The reports cover internationally recognised individual, civil, political, and worker rights, as set forth in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international agreements.
The publication of the annual reports reflects US commitment to the advancement of human rights around the world.