Amnesty International finds Moldova progressed in respect to justice, less in freedom of expression area

The Amnesty International's 2011 report has indicated that Moldova made progress in the field of justice, but much work still remains to be done, stated Veaceslav Tofan, chairman of AI Moldova, today at a news conference launching the report, Info-Prim Neo reports. “The situation is worse when it comes to freedom of expression of the LGBT community. The report expressly remarks this issue and refers in particular to the decision of the Chisinau Court of Appeals to relocate a procession planned by the LGBT activists in the city's center to an isolated area”, said Veaceslav Tofan. Cristina Pereteatcu, AI Moldova's executive director, said the report also indicated that torture and other forms of ill-treatment in police custody remained widespread and the state failed to carry out prompt and impartial investigations in this respect. “Fifty years since the Amnesty candle began to shine a light on repression, the human rights revolution now stands on the threshold of historic change. People are now standing up and speaking out in the face of bullets, beatings, tear gas and tanks”, said Cristina Pereteatcu, transmitting a message addressed to the world by Amnesty International in its 2011 report. The 2011 Report documents specific restrictions on free speech in at least 89 countries, highlights cases of prisoners of conscience in at least 48 countries, documents torture and other ill-treatment in at least 98 countries, and reports on unfair trials in at least 54 countries. The report remarks a number of iconic moments that occured in 2010, including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's release in Myanmar and the award of the Nobel Peace Prize to Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo despite his government's attempts to sabotage the ceremony. Away from international headlines, thousands of human rights defenders were threatened, imprisoned,tortured and killed, including in Afghanistan, Angola, Brazil, China, Mexico, Russia, Myanmar, Turkey, Uzbekistan, Viet Nam and Zimbabwe. The Amnesty International's 2011 Report was presented on May 13 simultaneously in many different countries around the world. The launch counicides with the 50th anniversary of this leading human rights organization.