HUMAN RIGHTS

HUMAN RIGHTS

Advancement and protection of human rights have always been at the heart of Algeria's policy design approach. The country's history provides ample evidence of that approach.

Since the country gained independence in 1962, public officials have continuously focused their efforts on advancing and protecting the rights of citizens. Various amendments to the Algerian Constitution have all enshrined universal values and principles relating to human rights, with due regard for authenticity, modernity, and a development process specific to Algerian society.

With the advent of a multiparty system in 1989, Algeria accelerated the adhesion process to regional and international legal instruments relating to human rights. Algeria is now party to a large number of such instruments whose primacy over domestic law is clearly stated in the Algerian Constitution. Algeria maintains regular good-faith cooperation with regional and international human rights bodies.

Domestically, the February 7, 2016, revision of the Constitution represents the crowning achievement of a long reform process. These reforms have strengthened the rule of law, deepened participatory democracy, and consolidated democratic freedoms through major achievements in sensitive areas such as information, association, representation of women in elected bodies, electoral system, and management of local governments.

Legislation aimed at strengthening human rights and democratic freedoms gained further support with the adoption of a law criminalizing violence against women and a framework law on the rights and well-being of children, as well as a number of substantial amendments to the Code of Criminal Procedures as an indicator of enforcement of individual liberties that also strengthens the rights of citizens and decriminalizes executive management.