Country Reports on Human Rights Practices, 2013: Mongolia

摘要

Mongolia is a multi-party parliamentary democracy. In the June presidential elections, incumbent Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj of the Democratic Party won reelection with 50.23 percent of the vote. The election was generally conducted in a free and fair manner in accordance with the constitution, but expert observers noted that some legal provisions prevented media from providing sufficient information to the voters. The Democratic Party holds a plurality of seats in Parliament and Prime Minister Norov Altankhuyag leads a coalition government including the Justice Coalition (composed of the Mongolian Peoplefs Revolutionary Party (MPRP) and the Mongolian National Democratic Party) and the Civil Will-Green Party. In August President Elbegdorj pardoned MPRP leader and former president Nambaryn Enkhbayar after Enkhbayar had served some eight months of a 30-month prison sentence imposed upon his conviction on corruptionrelated charges. Authorities generally maintained effective control over security forces. Credible reports indicated that security forces occasionally committed human rights abuses. The three most significant human rights problems were police abuse of detainees, widespread corruption, and a lack of transparency in government affairs. Ample documentation establishes both that corruption was widespread and that the perception and reality of corruption were serious drags on democratic and economic development. Lack of transparency . especially in the legislative and judicial branches of government . further undermined government efficiency and public confidence. Security forces subjected detainees to physical abuse, especially upon arrest. While the law provides for protection of basic human rights, there was a discrepancy between laws and regulations and actual practice.