Overview of Human Rights in Chile

Chile is a multiparty democracy. The current government and ruling Concertacion coalition -- in stark contrast with the military dictatorship of former President Pinochet --works to respect the --human rights of its citizens. There were only a few areas of concern reported in recent years, mainly in terms of suspect and prisoners rights.

Suspects complain that, once arrested, they are not told what charges are actually being brought against them, nor do they have access to a timely hearing. International monitors note the sub-standard prison conditions all around Chile. There have also been reports of excessive use of force and violence by guards in jails and prisons. The introduction of new criminal codes should work to improve due process guarantees for those facing trial.

Editor's Note: To date, Pinochet has never stood trial for any of the charges he has been accused of committing during his years in power.  The Pinochet's regime was responsible for excessive human rights abuses.  Human rights abuses aside, the Pinochet years were also rife with the worst kinds of violence, such as political assassinations. Dissidents, political opponents and those believed to have links with the former Allende regime or with leftist sympathies were particularly targeted.  Political assassinations were not limited to Chilean soil either. In the past, Pinochet had enjoyed immunity from prosecution, largely on the basis of ill health.  But such immunity has not lasted indefinitely as court rulings have gradually stripped him of immunity in several instances – albeit on a case-by-case basis.  The hope that Pinochet might one day face accountability for his apparent crimes ended in 2006 with his death. 

Human Development Index (HDI) Rank:

38th out of 177

Note: Human Development Index (HDI) is a composite index that measures the level of well-being of nations in the world. It uses factors such as poverty, literacy, life-expectancy, education, gross domestic product, and purchasing power parity to assess the average achievements in each nation. It has been used in the United Nation’s Human Development Report since 1993.