Overview of Human Rights in Sao Tome and Principe

The government of the Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe works to respect the civil and human rights of its citizens.  However, certain existing problems are exacerbated by poverty and high levels of unemployment. Prison conditions are very harsh, and the judicial system is seen as inefficient and influenced by external sources. Child labor is a problem, as is official corruption.  There are also inhumane labor conditions in the agriculture sector.  Overall, the country has a better than average human rights record when compared with many other countries in the world.

Human Development Index (HDI) Rank:

127th 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.