# Sao Tome and Principe - United States Department of State

- Sao Tome and Principe HomeReportsBureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor2023 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices&#8230;Sao Tome and Principe				hide	document.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded", function(event) {	if(window.jQuery) {		jQuery( document ).ready(function() {			if (jQuery(".bc_middle").hasClass("collapse")) {				jQuery(".bc_ellipse").click(function(){					jQuery(".bc_hide").toggleClass("visible");					jQuery(".bc_middle").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_ellipse").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_content").toggleClass("noflex");					jQuery(".block_breadcrumbs_content").toggleClass("noflex");				});				jQuery(".bc_hide").click(function(){					jQuery(".bc_hide").toggleClass("visible");					jQuery(".bc_middle").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_ellipse").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_content").toggleClass("noflex");					jQuery(".block_breadcrumbs_content").toggleClass("noflex");				});			} else {				jQuery(".bc_ellipse").hide();			}		});	}});																							2023 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: Sao Tome and Principe																																					Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor																																																																																							Download Report																																																							Translations																																																																 In this section										/																							EXECUTIVE SUMMARY																																													EXECUTIVE SUMMARY																															Section 1. Respect for the Integrity of the Person																																																									a. Arbitrary Deprivation of Life and Other Unlawful or Politically Motivated Killings																																																																											b. Disappearance																																																																											c. Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, and Other Related Abuses																																																																			Prison and Detention Center Conditions																																																																																																																		d. Arbitrary Arrest or Detention																																																																			Arrest Procedures and Treatment of Detainees																																																																																																																		e. Denial of Fair Public Trial																																																																			Trial Procedures																																																								Political Prisoners and Detainees																																																																																																																		f. Transnational Repression																																																																											g. Property Seizure and Restitution																																																																											h. Arbitrary or Unlawful Interference with Privacy, Family, Home, or Correspondence																																																																																	Section 2. Respect for Civil Liberties																																																									a. Freedom of Expression, Including for Members of the Press and Other Media																																																																			Internet Freedom																																																																																																																		b. Freedoms of Peaceful Assembly and Association																																																																											c. Freedom of Religion																																																																											d. Freedom of Movement and the Right to Leave the Country																																																																											e. Protection of Refugees																																																																																	Section 3. Freedom to Participate in the Political Process																																																									Elections and Political Participation																																																																																	Section 4. Corruption in Government																															Section 5. Governmental Posture Towards International and Nongovernmental Monitoring and Investigation of Alleged Abuses of Human Rights																															Section 6. Discrimination and Societal Abuses																																																									Women																																																																											Systemic Racial or Ethnic Violence and Discrimination																																																																											Children																																																																											Antisemitism																																																																											Trafficking in Persons																																																																											Acts of Violence, Criminalization, and Other Abuses Based on Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity or Expression, or Sex Characteristics																																																																											Persons with Disabilities																																																																											Other Societal Violence or Discrimination																																																																																	Section 7. Worker Rights																																																									a. Freedom of Association and the Right to Collective Bargaining																																																																											b. Prohibition of Forced or Compulsory Labor																																																																											c. Prohibition of Child Labor and Minimum Age for Employment																																																																											d. Discrimination (see section 6)																																																																											e. Acceptable Conditions of Work																																																																																																							EXECUTIVE SUMMARY				There were no significant changes in the human rights situation in Sao Tome and Principe during the year.Significant human rights issues included credible reports of:  serious problems with the independence of the judiciary; serious government corruption; extensive gender-based violence, including domestic or intimate partner violence, sexual violence, child marriage, and other forms of such violence; and the existence of the worst forms of child labor.The government took steps to identify and punish officials who may have committed human rights abuses.																														Section 1.													 Respect for the Integrity of the Person												    																																																a. Arbitrary Deprivation of Life and Other Unlawful or Politically Motivated Killings										There were no reports the government or its agents committed arbitrary or unlawful killings, including extrajudicial killings, during the year.Seven members of the armed forces charged in the extrajudicial killing of four civilians who attacked an army barracks in November 2022 were awaiting trial at year’s end after a civil judge referred their cases to a military tribunal in September.  The Public Prosecutor’s Office appealed this decision on the grounds that a trial in military court would likely not result in an impartial verdict.  The outcome of the appeal was pending at year’s end.																																				b. Disappearance										There were no reports of disappearances by or on behalf of government authorities.																																				c. Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, and Other Related Abuses										The constitution and law prohibited such practices, and there were no credible reports government officials employed them.																Prison and Detention Center Conditions						Prison conditions were harsh due to gross overcrowding and failing infrastructure.Abusive Physical Conditions:  The country’s single prison had capacity for 90 prisoners but held more than 300.  The government did not increase the prison’s budget for food since 2011.  Some rooms in the prison were so decrepit they were unusable.  High temperatures were typical, and ventilation was insufficient.  Pretrial prison cells often did not have adequate beds.  Sanitation and kitchen conditions were rudimentary.  Prisoners with medical emergencies were taken to the national hospital, but those with disabilities did not receive adequate treatment.  Prison guards reported paying for medication out of their own salary to keep the infirmary stocked.Administration:  Legal representatives from the prosecutor’s staff and court personnel were available to address prisoner grievances.  Prisoners and detainees could submit complaints without censorship and request investigation of allegations of inhuman conditions, but no allegations were submitted during the year.Independent Monitoring:  The government permitted independent nongovernmental organization (NGO) and international human rights group monitors to visit the prison.																										d. Arbitrary Arrest or Detention										The constitution and law prohibited arbitrary arrest and detention and provided for the right of any person to challenge the lawfulness of their arrest or detention in court.  The government generally observed these requirements.																Arrest Procedures and Treatment of Detainees						The law required arrest warrants issued by a judge to apprehend suspects, unless the suspect was caught in the act of committing a crime.  The law also required the government to file charges within 48 hours of detention, and authorities generally respected this requirement.  Authorities informed detainees promptly of charges against them and allowed them access to family members.  There was a functioning bail system for nonviolent crimes.  Authorities allowed detainees prompt access to a lawyer.																										e. Denial of Fair Public Trial										The constitution and law provided for an independent judiciary, and the government generally respected judicial independence and impartiality in criminal matters.  Judges were appointed directly by the National Assembly, leaving them potentially vulnerable to ruling party influence in civil matters.  In June, the National Assembly dismissed four judges from the constitutional court and replaced them with four justices who acted on matters observers characterized as beneficial to the governing party.  In one of its first official acts, the new court returned control of the Rosema brewery to two members of the governing coalition, reversing a court decision made during the previous government.  Authorities generally respected and enforced court orders.																Trial Procedures						The constitution and law provided for the right to a fair and public trial, and the judiciary generally enforced this right.  The government teamed with the bar association to provide indigent defendants with legal representation at no cost, although lawyers and the Ministry of Justice reported government funding was often insufficient to cover lawyer fees.						Political Prisoners and Detainees						There were no reports of political prisoners or detainees.																										f. Transnational Repression										Not applicable.																																				g. Property Seizure and Restitution										Not applicable.																																				h. Arbitrary or Unlawful Interference with Privacy, Family, Home, or Correspondence										The constitution and law prohibited such actions, and there were no reports the government failed to respect these prohibitions.																																					Section 2.													 Respect for Civil Liberties												    																																																a. Freedom of Expression, Including for Members of the Press and Other Media										The constitution and law provided for freedom of expression, including for members of the press, and the government generally respected this right.  A somewhat independent media and a functioning democratic political system combined to promote freedom of expression, although the press was occasionally susceptible to political influence and manipulation.  The law mandated all public entities be neutral during political campaigns, but some opposition leaders claimed state-run media edited content presented by opposition parties and otherwise provided coverage that boosted the ruling coalition.Censorship or Content Restrictions for Members of the Press and Other Media, Including Online Media:  Journalists claimed to practice self-censorship, particularly at government-owned media entities, which were the country’s most significant news sources.  Journalists indicated top editors and producers at government-owned media outlets were typically linked to the ruling political party, which influenced reporting on politically sensitive topics.  Independent journalists stated obtaining access to official sources, mainly legal documents, was a problem due to a lack of government transparency on sensitive topics, particularly the November 2022 military barracks attack.Libel/Slander Laws:  Libel, slander, and blasphemy were treated as criminal offenses.  There were no cases of persons being arrested for or charged with libel, slander, or blasphemy during the year.																Internet Freedom						The government did not restrict or disrupt access to the internet or censor online content.																										b. Freedoms of Peaceful Assembly and Association										The constitution and law provided for the freedoms of peaceful assembly and association, and the government generally respected these rights.  The government restricted protest gatherings for 15 days surrounding the Community of Portuguese Language Countries Summit held in the country from August 21-27, stating the measure was intended to maintain security during the event.  The restriction impeded a planned protest by the family and supporters of the sole civilian charged with crimes associated with the November 2022 military barracks attack.																																				c. Freedom of Religion										See the Department of State’s International Religious Freedom Report at  https://www.state.gov/religiousfreedomreport/.																																				d. Freedom of Movement and the Right to Leave the Country										The law provided for freedom of internal movement, foreign travel, emigration, and repatriation, and the government generally respected these rights.																																				e. Protection of Refugees										There were no reports of refugee or asylum requests.Access to Asylum:  The constitution provided for the granting of asylum, but the government did not establish a system for providing protection to asylum seekers or refugees.																																					Section 3.													 Freedom to Participate in the Political Process												    																						The law provided citizens the ability to choose their government in free and fair periodic elections held by secret ballot and based on universal and equal suffrage.																										Elections and Political Participation										Abuses or Irregularities in Recent Elections:  National elections, last conducted in 2022, were widely reported, including by international observers, to be fair and free of abuses and irregularities.Participation of Women and Members of Marginalized or Vulnerable Groups:  Cultural and social factors limited women’s political participation.																																					Section 4.													 Corruption in Government												    																						The law provided criminal penalties for corruption by officials, but the government generally did not implement the law effectively.  Local NGOs stated government corruption was pervasive, and there were numerous reports of government corruption.Corruption:  Some officials reportedly engaged in corrupt practices with impunity.  A study by the country’s NGO federation highlighted ineffective prosecution and lack of convictions as major drivers of impunity.  The government continued to investigate corruption allegations against several former high-ranking officials, but none were tried.  At year’s end, the attorney general was investigating approximately 40 criminal cases involving public corruption.  Many citizens reportedly viewed police as ineffective and corrupt, and feared retaliation if they reported corrupt police officers.  Ministry of Justice and police officials acknowledged this public perception and held training during the year to improve police interaction with the public.For additional information concerning corruption in the country, please see the Department of State’s Investment Climate Statement for the country and the Department of State’s International Narcotics Control Strategy Report, which includes information on financial crimes.																											Section 5.													 Governmental Posture Towards International and Nongovernmental Monitoring and Investigation of Alleged Abuses of Human Rights												    																						A small number of domestic human rights groups generally operated without government restriction to monitor or investigate human rights conditions or cases and publish their findings.  Government officials were somewhat cooperative and responsive to the views of these groups.Government Human Rights Bodies:  The governmental Human Rights Directorate, under the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights, advocated for changes to laws and policies in support of human rights and published reports on children’s and women’s matters.  Human rights groups regarded the directorate as independent and moderately effective.  The National Assembly also maintained a committee that reported on human rights topics.																											Section 6.													 Discrimination and Societal Abuses												    																																																Women										Rape and Domestic Violence:  Rape of men and women, including spousal rape, was illegal and punishable by three to 10 years’ imprisonment.  Prosecution was most common when there was evidence of violent assault or the survivor was a child.The law prescribed penalties ranging from imprisonment for one to five years for domestic violence resulting in harm to the health of the victim, to incarceration for two to eight years when such violence led to loss of life.  The government did not enforce rape and domestic violence laws effectively.  The Public Prosecutor’s Office reported a 20 percent increase in domestic violence cases since 2018.  Police and prosecutor attributed this increase in part to broader public awareness concerning the rights of domestic violence survivors.Many women were reluctant to take legal action because of the cost, a general lack of confidence in the legal system to address their concerns effectively, fear of retaliation, and, in many cases, ignorance of their legal rights.  Authorities reported some medical professionals refused to treat victims of rape and domestic violence due to fear they would be called to testify on their findings and then suffer possible retribution by the abuser.  The Office of Women’s Affairs, under the Prime Minister’s Office, and UNICEF maintained a counseling center and small shelter with a domestic violence hotline but reported their limited capacity did not meet the needs of the population.Other Forms of Gender-based Violence or Harassment:  While the law prohibited sexual harassment, the government did not always enforce the law and sexual harassment was widespread.Discrimination:  The constitution and law provided the same legal status and rights for women and men, but the criminal code did not specifically address gender-based discrimination, nor did family laws specifically recognize legal equality in family, child custody, business and property ownership or management, nationality, or inheritance matters.While many women had access to opportunities in education, business, and government, women – particularly older women and those living in rural areas – generally encountered significant societal discrimination.  Traditional beliefs left women with most child-care responsibilities.  Younger women had increasing access to educational and professional opportunities compared with their elders.  Societal discrimination against women affected their wages and employment prospects.  Discrimination did not generally occur in access to credit or housing.Reproductive Rights:  There were no reports of coerced abortion or involuntary sterilization on the part of government authorities.  The country had no law, regulation, or government policy that interfered with couples’ or individuals’ right to decide the number, spacing, and timing of their children.The government encouraged the use of contraception and family planning, but sociocultural barriers affected the use of family planning.  There were reports some men prevented their partners from using contraceptives, sometimes through intimidation.The country had several health-care centers, two of which were equipped to provide emergency obstetrical and neonatal care.  These two centers served approximately 35 percent of the population.  The UN Population Fund (UNFPA) supported health facilities in providing contraceptive methods, as well as voluntary counseling and testing.In September, the central hospital inaugurated a wing to treat survivors of sexual violence, domestic violence, and rape, including the use of emergency contraception and postexposure prophylaxis as part of the clinical management of rape.  The facility provided evidence to criminal prosecutions of perpetrators.  Emergency contraception was also available free of charge from various government agencies and NGOs.According to a UNFPA report, health professionals attended 93 percent of births and 97 percent of health facilities provided maternal and child health services and family planning.  Many family-planning needs, however, were unmet, and early pregnancy was high at 27 percent.There were no reports of legal, social, or cultural barriers, including harmful practices, related to menstruation and access to menstruation hygiene that impacted women and girls’ ability to participate equally in society, including any limits on a girl’s access to education.  There were no legal, social, or cultural barriers that impeded an adolescent girl’s access to education due to pregnancy or motherhood status.																																				Systemic Racial or Ethnic Violence and Discrimination										The constitution provided that all citizens were equal before the law regardless of race or ethnicity.  There were no reports of the government failing to enforce the law effectively.  The law did not distinguish between migrant workers and citizens in terms of protections, wages, and working conditions.																																				Children										Birth Registration:  By law children born in a hospital were registered on site.  Parents who failed to register a nonhospital birth could be fined, and failure to register a birth could hinder access to education because having a personal identification record was required to enroll in school.Child Abuse:  The law prohibited child abuse, but it was not enforced effectively.  The UN reported 84 percent of children experienced violent discipline, and 14 percent experienced severe physical punishment.  Orphans and abandoned children were particularly vulnerable to abuse.  The government partnered with UNICEF to open a center during the year for abused children where they could register instances of abuse and receive psychological counseling.Child, Early, and Forced Marriage:  The legal minimum age of marriage without parental consent was 18.  The government did not enforce the law effectively.  The government reported some religious groups celebrated marriages earlier than the age established by law but such marriages were not legally recognized until the couple applied at the civil registry after they had both turned 18.Sexual Exploitation of Children:  The law prohibited the use of children for commercial sexual exploitation, statutory rape, and child pornography.  The penalty for conviction of commercial sexual exploitation of children younger than age 18 was two to six years’ imprisonment.  In cases of kidnapping with the intention of forcing children younger than age 16 into commercial sex, the penalty was five to 10 years’ imprisonment.  The minimum age for consensual sex was 16.  Authorities enforced the law.  Prison officials reported approximately 30 percent of prisoners were being held for child sexual abuse crimes.																																				Antisemitism										There was no known Jewish community, and there were no known reports of antisemitic incidents.																																				Trafficking in Persons										There were no confirmed reports during the year that traffickers exploited domestic or foreign victims in the country or that traffickers exploited victims from abroad.																																				Acts of Violence, Criminalization, and Other Abuses Based on Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity or Expression, or Sex Characteristics										Criminalization:  The law did not criminalize consensual same-sex sexual conduct between adults, so-called cross-dressing, nor other sexual or gender characteristic-related behaviors.  There were no reports of facially neutral laws being enforced to disproportionate effect against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or intersex (LGBTQI+) persons.Violence and Harassment:  There were no reports of state or nonstate violence targeting LGBTQI+ persons.Discrimination:  The law did not prohibit discrimination by state or nonstate actors based on sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or sex characteristics.  The law did not explicitly recognize LGBTQI+ couples or their families nor grant them rights equal to the rights of other persons.  There were occasional reports of societal discrimination, primarily rejection by family and friends, against LGBTQI+ persons.  There were occasional reports of employment discrimination based on LGBTQI+ status but were difficult to verify.Availability of Legal Gender Recognition:  Legal gender recognition was not available.Involuntary or Coercive Medical or Psychological Practices:  There were no known reports of forced or involuntary so-called conversion therapy practices.There were no known reports that medically unnecessary and irreversible “normalization” surgeries were performed on children or on nonconsenting adult intersex persons.Restrictions of Freedom of Expression, Association, or Peaceful Assembly:  While there were no official impediments, few LGBTQI+ organizations existed, and societal norms were often not accepting of LGBTQI+ persons.  Revealing one’s LGBTQI+ status was widely considered taboo.																																				Persons with Disabilities										Persons with disabilities could not access education, health services, public buildings, or transportation on an equal basis with others.  The law generally prohibited discrimination against persons with disabilities; however, it did not mandate access to most buildings, transportation, or other services for persons with disabilities.  By law, school buildings were required to be accessible to persons with disabilities, and renovations to bring schools into compliance were underway as of year’s end.  The government did not provide information and communication on disability concerns in accessible formats.Persons with disabilities experienced discrimination in employment and occupation.  Most children with disabilities attended the same schools as children without disabilities, but many did not attend school due to lack of family resources and lack of teachers specializing in inclusive education.  During elections, some polling stations were accessible to persons with disabilities while others were not.																																				Other Societal Violence or Discrimination										Communities and families stigmatized and shunned persons with HIV and AIDS.  NGOs held awareness-raising campaigns and interventions with employers to address discrimination against employees with HIV and AIDS.																																					Section 7.													 Worker Rights												    																																																a. Freedom of Association and the Right to Collective Bargaining										The law provided for the right of workers to form and join independent unions, bargain collectively, and conduct legal strikes.  While the law recognized the right to collective bargaining, there were no regulations governing this right.  The law did not prohibit antiunion discrimination or acts of interference committed by employers against trade unions.  While the law provided for the right to strike, including by government employees and other essential workers, this right was strictly regulated.The provisions regulating strikes required agreement by a majority of workers before a strike could be called, and replacement workers could be hired without consultation with trade unions to perform essential services if an enterprise was threatened by a strike.  The law provided a list of specific minimum or essential services.  An arbitration tribunal appointed by the minister of labor mediated any disagreement regarding what constituted “minimum service” between an employer and a union.  The law also required compulsory arbitration before striking for certain services, including postal, banking, and loan services.  Worker organizations were restricted in the military and police forces, but generally were independent of government and political parties.While the law prohibited retaliation against strikers and required reinstatement of workers fired for legal union activity, the government did not effectively enforce laws protecting freedom of association, collective bargaining, and the right to strike for workers.  The penalties for such abuses were commensurate with those for other similar violations but were never applied against violators.  The lack of prosecutions for acts of antiunion discrimination or acts of interference against trade union organizations reportedly contributed to discrimination.Some informal workers organized trade unions, including fish sellers, informal traders, motorbike taxi drivers, and port and dock workers.  Informal worker unions advocated member interests in discussions on government fees and licenses and sometimes provided union members access to credit.Workers’ collective bargaining rights were relatively weak and little used due to the government’s role as the principal employer in the formal wage sector and as key interlocutor for organized labor on all work-related matters, including union rights and restrictions.  The two labor unions, the General Union of Workers of Sao Tome and Principe and the National Organization of Workers of Sao Tome and Principe, negotiated with the government on behalf of their members on an irregular basis.  Union leaders reported to have met with the government only once during the year to discuss labor matters for public-sector employees despite repeated attempts at engagement.																																				b. Prohibition of Forced or Compulsory Labor										The law prohibited all forms of forced or compulsory labor, including by children.  The government did not effectively enforce the law.  Inspections were insufficient to enforce compliance, especially in the large informal sector.  There were no official reports of forced or compulsory labor.																																				c. Prohibition of Child Labor and Minimum Age for Employment										See the Department of Labor’s Findings on the Worst Forms of Child Labor at  https://www.dol.gov/agencies/ilab/resources/reports/child-labor/findings&nbsp;.																																				d. Discrimination (see section 6)																																														e. Acceptable Conditions of Work										Wage and Hour Laws:  The minimum wage for public employees was above the poverty line.  The minimum wage in the private sector varied by sector and was above the poverty line in all cases.  The legal workweek was 40 hours.  Shopkeepers who wished to keep their stores open more than 40 hours a week could ask for an exception, which, if granted, required them to pay their workers overtime or have them work in shifts.  The law provided for compensation for overtime work.  The law specified occupations in which civil servants could work second jobs, which was a common practice.  Private-sector security guards often worked longer than the legal maximum, with some reports of 24-hour shifts according to labor leaders.Occupational Safety and Health:  The law prescribed appropriate occupational safety and health (OSH) standards for all sectors.  By law workers could remove themselves from situations endangering health or safety without jeopardy to their employment, but authorities had limited capacity to enforce this right.  As the largest employer, the government effectively enforced OSH standards in the public sector.  Working conditions on many of the largely family-owned cocoa farms were unregulated and harsh, with long hours for workers and exposure to the elements and hazardous conditions.In construction, few workers were outfitted with appropriate personal protective equipment (boots, helmet, or gloves) and accidents were rarely reported to the government or labor unions.  In the fishing sector, many workers did not have life vests, compasses, or life rafts.  There were government programs to sell some of this equipment at greatly reduced costs or to provide it for free.  Informal worker unions sometimes provided protective equipment to members at reduced cost.Wage, Hour, and OSH Enforcement:  The government did not effectively enforce minimum wage, overtime, and OSH laws.  The Ministry of Justice, Public Administration, and Human Rights and the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs were responsible for enforcement of appropriate OSH standards and for identifying unsafe situations.  Ministry of Labor inspectors had the authority to conduct unannounced inspections and initiate sanctions but were insufficient in number and training to enforce compliance.  Inspectors lacked the necessary financial and human resources, as well as basic equipment, to conduct regular inspections.  Penalties were not commensurate with those for similar violations and were never applied against violators.  Union leaders identified only one case of a labor (wage) violation pending in civil court during the year, and reported judges were less versed in the country’s labor law compared to the criminal code.Although little data was available, UN researchers estimated up to 68 percent of workers were in the informal sector.  There was no enforcement of minimum wage or monitoring of working conditions in the informal sector.																																				    							View report by:																				Afghanistan											Albania											Algeria											Andorra											Angola											Antigua and Barbuda											Argentina											Armenia											Australia											Austria											Azerbaijan											Bahrain											Bangladesh											Barbados											Belarus											Belgium											Belize											Benin											Bhutan											Bolivia											Bosnia and Herzegovina											Botswana											Brazil											Brunei											Bulgaria											Burkina Faso											Burma											Burundi											Cabo Verde											Cambodia											Cameroon											Canada											Central African Republic											Chad											Chile											China (Includes Hong Kong, Macau, and Tibet)											Colombia											Comoros											Costa Rica											Côte d&#8217;Ivoire											Croatia											Cuba											Cyprus											Czech Republic											Democratic Republic of the Congo											Denmark											Djibouti											Dominica											Dominican Republic											Ecuador											Egypt											El Salvador											Equatorial Guinea											Eritrea											Estonia											Eswatini											Ethiopia											Fiji											Finland											France											Gabon											Georgia											Germany											Ghana											Greece											Grenada											Guatemala											Guinea											Guinea-Bissau											Guyana											Haiti											Honduras											Hungary											Iceland											India											Indonesia											Iran											Iraq											Ireland											Israel, West Bank and Gaza											Italy											Jamaica											Japan											Jordan											Kazakhstan											Kenya											Kiribati											Kosovo											Kuwait											Kyrgyz Republic											Laos											Latvia											Lebanon											Lesotho											Liberia											Libya											Liechtenstein											Lithuania											Luxembourg											Madagascar											Malawi											Malaysia											Maldives											Mali											Malta											Marshall Islands											Mauritania											Mauritius											Mexico											Micronesia											Moldova											Monaco											Mongolia											Montenegro											Morocco											Mozambique											Namibia											Nauru											Nepal											New Zealand											Nicaragua											Niger											Nigeria											North Korea											North Macedonia											Norway											Oman											Pakistan											Palau											Panama											Papua New Guinea											Paraguay											Peru											Philippines											Poland											Portugal											Qatar											Republic of the Congo											Romania											Russia											Rwanda											Saint Kitts and Nevis											Saint Lucia											Saint Vincent and the Grenadines											Samoa											San Marino											Sao Tome and Principe											Saudi Arabia											Senegal											Serbia											Seychelles											Sierra Leone											Singapore											Slovakia											Slovenia											Solomon Islands											Somalia											South Africa											South Korea											South Sudan											Spain											Sri Lanka											Sudan											Suriname											Sweden											Switzerland											Syria											Taiwan											Tajikistan											Tanzania											Thailand											The Gambia											The Netherlands											Timor-Leste											Togo											The Bahamas											Tonga											Trinidad and Tobago											Tunisia											Turkey (Türkiye)											Turkmenistan											Tuvalu											Uganda											Ukraine											United Arab Emirates											United Kingdom											Uruguay											Uzbekistan											Vanuatu											Venezuela											Vietnam											Yemen											Zambia											Zimbabwe															Build A Custom Report																						On This Page				search													>																										EXECUTIVE SUMMARY																Section 1. Respect for the Integrity of the Person																																							a. Arbitrary Deprivation of Life and Other Unlawful or Politically Motivated Killings																																																						b. Disappearance																																																						c. Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, and Other Related Abuses																																																				Prison and Detention Center Conditions																																																																																				d. Arbitrary Arrest or Detention																																																				Arrest Procedures and Treatment of Detainees																																																																																				e. Denial of Fair Public Trial																																																				Trial Procedures																																												Political Prisoners and Detainees																																																																																				f. Transnational Repression																																																						g. Property Seizure and Restitution																																																						h. Arbitrary or Unlawful Interference with Privacy, Family, Home, or Correspondence																																																			Section 2. Respect for Civil Liberties																																							a. Freedom of Expression, Including for Members of the Press and Other Media																																																				Internet Freedom																																																																																				b. Freedoms of Peaceful Assembly and Association																																																						c. Freedom of Religion																																																						d. Freedom of Movement and the Right to Leave the Country																																																						e. Protection of Refugees																																																			Section 3. Freedom to Participate in the Political Process																																							Elections and Political Participation																																																			Section 4. Corruption in Government																Section 5. Governmental Posture Towards International and Nongovernmental Monitoring and Investigation of Alleged Abuses of Human Rights																Section 6. Discrimination and Societal Abuses																																							Women																																																						Systemic Racial or Ethnic Violence and Discrimination																																																						Children																																																						Antisemitism																																																						Trafficking in Persons																																																						Acts of Violence, Criminalization, and Other Abuses Based on Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity or Expression, or Sex Characteristics																																																						Persons with Disabilities																																																						Other Societal Violence or Discrimination																																																			Section 7. Worker Rights																																							a. Freedom of Association and the Right to Collective Bargaining																																																						b. Prohibition of Forced or Compulsory Labor																																																						c. Prohibition of Child Labor and Minimum Age for Employment																																																						d. Discrimination (see section 6)																																																						e. Acceptable Conditions of Work																																																									Tags																					Bureau of African Affairs																								Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor																								Sao Tome and Principe
- Sao Tome and Principe (23-526) – Extension and Amendment of Agreement for the Operation of Radio Transmission Facilities Office of Treaty AffairsTelecommunication: Radio Transmissions FacilitiesSigned at Sao Tome May 26, 2023; entered into force May 26, 2023.Extension of Agreement signed May 22, 1992: TIAS 97-214.  Agreement previously extended and amended June 18, 2022: TIAS 22-618.
- Sao Tome and Principe (22-618) – Extension and Amendment of Agreement for the Operation of Radio Transmission Facilities Office of Treaty AffairsTelecommunication: Radio Transmissions FacilitiesSigned at Sao Tome June 18, 2022; entered into force June 18, 2022.Extension of Agreement signed May 22, 1992: TIAS 97-214.
- Embassy Luanda Launches the Dinheiro Digital é Melhor Project to Increase Financial Inclusion Office of the SpokespersonThe U.S. Embassy in Angola launched the Dinheiro Digital é Melhor project with mobile operator Africell to improve and expand the use of mobile money applications, making it easier to send and receive money.  This two-year, nearly $5 million project, funded through the U.S. Government Agency for International Development (USAID), will support the Government of Angola’s objective to increase financial inclusion and the U.S. Government’s contribution to the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGII).  U.S. Ambassador to Angola and São Tomé e Príncipe, Tulinabo S. Mushingi, and PGII Senior Advisor Danae Pauli attended the official launch at the Africell headquarters in Luanda.  Angolan Secretary of State for Technical and Professional Learning, Gildo Matias, Secretary of State for Science, Technology and Innovation, Alice de Almeida, and National Director of Business and Planning, Laercio Cândido, also attended the launch, as well as representatives from international agencies, civil society, the private sector, and local media.Building on President Biden’s commitment at the 2023 G7 Summit to support development of the Lobito Corridor and the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation’s existing financing for Africell in the DRC, Sierra Leone, and the Gambia, this project represents an expansion of the US government’s partnership with Angola to support sustainable economic development by empowering the Angolan people.   The Dinheiro Digital é Melhor Project in particular will empower ordinary Angolans to conveniently make and receive payments at their fingertips, bridging the gap between individuals and financial services, and breaking down barriers and reaching those previously excluded from the formal financial system.For information about the Dinheiro Digital é Melhor project, please contact the U.S. Embassy Press, Culture and Education Section at pressluanda@state.gov or call 222-641-134.
- Sao Tome and Principe National Day Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of StateI want to congratulate the citizens of Sao Tome and Principe on the 48th anniversary of your independence on July 12. The United States and Sao Tome and Principe have made important strides in the past year, including partnering on our shared goals of maritime security and creating a more prosperous future for the citizens of Sao Tome and Principe.I look forward to increasing bilateral cooperation in the coming years, including our shared commitment to democratic governance.
- Sao Tome and Principe HomeReportsBureau of Economic and Business Affairs2023 Fiscal Transparency Report&#8230;Sao Tome and Principe				hide	document.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded", function(event) {	if(window.jQuery) {		jQuery( document ).ready(function() {			if (jQuery(".bc_middle").hasClass("collapse")) {				jQuery(".bc_ellipse").click(function(){					jQuery(".bc_hide").toggleClass("visible");					jQuery(".bc_middle").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_ellipse").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_content").toggleClass("noflex");					jQuery(".block_breadcrumbs_content").toggleClass("noflex");				});				jQuery(".bc_hide").click(function(){					jQuery(".bc_hide").toggleClass("visible");					jQuery(".bc_middle").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_ellipse").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_content").toggleClass("noflex");					jQuery(".block_breadcrumbs_content").toggleClass("noflex");				});			} else {				jQuery(".bc_ellipse").hide();			}		});	}});																							2023 Fiscal Transparency Report: Sao Tome and Principe																																					Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs																																																																																																				 In this section																																												Government-by-Government Assessments: Sao Tome and Principe																																												Government-by-Government Assessments: Sao Tome and Principe				During the review period, the government made its executive budget proposal, enacted budget, and end-of-year report widely and easily accessible to the public, including online.  However, actual revenues and expenditures did not reasonably correspond to those in the enacted budget, and the government did not publish a revised or supplemental budget.  Information on debt obligations was publicly available.  Public budget documents provided a substantially complete picture of the government’s planned expenditures and revenue, including natural resource revenues.  Budget documents were not prepared according to internationally accepted principles.  Military and intelligence budgets were subject to parliamentary oversight.  The supreme audit institution did not meet international standards of independence and its reports were not published within a reasonable period.  The government specified in law and appeared to follow in practice the criteria and procedures for awarding natural resource extraction contracts and licenses.  Basic information on natural resource extraction awards was publicly available.Sao Tome and Principe’s fiscal transparency would be improved by:Producing and publicly issuing revised budget estimates or passing a supplementary budget when budget executions deviate significantly from projections;Preparing budget documents using internationally accepted principles;Ensuring the supreme audit institution meets international standards of independence and has sufficient resources; andMaking audit reports widely and easily accessible to the public within a reasonable period.																												    							View report by:																				Afghanistan											Algeria											Angola											Azerbaijan											Bahrain											Bangladesh											Benin											Burma											Burundi											Cambodia											Cameroon											Central African Republic											Chad											China, People’s Republic of											Comoros											Congo, Democratic Republic of											Congo, Republic of the											Djibouti											Egypt											Equatorial Guinea											Eswatini											Ethiopia											Gabon											The Gambia											Guinea											Guinea-Bissau											Iraq											Laos											Lebanon											Lesotho											Liberia											Libya											Madagascar											Malawi											Mali											Maldives											Mauritania											Mongolia											Mozambique											Niger											Oman											Pakistan											Palestinian Authority											Papua New Guinea											Rwanda											Sao Tome and Principe											Saudi Arabia											Senegal											Sierra Leone											Somalia											South Africa											South Sudan											Sudan											Tajikistan											Tanzania											Turkmenistan											Ukraine											Uzbekistan											Vietnam											Yemen											Zambia											Zimbabwe																										On This Page				search													>																										Government-by-Government Assessments: Sao Tome and Principe																	Tags																					Bureau of African Affairs																								Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs																								Division for International Finance and Development																								Sao Tome and Principe
- Sao Tome and Principe HomeReportsOffice of International Religious Freedom2022 Report on International Religious Freedom&#8230;Sao Tome and Principe				hide	document.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded", function(event) {	if(window.jQuery) {		jQuery( document ).ready(function() {			if (jQuery(".bc_middle").hasClass("collapse")) {				jQuery(".bc_ellipse").click(function(){					jQuery(".bc_hide").toggleClass("visible");					jQuery(".bc_middle").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_ellipse").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_content").toggleClass("noflex");					jQuery(".block_breadcrumbs_content").toggleClass("noflex");				});				jQuery(".bc_hide").click(function(){					jQuery(".bc_hide").toggleClass("visible");					jQuery(".bc_middle").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_ellipse").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_content").toggleClass("noflex");					jQuery(".block_breadcrumbs_content").toggleClass("noflex");				});			} else {				jQuery(".bc_ellipse").hide();			}		});	}});																							2022 Report on International Religious Freedom: Sao Tome and Principe																																					Office of International Religious Freedom																																																																																							Download Report																																																																																	 In this section										/																							Executive Summary																																													Executive Summary																															Section I. Religious Demography																																																																																		Section II. Status of Government Respect for Religious Freedom																																																									Legal Framework																																																																											Government Practices																																																																																	Section III. Status of Societal Respect for Religious Freedom																																																																																		Section IV. U.S. Government Policy and Engagement																																																																																																								Executive Summary				The constitution and the law on religious freedom provide for freedom of religion and worship and equality for all, irrespective of religious belief, and provide for judicial protection to all religious denominations. Both the constitution and the religious freedom law grant religious groups autonomy and the right to teach their religion. Religious groups must register with the government.In August, the government and the Holy See signed an agreement defining “the legal framework of relations” between the Catholic Church and the state, according to the Vatican.In June, the Episcopal Conference of Angola and Sao Tome and Principe sponsored a three-day seminar on migration issues for church leaders and members. In July, Bishop Manuel Antonio dos Santos resigned for personal reasons after serving the country’s one diocese for 15 years.In August, officials in the U.S. Embassy in Luanda, Angola, and newly accredited to Sao Tome and Principe began engaging with religious leaders and government officials in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Justice, Public Administration, and Human Rights on the legal framework and registration process for religious groups, and respect for religious freedom. Throughout the year, embassy local staff based in Sao Tome also met with government officials, as well as with religious leaders, to discuss the impact of COVID-19 restrictions on worship services, relations between religious denominations, and the government’s treatment of different religious groups.																														Section I.													 Religious Demography												    																																															The U.S. government estimates the total population at 217,200 (midyear 2022).  The Roman Catholic Bishop’s Office estimates approximately 54 percent of the population is Roman Catholic; previous estimates put the Catholic percentage as high as 85 percent.  The last official census of religious beliefs was in 2012.  In 2019 (most recent data), the Roman Catholic Bishop’s Office estimated the population was approximately 12 percent Protestant and less than 2 percent Muslim.  Protestant groups include Seventh-day Adventists, Methodists, Jehovah’s Witnesses, the Evangelic Assembly of Christ, the Universal Church of Christ, the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God, the Tocoista Church, the Manna Church (of Portuguese origin), and others.  The number of Muslims has increased over the past two decades due to migrants from Lebanon, Nigeria, Cameroon, and other African countries.  Some Christians and Muslims also adhere to aspects of Indigenous beliefs.																																					Section II.													 Status of Government Respect for Religious Freedom												    																																																Legal Framework										The constitution establishes a secular state and provides for freedom of conscience, religion, and worship. It provides for equality of rights and obligations irrespective of religious belief or practice and for freedom of religious groups to teach their faith and to organize themselves and their worship activities. According to the constitution, these rights are to be interpreted in harmony with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and may be restricted only in cases envisaged in the constitution or suspended during a state of emergency or siege declared according to the terms of the constitution and law. The country’s religious freedom law acknowledges and ensures religious freedom for all and judicial protection for religious denominations. According to the law, the state does not profess any religion and ensures that its relations with religious organizations are based on the separation of religion and state. The law also stresses that all religious denominations are entitled to equal treatment. There are no laws regulating hate crimes or hate speech related to religion.Religious groups must register with the government. If a religious group does not register, it is subject to fines and possible expulsion if it is a foreign religious group. To register, a group must send a letter requesting authorization to the Ministry of Justice, Public Administration, and Human Rights. Once the group obtains authorization, it must submit the following documents to a notary public: the ministry’s approval letter; the group’s statutes; the minutes or report from a meeting attended by at least 500 representatives of the group and signed by its president and secretary; copies of the national identity cards of those who attended this meeting; a list of board members; and a certificate from the Registrar’s Office attesting that no existing organization has the same name. After a payment of 1,000 dobras ($43) for notarial fees, an announcement is published in the government gazette, and the group may then operate fully as a registered group. Once registered, a religious group does not need to register again. Registered religious groups receive the same benefits, such as tax exemptions, as registered nonprofit organizations. There is no government data available on the number of registered religious groups in the country.Religious education is part of the official public school curriculum but is not required. There were no reports of religious classes being provided in public schools. There are two schools run by religious groups, one Catholic and one Seventh-day Adventist; both provide a general education and their religious classes are open to church members and nonmembers. The Ministry of Education provides oversight on the curricula of religious schools.The country is a party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.																																				Government Practices										During the year, the government did not receive any registration requests for new religious groups. There were no reports of religious groups’ concerns about the registration process or of any government action taken against unregistered religious groups.On August 16, the Papal Nuncio to the country and then Foreign Minister Edite Ramos da Costa Ten Jua signed an agreement between the Holy See and the government that “defines the legal framework of relations” between the Catholic Church and the state, according to a Vatican press statement. The government did not provide details about the agreement, which was pending ratification by the parliament at year’s end.In October, the Ministry of Education and the Seventh-day Adventist Church reached an agreement that allowed a public-school teacher who was a member of that church to participate in weekly teacher training sessions on a day different than Saturday, so as not to conflict with worship services. Previously, that teacher had been required to attend the regular training sessions on Saturdays.Government COVID-19 prevention measures, which were taken in coordination with religious leaders in 2021 and included limits on church attendance, remained in place until August 1. Until that time, churches had accepted the restrictions and had followed them by decreasing the number of parishioners at the normal places of worship or directing members to hold small group religious services in homes.																																					Section III.													 Status of Societal Respect for Religious Freedom												    																																															In June, the Episcopal Conference of Angola and Sao Tome and Principe sponsored a three-day seminar on migration issues for clerics, lay leaders, and church members in which they discussed current trends and root causes of migration.In July, Bishop Manuel Antonio dos Santos resigned for personal reasons, according to media reports, after serving the country’s one diocese for 15 years.In a radio interview on September 22, Father João de Ceita Nazaré, Vicar of the Diocese of Sao Tome, called on the general population, and Christians in particular, to set good examples during the September 25 legislative elections, given reports of pre-election verbal and physical altercations between members of various political parties.																																					Section IV.													 U.S. Government Policy and Engagement												    																																															There is no permanent U.S. diplomatic presence in the country.  The U.S. Embassy in Luanda, Angola, began overseeing U.S. relations with Sao Tome and Principe in August.  Beginning that month, embassy officials met with religious leaders and government officials in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Justice, Public Administration, and Human Rights to encourage their long-standing tradition of respect for religious freedom.  Throughout the year, locally based embassy staff in the country met with these officials as well and discussed the legal framework and registration process for religious organizations and their impact on new religious groups as well as existing registered denominations.  Embassy officials also met with the vicar of the Catholic diocese, leaders of the Seventh-day Adventists, and the imam of a local mosque to discuss the impact of COVID-19 restrictions on worship services, relations between religious denominations, and the government’s treatment of different religious groups.																																				    							View report by:																				Afghanistan											Albania											Algeria											Andorra											Angola											Antigua and Barbuda											Argentina											Armenia											Australia											Austria											Azerbaijan											Bahamas, The											Bahrain											Bangladesh											Barbados											Belarus											Belgium											Belize											Benin											Bhutan											Bolivia											Bosnia and Herzegovina											Botswana											Brazil											Brunei											Bulgaria											Burkina Faso											Burma											Burundi											Cabo Verde											Cambodia											Cameroon											Canada											Central African Republic											Chad											Chile											China (Includes Hong Kong, Macau, Tibet, and Xinjiang)											Colombia											Comoros											Costa Rica											Cote d’Ivoire											Croatia											Cuba											Cyprus											Czech Republic											Democratic Republic of the Congo											Denmark											Djibouti											Dominica											Dominican Republic											Ecuador											Egypt											El Salvador											Equatorial Guinea											Eritrea											Estonia											Eswatini											Ethiopia											Fiji											Finland											France											Gabon											Gambia, The											Georgia											Germany											Ghana											Greece											Grenada											Guatemala											Guinea											Guyana											Guinea-Bissau											Haiti											Honduras											Hungary											Iceland											India											Indonesia											Iran											Iraq											Ireland											Israel, West Bank and Gaza											Italy											Jamaica											Japan											Jordan											Kazakhstan											Kenya											Kiribati											Kosovo											Kuwait											Kyrgyzstan											Laos											Latvia											Lebanon											Lesotho											Liberia											Libya											Liechtenstein											Lithuania											Luxembourg											Madagascar											Malawi											Malaysia											Maldives											Mali											Malta											Marshall Islands											Mauritania											Mauritius											Mexico											Micronesia											Moldova											Monaco											Mongolia											Montenegro											Morocco											Mozambique											Namibia											Nauru											Nepal											Netherlands											New Zealand											Nicaragua											Niger											Nigeria											North Korea											North Macedonia											Norway											Oman											Pakistan											Palau											Panama											Papua New Guinea											Paraguay											Peru											Philippines											Poland											Portugal											Qatar											Republic of the Congo											Romania											Russia											Rwanda											Saint Kitts and Nevis											Saint Lucia											Saint Vincent and the Grenadines											Samoa											San Marino											Sao Tome and Principe											Saudi Arabia											Senegal											Serbia											Seychelles											Sierra Leone											Singapore											Slovakia											Slovenia											Solomon Islands											Somalia											South Africa											South Sudan											South Korea											Spain											Sri Lanka											Sudan											Suriname											Sweden											Switzerland											Syria											Taiwan											Tajikistan											Tanzania											Thailand											Timor-Leste											Togo											Tonga											Trinidad and Tobago											Tunisia											Turkey (Türkiye)											Turkmenistan											Tuvalu											Uganda											Ukraine											United Arab Emirates											United Kingdom											Uruguay											Uzbekistan											Vanuatu											Venezuela											Vietnam											Vietnam											Yemen											Zambia											Zimbabwe															Build A Custom Report																						On This Page				search													>																										Executive Summary																Section I. Religious Demography																																																	Section II. Status of Government Respect for Religious Freedom																																							Legal Framework																																																						Government Practices																																																			Section III. Status of Societal Respect for Religious Freedom																																																	Section IV. U.S. Government Policy and Engagement																																																							Tags																					Bureau of African Affairs																								Office of International Religious Freedom																																Religious Freedom																															Sao Tome and Principe
- Sao Tome and Principe HomeReportsBureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor2022 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices&#8230;Sao Tome and Principe				hide	document.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded", function(event) {	if(window.jQuery) {		jQuery( document ).ready(function() {			if (jQuery(".bc_middle").hasClass("collapse")) {				jQuery(".bc_ellipse").click(function(){					jQuery(".bc_hide").toggleClass("visible");					jQuery(".bc_middle").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_ellipse").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_content").toggleClass("noflex");					jQuery(".block_breadcrumbs_content").toggleClass("noflex");				});				jQuery(".bc_hide").click(function(){					jQuery(".bc_hide").toggleClass("visible");					jQuery(".bc_middle").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_ellipse").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_content").toggleClass("noflex");					jQuery(".block_breadcrumbs_content").toggleClass("noflex");				});			} else {				jQuery(".bc_ellipse").hide();			}		});	}});																							2022 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: Sao Tome and Principe																																					Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor																																																																																							Download Report																																																							Translations																																																																 In this section										/																							EXECUTIVE SUMMARY																																													EXECUTIVE SUMMARY																															Section 1. Respect for the Integrity of the Person																																																									a. Arbitrary Deprivation of Life and Other Unlawful or Politically Motivated Killings																																																																											b. Disappearance																																																																											c. Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, and Other Related Abuses																																																																			Prison and Detention Center Conditions																																																																																																																		d. Arbitrary Arrest or Detention																																																																			Arrest Procedures and Treatment of Detainees																																																																																																																		e. Denial of Fair Public Trial																																																																			Trial Procedures																																																								Political Prisoners and Detainees																																																								Civil Judicial Procedures and Remedies																																																																																																																		f. Arbitrary or Unlawful Interference with Privacy, Family, Home, or Correspondence																																																																																	Section 2. Respect for Civil Liberties																																																									a. Freedom of Expression, Including for Members of the Press and Other Media																																																																			Internet Freedom																																																																																																																		b. Freedoms of Peaceful Assembly and Association																																																																											c. Freedom of Religion																																																																											d. Freedom of Movement and the Right to Leave the Country																																																																											e. Protection of Refugees																																																																																	Section 3. Freedom to Participate in the Political Process																																																																												Elections and Political Participation																																																																																	Section 4. Corruption and Lack of Transparency in Government																																																																																		Section 5. Governmental Posture Towards International and Nongovernmental Investigation of Alleged Abuses of Human Rights																																																																																		Section 6. Discrimination and Societal Abuses																																																									Women																																																																											Systemic Racial or Ethnic Violence and Discrimination																																																																											Children																																																																											Antisemitism																																																																											Trafficking in Persons																																																																											Acts of Violence, Criminalization, and Other Abuses Based on Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity or Expression, or Sex Characteristics																																																																											Persons with Disabilities																																																																											Other Societal Violence or Discrimination																																																																																	Section 7. Worker Rights																																																									a. Freedom of Association and the Right to Collective Bargaining																																																																											b. Prohibition of Forced or Compulsory Labor																																																																											c. Prohibition of Child Labor and Minimum Age for Employment																																																																											d. Discrimination with Respect to Employment and Occupation																																																																											e. Acceptable Conditions of Work																																																																																																							EXECUTIVE SUMMARY				The Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe is a multiparty constitutional democracy. Legislative elections on September 25 produced a peaceful transfer of power to the Independent Democratic Action party from a coalition of other parties. In September 2021, voters elected President Carlos Manuel Vila Nova as head of state. International observers deemed the presidential and legislative elections generally free and fair.The public security police and judicial police maintain internal security. The public security police report to the Ministry of Defense and Internal Order, and the judicial police report to the Ministry of Justice, Public Administration, and Human Rights. Civilian authorities maintained effective control over the security forces. There were reports that members of the security forces committed some abuses.Significant human rights issues included credible reports of: unlawful or arbitrary killings, including extrajudicial killings; torture or cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment by the government; serious government corruption; and a lack of investigation of and accountability for gender-based violence and violence against children.The government took some steps to identify, investigate, prosecute, and punish officials who committed abuses, including corruption.																														Section 1.													 Respect for the Integrity of the Person												    																																																a. Arbitrary Deprivation of Life and Other Unlawful or Politically Motivated Killings										There were several reports that agents of the government committed arbitrary and unlawful killings.Four civilians died while in the custody of military forces on November 25 in the wake of an attack on an army barracks, which the government claimed was an attempted coup d’etat. Three of the suspected attackers were captured at the barracks, where they were reportedly beaten and killed. A fourth individual, Arlecio Costa, was arrested at home the same day by military forces on allegations of involvement in the attack. He later died after reportedly falling out of a truck while in military custody. Videos and photographs of the alleged beatings circulated widely on social media. At year’s end, judicial authorities were investigating the attack and deaths with the assistance, at government request, of investigators and forensic experts from Portugal.In a March 2021 case, Nelson Rita das Neves died at the hospital after being beaten in a cell while in the custody of judicial police. The public attorney general brought criminal charges against seven police investigators in the case. Their trials were underway at year’s end, with three of the accused investigators facing up to 24 years in prison on charges that included homicide.																																				b. Disappearance										There were no reports of disappearances by or on behalf of government authorities.																																				c. Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, and Other Related Abuses										Although the constitution and law prohibit such practices, videos and photographs that circulated widely on social media purported to show military forces employing such practices during interrogation of a detainee suspected of instigating the November 25 army barracks attack (see section 1.a.).																Prison and Detention Center Conditions						Prison conditions were harsh due to overcrowding and failing infrastructure.  The country’s single prison operated at 20 percent over capacity.Abusive Physical Conditions:  There was one prison in the capital city, a separate detention center in Campo Grande, and police stations had small detention areas to hold detainees for periods shorter than 72 hours.  Authorities held pretrial and convicted prisoners separately.  Juveniles were held together with adults.  Women prisoners were held in a separate part of the prison.  The needs of prisoners with disabilities went unmet.There were no reported prisoner deaths in the central prison or detention center.Although there was a lack of basic medicines, the prison had three full-time nurses and two doctors who visited patients during the week.  There were also two psychologists and one sociologist on staff.  Prisoners with medical emergencies were taken to the national hospital.Some rooms in the prison were so decrepit they were unusable.  High temperatures were typical, and ventilation was insufficient.  Sanitation and kitchen conditions also needed improvement.Administration:  Legal representatives from the prosecutor’s staff and court personnel were available to address prisoner grievances.  Prisoners and detainees may submit complaints without censorship and request investigation of allegations of inhuman conditions.  No allegations were submitted during the year.Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the government limited visits to the prison, including family visits, allowing four periods for family visits each week.  To mitigate the impact of the restrictions, two telephones were made available to the prisoners to call their families and relatives, although prison psychologists and guards monitored the calls.Independent Monitoring:  The government permitted independent nongovernmental and international human rights monitors, as well as church and charitable organization representatives, to visit the prison.  The latter often provided food, soap, and other necessities to prisoners.																										d. Arbitrary Arrest or Detention										The constitution and law prohibit arbitrary arrest and detention.  They provide for the right of any person to challenge the lawfulness of his or her arrest or detention in court and obtain prompt release and compensation if unlawfully detained.  The government generally observed these requirements.																Arrest Procedures and Treatment of Detainees						The law requires arrest warrants issued by a judge to apprehend suspects unless the suspect is caught in the act of committing a crime.  The law also requires the government to file charges within 48 hours of detention, and authorities generally respected this requirement.  Authorities informed detainees promptly of charges against them and allowed them access to family members.  There is a functioning bail system.  Authorities allowed detainees prompt access to a lawyer.  The government teamed with the bar association to provide indigent defendants with legal representation at no cost, although lawyers reported government funding was often insufficient to cover their fees.Pretrial Detention:  Lengthy pretrial detention continued to be a problem in some criminal cases, with most such periods ranging from three to six months.  The length of pretrial detention generally did not equal or exceed the maximum sentence for the alleged crime.  More than one-fifth of inmates were pretrial detainees.  An understaffed and inefficient judicial system added to the delay.  A renovated wing of the prison allowed authorities to separate pretrial detainees from convicted criminals, who were previously held together.																										e. Denial of Fair Public Trial										The constitution and law provide for an independent judiciary, and the government generally respected judicial independence and impartiality.  Judges were appointed directly by the National Assembly, leaving them potentially vulnerable to ruling party influence.  Authorities generally respected and enforced court orders.																Trial Procedures						The constitution and law provide for the right to a fair and public trial, and the judiciary generally enforced this right.						Political Prisoners and Detainees						There were no reports of political prisoners or detainees.						Civil Judicial Procedures and Remedies						By law individuals and organizations may seek civil remedies for human rights abuses through the criminal and civil court system.  Plaintiffs may file lawsuits seeking damages for human rights abuses; there are also administrative remedies for alleged wrongs.  There is no regional body, however, to which individuals and organizations may appeal adverse court rulings.																										f. Arbitrary or Unlawful Interference with Privacy, Family, Home, or Correspondence										The constitution and law prohibit such actions, and there were no reports the government failed to respect these prohibitions.																																					Section 2.													 Respect for Civil Liberties												    																																																a. Freedom of Expression, Including for Members of the Press and Other Media										The constitution and law provide for freedom of expression, including for members of the press, and the government generally respected this right.  A somewhat independent press and a functioning democratic political system combined to promote freedom of expression, although the press was occasionally susceptible to political influence and manipulation.  The law grants all opposition parties access to state-run media, including a minimum of three minutes for each party per month on television.  Some opposition leaders claimed the minimum time allotment was often not respected and that the government edited content presented during that time.Censorship or Content Restrictions for Members of the Press and Other Media, Including Online Media:  Journalists claimed to need to practice self-censorship, particularly at government-owned media entities, which were the country’s most significant news sources.  Journalists indicated that top editors and producers at government-owned media outlets were typically linked to the ruling political party, which colored reporting on all politically sensitive topics.  Reporters at private news outlets also reported self-censoring their work mostly due to lack of formal training and understanding of freedom of the press principles.  Journalists at private media outlets cited pressure from government officials but could point to no political or judicial actions against these outlets.  Journalists also indicated that obtaining access to official sources, mainly legal documents, continued to be a challenge.Libel/Slander Laws:  Libel, slander, and blasphemy are treated as criminal offenses.  There were no cases of persons being arrested for or charged with libel, slander, or blasphemy during the year.																Internet Freedom						The government did not restrict or disrupt access to the internet or censor online content, and there were no reports the government monitored private online communications without appropriate legal authority.																										b. Freedoms of Peaceful Assembly and Association										The constitution and law provide for the freedoms of peaceful assembly and association, and the government generally respected these rights.																																				c. Freedom of Religion										See the Department of State’s International Religious Freedom Report at https://www.state.gov/religiousfreedomreport/.																																				d. Freedom of Movement and the Right to Leave the Country										The law provides for freedom of internal movement, foreign travel, emigration, and repatriation, and the government generally respected these related rights.																																				e. Protection of Refugees										Access to Asylum: The law does not provide for granting asylum or refugee status, and the government has not established a system for providing protection to refugees. During the year there were no reports of refugee or asylum requests.																																					Section 3.													 Freedom to Participate in the Political Process												    																																															The law provides citizens the ability to choose their government in free and fair periodic elections held by secret ballot and based on universal and equal suffrage.																																				Elections and Political Participation										Recent Elections: Legislative elections on September 25 were followed by a peaceful transfer of power from a political coalition to a new government led by the Independent Democratic Action party. International observers deemed the elections transparent, adequately organized, and generally free and fair.Political Parties and Political Participation: While government funds by law cannot be used for campaign purposes, civil society groups noted that the ruling party used government vehicles to attend campaign events.Participation of Women and Members of Minority Groups: No laws limit the participation of women or members of historically marginalized groups in the political process, and they did participate. Cultural and social factors, however, limited women’s political participation.																																					Section 4.													 Corruption and Lack of Transparency in Government												    																																															The law provides criminal penalties for official corruption, but the government generally did not implement the law effectively.  The government continued to investigate corruption allegations against several former high-ranking officials, although none were tried.  At year’s end, the attorney general was investigating approximately 10 criminal cases involving public corruption.  There were numerous reports of government corruption.Corruption:  Officials sometimes engaged in corrupt practices with impunity.  Among the cases under investigation, the Court of Audit in May found several instances of financial irregularities related to the nation’s fight against COVID-19 and requested that the Ministry of Health transfer 979,000 new dobra ($42,000) to a separate account under independent state oversight.  Many citizens reportedly viewed police as ineffective and corrupt, and feared retaliation if they reported corrupt police officers.																																					Section 5.													 Governmental Posture Towards International and Nongovernmental Investigation of Alleged Abuses of Human Rights												    																																															A small number of domestic human rights groups generally operated without government restriction, investigating and publishing their findings on human rights cases.  Government officials were somewhat cooperative and responsive to their views.Government Human Rights Bodies:  The Human Rights Committee, under the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights, was moderately effective.  This committee reported no human rights abuses during the year but was active in advocating for changes to law and policy in support of human rights.																																					Section 6.													 Discrimination and Societal Abuses												    																																																Women										Rape and Domestic Violence: Rape, including spousal rape, of men and women is illegal and punishable by two to 12 years’ imprisonment. Prosecution was most common when there was evidence of violent assault, or the survivor was a child.The law prescribes penalties ranging from imprisonment for three to eight years for domestic violence resulting in harm to the health of the victim, to incarceration for eight to 25 years when such violence leads to loss of life. Although the number of reports was steadily increasing, there was no data on the number of prosecutions or convictions for domestic violence. The government changed the law to enhance penalties in domestic violence cases and to allow persons other than the victim to file a criminal complaint, giving police and prosecutors greater ability to pursue cases. The government did not enforce rape and domestic violence laws effectively.There were widespread reports of domestic violence. According to a report by the National Institute of Statistics, the Ministry of Health, and the nongovernmental organization Inner City Fund Macro, approximately one-third of women experienced intimate-partner physical abuse, sexual violence, or both at least once in their lifetime. Many women were reluctant to take legal action because of the cost, a general lack of confidence in the legal system to address their concerns effectively, fear of retaliation, and, in many cases, ignorance of their legal rights.The Office of Women’s Affairs, under the Prime Minister’s Office, and UNICEF maintained a counseling center and small shelter with a domestic violence hotline, but the facility was closed for part of the year due to lack of funding, and its future remained uncertain. In prior years the Gender Equality Institute within the Office of Women’s Affairs conducted awareness workshops and seminars to educate women on their rights, but lockdowns due to the COVID-19 pandemic and lack of funding precluded these efforts. There was an increase in police reports of gender-based violence against both women and girls during COVID-19 lockdowns. The institute also trained police, medical professionals, court officials, and lawyers on how to recognize and respond to domestic abuse.The government in November announced the creation of the Ministry of Women’s Rights.Sexual Harassment: While the law prohibits sexual harassment, the government did not always enforce the law. In cases of sexual harassment involving violence or threats, the law prescribes penalties of one to eight years’ imprisonment. The maximum penalty for conviction in other cases of sexual harassment is three years’ imprisonment.Reproductive Rights: There were no reports of coerced abortion or involuntary sterilization on the part of government authorities. The country has no law, regulation, or government policy that interferes with couples’ or individuals’ right to decide the number, spacing, and timing of their children.The government encouraged the use of contraception and family planning, but sociocultural barriers affected the use of family planning. There were reports that some men prevented their partners from using contraceptives, sometimes through intimidation. Emergency contraception was available as part of the mix of contraception methods.The country had several healthcare centers, two of which were equipped to provide emergency obstetrical and neonatal care. These two centers served approximately 35 percent of the population. The UN Population Fund (UNFPA) reinforced the capacity of 37 of the country’s 38 health facilities to provide at least four modern contraceptive methods, as well as voluntary counseling and testing. UNFPA also supplied maternity wards with medicines and strengthened the capacity of 19 health centers to provide emergency obstetrical and neonatal care.According to a UNFPA report, several indicators related to child and maternal health improved. For example, 93 percent of births were attended by a health professional and 97 percent of health facilities provided maternal and child health services and family planning. Many family-planning needs, however, remained unmet and early pregnancy remained high at 27 percent.There were no special health services for survivors of sexual violence; the central hospital and health center was able to provide these services, including emergency contraception as part of the clinical management of rape. There were no reports of legal, social, or cultural barriers, including harmful practices, related to menstruation and access to menstruation hygiene that impacted women and girls’ ability to participate equally in society, including any limits on a girl’s access to education. In 2021, the government repealed regulations prohibiting pregnant teenagers from attending high school with their peers.Discrimination: While the constitution and law nominally provide the same legal status and rights for women and men, the laws do not specifically recognize legal equality in family, child custody, businesses and property ownership or management, nationality, or inheritance matters. Discrimination did not generally occur in access to credit or housing.While many women had access to opportunities in education, business, and government, women – particularly older women and those living in rural areas – generally encountered significant societal discrimination. Traditional beliefs left women with most childcare responsibilities. Nevertheless, younger women had increasing access to educational and professional opportunities compared with their elders.																																				Systemic Racial or Ethnic Violence and Discrimination										The constitution provides that all citizens are equal before the law regardless of race or ethnicity. There were no reports of the government failing to enforce the law effectively.																																				Children										Birth Registration: Children born in and outside the country acquire citizenship at birth if either parent is a citizen. By law, children born in a hospital are registered on site. If not born in a hospital, the child must be registered at the nearest precinct office. Parents who fail to register a birth may be fined, and failure to register a birth could hinder access to education because having a personal identification record was required to enroll in school.Education: In 2021, the government repealed regulations prohibiting pregnant teenagers from attending high school with their peers (see Reproductive Rights, above). There were no significant differences in school attendance or completion between boys and girls, although girls attended and completed school at slightly higher rates than boys. The Ministry of Education mandates compulsory school attendance through the ninth grade, and the government granted some assistance to several thousand low-income families to keep their children in school.Child Abuse: The law prohibits child abuse, but it was not enforced effectively. The UN reported 84 percent of children experienced violent discipline, and 14 percent experienced severe physical punishment. Orphans and abandoned children were particularly vulnerable to abuse.Child, Early, and Forced Marriage: The legal minimum age of marriage without parental consent is 18. With parental consent, girls may marry at age 14 and boys at age 16. According to UNICEF, 35 percent of girls are married before age 18 and 8 percent married before age 15.Sexual Exploitation of Children: The law prohibits statutory rape and child pornography, but there were no reports of enforcement of the law. The government also uses kidnapping and forced labor laws to prosecute sexual exploitation of children. The penalty for conviction of commercial sexual exploitation of children younger than age 14 is two to 10 years’ imprisonment, and the penalty for conviction of commercial sexual exploitation of minors between ages 14 and 18 is up to three years’ imprisonment. The minimum age for consensual sex is 18. In past years there were reports of children subjected to commercial sexual exploitation. There were reports of increased cases of child sexual abuse since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, and prison officials reported approximately 30 percent of prisoners were being held for child sexual abuse crimes.																																				Antisemitism										There was no known Jewish community, and there were no reports of antisemitic acts.																																				Trafficking in Persons										There were no confirmed reports that traffickers exploited domestic or foreign victims.																																				Acts of Violence, Criminalization, and Other Abuses Based on Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity or Expression, or Sex Characteristics										Criminalization: The law does not criminalize consensual same-sex sexual conduct. There were no reports of other laws being enforced to have an unequal effect on lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex (LGBTQI+) persons.Violence against LGBTQI+ Individuals: There were no reports of violence targeting LGBTQI+ persons.Discrimination: Antidiscrimination laws do not explicitly extend protections to LGBTQI+ persons based on their sexual orientation, gender identity, or sex characteristics. There were occasional reports of societal discrimination, primarily rejection by family and friends, against LGBTQI+ persons. There were occasional reports of employment discrimination based on LGBTQI+ status but were difficult to verify.Availability of Legal Gender Recognition: The ability to update gender markers to match one’s gender identity was not available on legal or identifying documents.Involuntary or Coercive Medical or Psychological Practices Specifically Targeting LGBTQI+ Individuals: There were no reports of so-called conversion therapy practices.Restrictions of Freedom of Expression, Association, or Peaceful Assembly: While there were no official impediments, LGBTQI+ organizations did not exist, and societal norms were often not accepting of LGBTQI+ persons. An individual’s LGBTQI+ status was widely considered a taboo subject.																																				Persons with Disabilities										Persons with disabilities could not access education, health services, public buildings, or transportation on an equal basis with others. The law generally prohibits discrimination against persons with disabilities; however, it does not mandate access to most buildings, transportation, or other services for persons with disabilities. By law, school buildings must be accessible to persons with disabilities, and renovations to bring schools into compliance were underway as of year’s end. The government did not provide information and communication on disability concerns in accessible formats. Most children with disabilities attended the same schools as children without disabilities, but many did not attend school due to lack of resources and teacher training.Persons with disabilities experienced discrimination in employment and occupation (see section 7.d.).																																				Other Societal Violence or Discrimination										Communities and families stigmatized and shunned persons with HIV and AIDS. Nongovernmental organizations held awareness-raising campaigns and interventions with employers to address discrimination against employees with HIV and AIDS.																																					Section 7.													 Worker Rights												    																																																a. Freedom of Association and the Right to Collective Bargaining										The law provides for the right of workers to form and join independent unions, bargain collectively, and conduct legal strikes. While the law recognizes the right to collective bargaining, there are no regulations governing this right. The law does not prohibit antiunion discrimination or acts of interference committed by employers against trade unions. While the law provides for the right to strike, including by government employees and other essential workers, this right is strictly regulated.The provisions regulating strikes require agreement by a majority of workers before a strike may be called, and replacement workers may be hired without consultation with trade unions to perform essential services if an enterprise is threatened by a strike. The law provides a list of specific minimum or essential services. In the event of disagreement between employer and union in determining what constitutes “minimum service,” a decision is made by an arbitration tribunal appointed by the minister of labor. The law also requires compulsory arbitration before striking for certain services, including postal, banking, and loan services. The law prohibits retaliation against strikers and requires reinstatement of workers fired for legal union activity. The government and employers generally respected freedom of association. Worker organizations were restricted in the military and police forces, but generally were independent of government and political parties.The government did not effectively enforce the law, and labor organizers received reports of retaliation against workers for participating in labor actions. The penalties for such abuses were commensurate with those for other similar violations but were never applied against violators. The lack of prosecutions for acts of antiunion discrimination or acts of interference against trade union organizations reportedly contributed to discrimination.Workers’ collective bargaining rights remained relatively weak and little used due to the government’s role as the principal employer in the formal wage sector and key interlocutor for organized labor on all work-related matters, including union rights and restrictions. The two labor unions, the General Union of Workers of Sao Tome and Principe and the National Organization of Workers of Sao Tome and Principe, negotiated with the government on behalf of their members as needed.In June the National Organization of Workers reached a collective bargaining agreement with the government to increase the minimum wage for public-sector workers from 1,100 to 2,500 New Dobra ($47 to $107) per month.																																				b. Prohibition of Forced or Compulsory Labor										The law prohibits all forms of forced or compulsory labor, including by children. The government did not effectively enforce the law. Inspections were insufficient to enforce compliance, especially in the large informal sector. There were no official reports of forced or compulsory labor.																																				c. Prohibition of Child Labor and Minimum Age for Employment										The law prohibits all the worst forms of child labor. The law protects children from exploitation in the formal sector. The minimum employment age is 18 for full-time work and 14 for nonhazardous work. The law includes a list of hazardous work prohibited for children, encompassing 11 occupational categories, such as fishing, carpentry, construction, and street vending. Some children younger than 14 performed hazardous work on family-owned farms. Many children younger than 18 worked in family-owned businesses.Employers in the formal wage sector generally respected the legally mandated minimum employment age. Exceptions included apprentice-type work such as car repair and carpentry; some employers abused this status. Children worked in informal commerce, including street hawking. In past years, there were reports of children subjected to commercial sexual exploitation (see section 6).The Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs and the Ministry of Justice, Public Administration, and Human Rights are responsible for enforcing child labor laws. The government did not effectively enforce the law in all sectors. Child labor is punishable by three to 10 years’ imprisonment, commensurate with penalties for other serious crimes. Inspection was insufficient to enforce compliance, and labor leaders said there was little data regarding the number of children involved in child labor. Penalties were never applied against violators. Protections against child labor did not apply in the informal sector.																																				d. Discrimination with Respect to Employment and Occupation										The law prohibits discrimination in employment and occupation based on race, sex, and religious belief. Additionally, the constitution prohibits all forms of discrimination based on political affiliation, social origin, and philosophical conviction. Leaders of the Seventh Day Adventist Church complained that some of their members who were public school teachers faced discipline for not attending planning sessions on Saturdays when they normally worship and rest from work. The law does not specifically prohibit discrimination based on age, disability, sexual orientation or gender identity, HIV status, or refugee status in employment.The government did not effectively enforce the law, and societal discrimination against women affected their wages and employment prospects. Penalties were not commensurate with those for similar violations, and inspection was insufficient to enforce compliance, especially in the large informal sector, and were never applied against violators.The law does not distinguish between migrant workers and citizens in terms of protections, wages, and working conditions.																																				e. Acceptable Conditions of Work										Wage and Hour Laws: The minimum wage for public employees was above the poverty line. There is a minimum wage in the private sector that varies by sector and was above the poverty line. The legal workweek is 40 hours, with 48 consecutive hours per week mandated for rest. According to the law, workers earn 22 days of annual leave per year. Shopkeepers who wish to keep their stores open more than 40 hours a week may ask for an exception, which if granted requires them to pay their workers overtime or have them work in shifts. The law provides for compensation for overtime work. The law specifies occupations in which civil servants may work second jobs, which was a common practice. Private sector security guards often worked longer than the legal maximum, with some reports of 24-hour shifts according to labor leaders.Occupational Safety and Health: The law prescribes appropriate occupational safety and health (OSH) standards for all sectors. By law workers may remove themselves from situations that endanger health or safety without jeopardy to their employment, but authorities had limited capacity to enforce this right. As the largest employer, the government set the standards on hours of work, and it effectively enforced OSH standards in the public sector. Working conditions on many of the largely family-owned cocoa farms were unregulated and harsh, with long hours for workers and exposure to the elements and hazardous conditions. Salaries depended heavily on the international price of cocoa. Cooperatives supported farmers during times of low international cocoa prices.In construction, few workers were outfitted with appropriate personal protective equipment (boots, helmet, or gloves) and accidents were rarely reported to labor unions. In the fishing sector, many workers did not have life vests, compasses, or safe boats. There were government programs to sell some of this equipment at greatly reduced costs or to provide it for free.Wage, Hour, and OSH Enforcement: The government did not effectively enforce the law. The Ministry of Justice, Public Administration, and Human Rights, and the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs are responsible for enforcement of appropriate OSH standards and for identifying unsafe situations. Ministry of Labor inspectors have the authority to conduct unannounced inspections and initiate sanctions but were insufficient in number and training to enforce compliance. Inspectors lacked the necessary financial and human resources, as well as basic equipment, to conduct regular inspections. Penalties were not commensurate with those for similar violations and were never applied against violators. Laws do not cover the informal sector.Informal Sector: Although little data was available, researchers estimated that 90 percent of workers were in the informal sector. The informal sector included jobs in agriculture; fishing; tourism and hospitality; retail trade such as market vending; manufacturing, including food production, shoes, cosmetics, and small household goods; services such as beauty salons and money changers; and transportation such as driving taxis and motorbike taxis. Although informal workers are covered by minimum wage laws and the self-employed can voluntarily join some social protection programs by paying contributions, most did not, and there was no enforcement of minimum wage or monitoring of working conditions.Some informal workers have organized trade unions, including fish sellers, informal traders, motorbike taxi drivers, and port and dock workers. Informal worker unions advocated member interests in discussions on government fees and licenses, and sometimes provided access to credit or protective equipment at reduced cost.																																				    							View report by:																				Afghanistan											Albania											Algeria											Andorra											Angola											Antigua and Barbuda											Argentina											Armenia											Australia											Austria											Azerbaijan											Bahrain											Bangladesh											Barbados											Belarus											Belgium											Belize											Benin											Bhutan											Bolivia											Bosnia and Herzegovina											Botswana											Brazil											Brunei											Bulgaria											Burkina Faso											Burma											Burundi											Cabo Verde											Cambodia											Cameroon											Canada											Central African Republic											Chad											Chile											China (Includes Hong Kong, Macau, and Tibet)											Colombia											Comoros											Costa Rica											Cote d&#8217;Ivoire											Croatia											Cuba											Cyprus											Czech Republic											Democratic Republic of the Congo											Denmark											Djibouti											Dominica											Dominican Republic											Ecuador											Egypt											El Salvador											Equatorial Guinea											Eritrea											Estonia											Eswatini											Ethiopia											Fiji											Finland											France											Gabon											Georgia											Germany											Ghana											Greece											Grenada											Guatemala											Guinea											Guinea-Bissau											Guyana											Haiti											Honduras											Hungary											Iceland											India											Indonesia											Iran											Iraq											Ireland											Israel, West Bank and Gaza											Italy											Jamaica											Japan											Jordan											Kazakhstan											Kenya											Kiribati											Kosovo											Kuwait											Kyrgyz Republic											Laos											Latvia											Lebanon											Lesotho											Liberia											Libya											Liechtenstein											Lithuania											Luxembourg											Madagascar											Malawi											Malaysia											Maldives											Mali											Malta											Marshall Islands											Mauritania											Mauritius											Mexico											Micronesia											Moldova											Monaco											Mongolia											Montenegro											Morocco											Mozambique											Namibia											Nauru											Nepal											Netherlands											New Zealand											Nicaragua											Niger											Nigeria											North Korea											North Macedonia											Norway											Oman											Pakistan											Palau											Panama											Papua New Guinea											Paraguay											Peru											Philippines											Poland											Portugal											Qatar											Republic of the Congo											Romania											Russia											Rwanda											Saint Kitts and Nevis											Saint Lucia											Saint Vincent and the Grenadines											Samoa											San Marino											Sao Tome and Principe											Saudi Arabia											Senegal											Serbia											Seychelles											Sierra Leone											Singapore											Slovakia											Slovenia											Solomon Islands											Somalia											South Africa											South Korea											South Sudan											Spain											Sri Lanka											Sudan											Suriname											Sweden											Switzerland											Syria											Taiwan											Tajikistan											Tanzania											Thailand											The Bahamas											The Gambia											Timor-Leste											Togo											Tonga											Trinidad and Tobago											Tunisia											Turkey (Türkiye)											Turkmenistan											Tuvalu											Uganda											Ukraine											United Arab Emirates											United Kingdom											Uruguay											Uzbekistan											Vanuatu											Venezuela											Vietnam											Yemen											Zambia											Zimbabwe															Build A Custom Report																						On This Page				search													>																										EXECUTIVE SUMMARY																Section 1. Respect for the Integrity of the Person																																							a. Arbitrary Deprivation of Life and Other Unlawful or Politically Motivated Killings																																																						b. Disappearance																																																						c. Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, and Other Related Abuses																																																				Prison and Detention Center Conditions																																																																																				d. Arbitrary Arrest or Detention																																																				Arrest Procedures and Treatment of Detainees																																																																																				e. Denial of Fair Public Trial																																																				Trial Procedures																																												Political Prisoners and Detainees																																												Civil Judicial Procedures and Remedies																																																																																				f. Arbitrary or Unlawful Interference with Privacy, Family, Home, or Correspondence																																																			Section 2. Respect for Civil Liberties																																							a. Freedom of Expression, Including for Members of the Press and Other Media																																																				Internet Freedom																																																																																				b. Freedoms of Peaceful Assembly and Association																																																						c. Freedom of Religion																																																						d. Freedom of Movement and the Right to Leave the Country																																																						e. Protection of Refugees																																																			Section 3. Freedom to Participate in the Political Process																																																				Elections and Political Participation																																																			Section 4. Corruption and Lack of Transparency in Government																																																	Section 5. Governmental Posture Towards International and Nongovernmental Investigation of Alleged Abuses of Human Rights																																																	Section 6. Discrimination and Societal Abuses																																							Women																																																						Systemic Racial or Ethnic Violence and Discrimination																																																						Children																																																						Antisemitism																																																						Trafficking in Persons																																																						Acts of Violence, Criminalization, and Other Abuses Based on Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity or Expression, or Sex Characteristics																																																						Persons with Disabilities																																																						Other Societal Violence or Discrimination																																																			Section 7. Worker Rights																																							a. Freedom of Association and the Right to Collective Bargaining																																																						b. Prohibition of Forced or Compulsory Labor																																																						c. Prohibition of Child Labor and Minimum Age for Employment																																																						d. Discrimination with Respect to Employment and Occupation																																																						e. Acceptable Conditions of Work																																																									Tags																					Bureau of African Affairs																								Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor																								Sao Tome and Principe
- The United States Congratulates Sao Tome and Principe on Elections Ned Price, Department SpokespersonThe United States congratulates Sao Tome and Principe on its elections. The Santomean people have had the opportunity to have their votes counted and their voices heard in building their own future. We expect that the incoming government will continue to build on Sao Tome and Principe’s democratic traditions and give diverse perspectives a chance to help develop a safe, prosperous, and healthy future for all Santomeans.
- Sao Tome and Principe HomeReportsBureau of Economic and Business Affairs2022 Fiscal Transparency Report&#8230;Sao Tome and Principe				hide	document.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded", function(event) {	if(window.jQuery) {		jQuery( document ).ready(function() {			if (jQuery(".bc_middle").hasClass("collapse")) {				jQuery(".bc_ellipse").click(function(){					jQuery(".bc_hide").toggleClass("visible");					jQuery(".bc_middle").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_ellipse").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_content").toggleClass("noflex");					jQuery(".block_breadcrumbs_content").toggleClass("noflex");				});				jQuery(".bc_hide").click(function(){					jQuery(".bc_hide").toggleClass("visible");					jQuery(".bc_middle").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_ellipse").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_content").toggleClass("noflex");					jQuery(".block_breadcrumbs_content").toggleClass("noflex");				});			} else {				jQuery(".bc_ellipse").hide();			}		});	}});																							2022 Fiscal Transparency Report: Sao Tome and Principe																																																																																												 In this section																																												Government-by-Government Assessments: Sao Tome and Principe																																												Government-by-Government Assessments: Sao Tome and Principe				During the review period, the government made its executive budget proposal, enacted budget, and end-of-year report widely and easily accessible to the public, including online.  However, actual revenues and expenditures did not reasonably correspond to those in the enacted budget, and the government did not publish a revised or supplemental budget.  The supreme audit institution did not meet international standards of independence and its reports were not published within a reasonable period.  Information on debt obligations was publicly available, except for information on state-owned enterprise debt, which was not disclosed.  While public budget documents provided a substantially complete picture of the government’s planned expenditures and revenue streams, including natural resource revenues, they did not include earnings from or allocations to state-owned enterprises.  Military and intelligence budgets were not subject to civilian oversight.  The government specified in law and appeared to follow in practice the criteria and procedures for awarding natural resource extraction contracts and licenses.  Basic information on natural resource extraction awards was publicly available.Sao Tome and Principe’s fiscal transparency would be improved by:Including allocations to and earnings from state-owned enterprises in budget documents;Publishing debt information, including for state-owned enterprises;Ensuring budget projects correspond to actual revenues and expenditure, or issuing a supplemental or revised budget when they do not;Subjecting military and intelligence to civilian oversight;Improving the reliability of budget estimates;Preparing budget documents using internationally accepted principles;Ensuring the supreme audit institution meets international standards of independence and has sufficient resources; andMaking audit reports widely and easily accessible to the public within a reasonable period.																												    							View report by:																				China											Iraq											Pakistan											Ukraine											Afghanistan											Comoros											Kazakhstan											Palestinian Authority											Uzbekistan											Algeria											Democratic Republic of the Congo											Laos											Papua New Guinea											Vietnam											Angola											Republic of the Congo											Lebanon											Sudan											Yemen											Azerbaijan											Djibouti											Lesotho											Rwanda											Zambia											The Bahamas											Dominican Republic											Liberia											Sao Tome and Principe											Zimbabwe											Bahrain											Ecuador											Libya											Saudi Arabia											Bangladesh											Egypt											Madagascar											Senegal											Belize											El Salvador											Malawi											Sierra Leone											Benin											Equatorial Guinea											Maldives											Somalia											Burma											Eswatini											Mali											South Sudan											Burundi											Ethiopia											Mauritania											Suriname											Cambodia											Gabon											Mozambique											Tajikistan											Cameroon											Guinea											Nicaragua											Tanzania											Central African Republic											Guinea-Bissau											Niger											Turkmenistan											Chad											Haiti											Oman											Uganda																										On This Page				search													>																										Government-by-Government Assessments: Sao Tome and Principe																	Tags																					Bureau of African Affairs																								Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs																								Division for International Finance and Development																								Sao Tome and Principe