EXECUTIVESUMMARYShare

MacauisaSpecialAdministrativeRegion(SAR)ofthePeople’sRepublicofChina(PRC)andenjoysahighdegreeofautonomy,exceptindefenseandforeignaffairs,undertheSAR’sconstitution(theBasicLaw).ChiefExecutiveFernandoChuiSai-on,whotookofficeinDecember2009,headedthegovernmentafterbeingelectedinJuly2009bya300-membercommission.Securityforcesreportedtocivilianauthorities.

Threeprominenthumanrightsabusesreportedduringtheyearincludedlimitsoncitizens’abilitytochangetheirgovernment,concernsoverpressfreedom,andconcernsoverworkers’rights.

Althoughtraffickinginpersonsremainedaproblem,therewasalackofprosecutorstopursuetraffickingcases.Moreover,nationalsecuritylegislation,passedin2009inaccordancewithArticle23oftheBasicLaw,remainedasourceofconcern,butbyyear’sendnocaseshadbeenbroughtunderthelaw.

Thegovernmenttookstepstoprosecuteandpunishofficialswhocommittedabuses.Therewasnoimpunityforgovernmentofficials.

Section1.RespectfortheIntegrityofthePerson,IncludingFreedomfrom:Share

a.ArbitraryorUnlawfulDeprivationofLife

Therewerenoreportsthatthegovernmentoritsagentscommittedarbitraryorunlawfulkillings.

b.Disappearance

Therewerenoreportsofpoliticallymotivateddisappearances.

c.TortureandOtherCruel,Inhuman,orDegradingTreatmentorPunishment

Thelawprohibitssuchpractices,andthegovernmentgenerallyrespectedtheserights.

Duringtheyeartherewasonecaseofdeathinpolicecustody.Thepoliceindicatedtheindividualhadcommittedsuicide,andatyear’sendtheprocuratoratewasinvestigatingthecase.Inthefirsthalfoftheyear,therewerefourcasesofpolicemistreatment,allinvolvingoff-dutyofficers.Atyear’sendtheprocuratoratewasinvestigatingthecases.Duringthefirsthalfoftheyear,theCommissionAgainstCorruptionreceivedtwocomplaintsofpolicemistreatment,butbothcasesweredeferredduetoinsufficientinformation.

PrisonandDetentionCenterConditions

Prisonanddetentioncenterconditionsgenerallymetinternationalstandards,andthegovernmentpermittedmonitoringvisitsbyindependenthumanrightsobservers.Accordingtothegovernment,noindependenthumanrightsobserversrequestedormadeanyvisittotheSAR’sonlyjail,theMacauPrison.JudgesandprosecutorsvisitedtheMacauPrisononceamonthandtheYouthCorrectionalInstitution(foroffendersbetweentheagesof12and16)onceeverythreemonths.

TheSARhasamaximumprisoncapacityof1,341persons,andtheoccupancyratewasapproximately70percentduringtheyear.Theageofcriminalresponsibilityis16.Thetotalprisonpopulationforpersonsofthisageandaboveforthefirsthalfoftheyearwas943.Ofthetotalnumberofinmates,therewere801maleprisonersand142femaleprisoners.Offendersbetweentheagesof12and16weresubjecttoan“educationregime,”whichcouldincludeincarcerationdependingontheoffense.Duringthefirsthalfoftheyear,44minorsweredetainedintheYouthCorrectionalInstitution.

TheSARreportedthatprisonershadaccesstopotablewater.Inadditionombudsmenareabletoserveonbehalfofprisonersanddetainees.Thegovernmenttookstepstoimproverecordkeepingandtheuseofalternativesentencingfornonviolentoffenders.

Prisonersanddetaineeshadreasonableaccesstovisitorsandwerepermittedreligiousobservance.Thelawallowsprisonersanddetaineestosubmitcomplaintstojudicialauthoritieswithoutcensorshipandrequestinvestigations,andjudgesandprosecutorsmademonthlyvisitstoprisonstohearprisonercomplaints.

MacauPrisonwasdesignedtohold1,297inmates;withtheadditionof101newprisonersduringtheyear,thegovernmentrecognizedthatthefacilitywasreachingitscapacityandexpandedthefemalesectionwithafurther100beds,inadditiontoconstructinganewprison.

d.ArbitraryArrestorDetention

Thelawprohibitsarbitraryarrestanddetention,andthegovernmentgenerallyobservedtheseprohibitions.

RoleofthePoliceandSecurityApparatus

CivilianauthoritiesmaintainedeffectivecontroloverthePublicSecurityPolice(generallawenforcement)andJudiciaryPolice(criminalinvestigations),andthegovernmenthaseffectivemechanismstoinvestigateandpunishofficialabuseandcorruption.Therewerenoreportsofimpunityinvolvingthesecurityforcesduringtheyear.

ArrestProceduresandTreatmentWhileinDetention

Personswereapprehendedopenlywithwarrantsbasedonsufficientevidenceandissuedbyadulyauthorizedofficial.Detaineeswereallowedaccesstoalawyeroftheirchoiceor,ifindigent,tooneprovidedbythegovernment.Detaineeswereallowedpromptaccesstofamilymembers.Policemustpresentpersonsincustodytoanexaminingjudgewithin48hoursofdetention.Theexaminingjudge,whoconductsapretrialinquiryincriminalcases,hasawiderangeofpowerstocollectevidence,orderordismissindictments,anddeterminewhethertoreleasedetainedpersons.Accordingtothegovernment,defendantsshouldbetriedwithinthe“shortestperiodoftime.”Theprosecutorate’sinquirystagemustendwithinsixmonthsfordetaineddefendantsandwithineightmonthsforcaseswithnodetaineddefendants;thepretrialinquirystagemustbeconcludedwithintwomonthswhenevertherearedetaineddefendants,orfourmonthsiftherearenodetaineddefendants.Thecriminalprocedurecodemandatesthatpretrialdetentionislimitedtobetweensixmonthstothreeyears,dependingonthechargesandprogressofthejudicialsystem.Judgesoftenrefusedbailincaseswheresentencescouldexceedthreeyears.

Lawenforcementreceivedtwocomplaintsforallegedoffensescommittedbypoliceofficersagainstpersonsincustodyinthefirsthalfoftheyear.Disciplinaryproceedingswereinstitutedfortheofficersinbothcaseswithonecaseclosedandonependingcriminalproceedings.Therewasonecomplaintinthefirsthalfoftheyearofassaultbyapoliceofficeragainstapersonincustody.

e.DenialofFairPublicTrial

Thelawprovidesforanindependentjudiciary,andthegovernmentgenerallyrespectedjudicialindependenceinpractice.ThecourtsmayruleonmattersthataretheresponsibilityofthePRCgovernmentorconcerntherelationshipbetweenthecentralauthoritiesandtheSAR.Beforemakingtheirfinaljudgment,whichisnotsubjecttoappeal,thecourtsmustseekaninterpretationoftherelevantprovisionsfromtheNationalPeople’sCongress(NPC)StandingCommittee.WhentheStandingCommitteemakesaninterpretationoftheprovisionsconcerned,thecourts,inapplyingthoseprovisions,“shallfollowtheinterpretationoftheStandingCommittee.”

TrialProcedures

Thelawprovidesfortherighttoafairtrial,andanindependentjudiciarygenerallyenforcedthisright.

Defendantsenjoyapresumptionofinnocenceandhaveaccesstogovernment-heldevidencerelevanttotheircasesandarighttoappeal.Trialsarepublicandarebyjuryexceptwhenthecourtexoficiooruponrequestrulesotherwise,to“safeguardthedignityofpersons,publicmorality,ortoensurethenormalfunctioningofthecourt.”Defendantshavetherighttobepresentattheirtrials,confrontwitnesses,andconsultwithanattorneyinatimelymanner.Publicattorneysareprovidedforthosewhoarefinanciallyincapableofengaginglawyersorpayingexpensesofproceedings.Defendantsalsohavetherighttoappeal.Thelawextendstheserightstoallresidents.

Thejudiciaryprovidescitizenswithafairandefficientjudicialprocess;however,duetoanoverloadedcourtsystem,aperiodofuptoayearoftenpassedbetweenfilingacivilcaseanditsscheduledhearing.

PoliticalPrisonersandDetainees

Therewerenoreportsofpoliticalprisonersordetainees.

CivilJudicialProceduresandRemedies

Thereisanindependentandimpartialjudiciaryforcivilmatters,andcitizenshaveaccesstoacourttobringlawsuitsseekingdamagesfor,orcessationof,ahumanrightsviolation.

f.ArbitraryInterferencewithPrivacy,Family,Home,orCorrespondence

Thelawprohibitssuchactions,andthegovernmentgenerallyrespectedtheseprohibitionsinpractice.TheOfficeforPersonalDataProtectionacknowledgedacontinualincreaseincomplaintsandinquiriesondataprotection.

Section2.RespectforCivilLiberties,Including:Share

a.FreedomofSpeechandPress

StatusofFreedomofSpeechandPress

Thelawprovidesforfreedomofspeechandpress,andthegovernmentgenerallyrespectedtheserightsinpractice.

TheLawonSafeguardingNationalSecurity(Article23oftheBasicLaw),whichenteredintoforceinMarch2009,criminalizesbothcommittingand“actsinpreparation”tocommittreason,secession,subversionofthePRCgovernment,andtheftofstatesecrets.Thecrimesoftreason,secession,andsubversionspecifytheuseofviolence,andthegovernmentstatedthatthelawwouldnotinfringeonpeacefulpoliticalactivismormediafreedom.

FreedomofPress:Theindependentmediawereactiveandexpressedawiderangeofviews,andinternationalmediaoperatedfreely.MajornewspaperswereheavilysubsidizedbythegovernmentandtendedtocloselyfollowthePRCgovernment’spolicyonsensitivepoliticalissues,suchasTaiwan;however,theygenerallyreportedfreelyontheSARgovernment,includingreportscriticalofthegovernment.

ViolenceandHarassment:Somejournalistswhowroteaboutissuesdisparagingofthegovernmentcomplainedaboutunduedisciplinaryactionssuchastemporarysuspensions,delayedpromotions,andeditorsassigningthemtocoverlessimportantstories.InJuneonenewseditorreceivedseveralthreateningletterswarninghimnottopublicizeconcernsoverthegovernment-ownedbroadcaster’sin-housemanagementandleadershipissues.

CensorshiporContentRestrictions:Activistsraisedconcernsoversomemediaself-censorshipparticularlyduetothefactthatnewsoutletsandjournalistsworriedsomecriticalcoveragemightlimitgovernmentfunding.

InternetFreedom

TherewerenogovernmentrestrictionsonaccesstotheInternetorcrediblereportsthatthegovernmentmonitorede-mailorInternetchatrooms.IndividualsandgroupscouldengageintheexpressionofviewsviatheInternet,includingbye-mail.

TheStrikeagainstComputerCrimeLawcriminalizesarangeofcybercrimesandempowersthepolice,withacourtwarrant,toorderInternetserviceproviderstosaveandthenprovidearangeofdata.Somelegislatorsexpressedconcernthatthelawgrantspolicetheauthoritytotaketheseactionswithoutacourtorderundersomecircumstances.

ThemediareportedthatseveralWebsites,amongthemFacebook,YouTube,andSkype,whichareblockedonthePRCMainland,wereblockedongovernment-providedfreeWiFiservice.Thegovernmentdeniedanyintentiontorestrictaccess,statingthatthemainproblemwasavailablebandwidthandpointingoutthatthemobileversionofFacebookwasavailable.Twitter,whichisbannedontheMainland,wasavailable.

AcademicFreedomandCulturalEvents

Therewerenogovernmentrestrictionsonacademicfreedomorculturalevents.

b.FreedomofPeacefulAssemblyandAssociation

FreedomofAssembly

Thelawprovidesforfreedomofassembly,andthegovernmentgenerallyrespectedthisrightinpractice.Thelawrequirespriornotification,butnotapproval,ofdemonstrations.Incasesinwhichauthoritiestriedtorestrictaccesstopublicvenuesfordemonstrationsorotherpublicevents,thecourtsgenerallyruledonthesideoftheapplicants.Policemayredirectmarchroutes,andorganizershadtherighttochallengesuchdecisionsincourt.

OnMay1,approximately2,300workersdemonstratedwithoutmajorincident,althoughpolicestoppedonereporterfromtakingphotos.Lawenforcementclaimedthiswastohelpthejournalistfrombeinghitbyamovingvan.Acourtfoundtheallegationsofthejournalisttobeunsubstantiatedduetolackofevidence.ActivistsclaimedtheprotestswerecalmduringtheyearbecausethegovernmenthadgivenoutcashpaymentstoparticipantsofthecontroversialMay2010march.

FreedomofAssociation

TheBasicLawandthecivilcodeprovideforfreedomofassociation.Noauthorizationisrequiredtoformanassociation,andtheonlyrestrictionisthattheorganizationnotpromoteviolence,crime,ordisruptionofpublicorder.Duringthefirsthalfoftheyear,theIdentificationBureauregistered383newassociations,butitdidnotissue“proofofadoptablenameofassociation”in33casesbecauseintendedgroupnameswerethesameorsimilartoregisteredorganizations.

c.FreedomofReligion

SeetheDepartmentofState’s

InternationalReligiousFreedomReport

at

/j/drl/irf/rpt

.

d.FreedomofMovement,InternallyDisplacedPersons,ProtectionofRefugees,andStatelessPersons

ThelawprovidesforfreedomofmovementwithintheSAR,foreigntravel,emigration,andrepatriation,andthegovernmentgenerallyrespectedtheserightsinpractice.PersonsdeniedentryintotheSARhavetherighttocontacttheirconsulateorotherrepresentativeoftheircountry,receiveassistancewithlanguageinterpretation,andconsultalawyer.TheImmigrationDepartmentcooperatedwiththeOfficeoftheUNHighCommissionerforRefugees(UNHCR)andotherhumanitarianorganizationsinprovidingprotectionandassistancetointernallydisplacedpersons,refugees,returningrefugees,asylumseekers,statelesspersons,andotherpersonsofconcern.

TheInternalSecurityLawgrantspolicetheauthoritytoprevententryanddeportnonresidentswhoareregardedunderthelawasunwelcome,deemedtoconstituteathreattointernalsecurityandstability,oraresuspectedoftransnationalcrimes.LegislatorsandactivistsallegedthatpoliceusedthislawtopreventHongKongdemocracyandrightsactivistsfromenteringtheSAR,includingwhenthepurposeoftravelwasmerelytourismorpersonalbusiness.Policedeclinedtodiscussthecircumstancesofindividualcases.

AccordingtotheInternationalTradeUnionConfederation’sannualsurveyofviolationsoftradeunionrights,thegovernmentdeniesentryintoMacauoflaborleadersordemocraticactivistsfromHongKong.MacaucontinuedtobanHongKongLegislativeCouncilmemberLeeCheuk-yan,aprominentlaborleader,fromenteringtheSAR.ThegovernmentclaimedthecommanderofthePublicSecurityPolice“basedonthepublicinterest…mayrefuseentryofanynonresidentwhosestatusisfoundtobeinappropriate.”

ProtectionofRefugees

AccesstoAsylum:Thelawprovidesforthegrantingofasylumorrefugeestatusinaccordancewiththe1951ConventionrelatingtotheStatusofRefugeesandits1967Protocol,andthegovernmenthasestablishedasystemforprovidingprotectiontorefugees.Inpracticethegovernmentprovidedprotectionagainsttheexpulsionorreturnofrefugeestocountrieswheretheirlivesorfreedomwouldbethreatenedonaccountoftheirrace,religion,nationality,membershipinaparticularsocialgroup,orpoliticalopinion.PersonsgrantedstatusenjoyedthesamerightsasotherSARresidents,whilepersonswithpendingapplicationswereeligibletoreceivegovernmentsupport,includingbasicneedssuchashousing,medicalcare,andeducationforchildren.

Accordingtothegovernment,duringtheyeartherewerefourpendingcasesforrefugeestatus,buttheirdeterminationcouldtakeseveralyearstoprocess.OneAfghanasylumseekerwasinhisninthyearwaiting.PaulPunChi,secretarygeneraloftheCaritassocialwelfareorganization,saidtheprocesswas“l(fā)onganddrawnout”andtheproceduresandisolationpushedapplicantsintoa“hopelesssituation.”

InDecembertheCourtofSecondInstanceoverturnedChiefExecutiveChui’sJune2010decisiontoupholdaMacauRefugeeCommissionrulingdenyingrefugeestatustothefamilyofaKurdishhumanrightsactivistfromSyria.Thecourt’sunanimousverdictalsoharshlycriticizedtheMacauRefugeesCommissionforclaimingtherewasnoevidenceofSyriandiscriminationdirectedatKurdsandforignoringaUNHCRreportthatsidedwiththeasylumseekers.

Section3.RespectforPoliticalRights:TheRightofCitizenstoChangeTheirGovernmentShare

Thelawlimitscitizens’abilitytochangetheirgovernment.OnlyasmallfractionofcitizensplayaroleintheselectionoftheChiefExecutive(CE),whoischosenbya300-memberElectionCommitteeconsistingof254memberselectedfromfourbroadsocietalsectors(whichhavealimitedfranchise)and46memberschosenfromamongtheSAR’slegislatorsandrepresentativestotheNPCandChinesePeople’sPoliticalConsultativeCongress.

ElectionsandPoliticalParticipation

RecentElections:DespitecallsforanincreaseinthenumberofdirectlyelectedLegislativeAssemblyseats,thegovernmentquicklydispelledanOctobernewsreportthatitwasconsideringplanstoexpandthenumberin2013.Ofthe29seatsintheLegislativeAssembly,only12aredirectlyelected.Thelastelection,heldin2009,wasgenerallyfreeandfair.

Therearelimitsonthetypesofbillsthatlegislatorsmayintroduce.Thelawstipulatesthatlegislatorsmaynotinitiatelegislationrelatedtopublicexpenditure,theSAR’spoliticalstructure,ortheoperationofthegovernment.ProposedlegislationrelatedtogovernmentpoliciesmustreceivetheCE’swrittenapprovalbeforeitissubmitted.Thelegislaturealsohasnopowerofconfirmationoverexecutiveorjudicialappointments.

A10-memberExecutiveCouncilfunctionsasanunofficialcabinet,approvingdraftlegislationbeforeitispresentedintheLegislativeAssembly.TheBasicLawstipulatesthattheCEappointmembersoftheSARExecutiveCouncilfromamongtheprincipalofficialsoftheexecutiveauthorities,membersofthelegislature,andpublicfigures.

PoliticalParties:TheSARhasnolawsonpoliticalparties;politicallyactivegroupsthereforeregisteredassocietiesorcompanies.Thesegroupswereactiveinpromotingtheirpoliticalagendas,andthosecriticalofthegovernmentdidnotfacerestrictions.Suchgroupsparticipatedinprotestsovergovernmentpoliciesorproposedlegislationwithoutrestriction.

ParticipationofWomenandMinorities:Therewerefourwomeninthe29-memberLegislativeAssembly.Womenalsoheldanumberofseniorpositionsthroughoutthegovernment,includingtheSecretaryforJusticeandAdministration,thesecond-highestofficialintheSARgovernment.FifteenoftheSAR’s46judgeswerewomen.Womenmadeupmorethan41percentofthesenior-levelexecutive,48percentofthejudiciary,andalmostalloftheseniorlegislativestaff(i.e.,notincludinglegislators).ThereweretwomembersofethnicminoritiesintheLegislativeAssembly.OneExecutiveCouncilmemberwasfromanethnicminority,aswasthepolicecommissionergeneral.

Section4.OfficialCorruptionandGovernmentTransparencyShare

Thelawprovidescriminalpenaltiesforofficialcorruption,andtherewerefewreportedinstancesofofficialsengagingincorruption.

TheCommissionagainstCorruption(CAC)investigatedthepublicandprivatesectorsandhadthepowertoarrestanddetainsuspects.TheOmbudsmanBureauwithintheCACreviewedcomplaintsofmaladministrationorabusebytheCAC.TherewasalsoanindependentcommitteeoutsidetheCAC,theMonitoringCommitteeonDisciplineofCACPersonnel,whichacceptedandreviewedcomplaintsaboutCACpersonnel.

BylawtheCE,hiscabinet,judges,membersoftheLegislativeAssemblyandExecutiveCouncil,andexecutiveagencydirectorsarerequiredtodisclosetheirfinancialinterestsuponappointment,promotion,andretirement,andatfive-yearintervalswhileinthesameposition.

Thelawdoesnotprovideforpublicaccesstogovernmentinformation.However,theexecutivebranchpublishedonline,inbothPortugueseandChinese,extensiveinformationonlaws,regulations,ordinances,governmentpoliciesandprocedures,andbiographiesofgovernmentofficials.Thegovernmentalsoissuedadailypressreleaseontopicsofpublicconcern.Theinformationprovidedbythelegislaturewaslessextensive.

Section5.GovernmentalAttitudeRegardingInternationalandNongovernmentalInvestigationofAllegedViolationsofHumanRightsShare

Anumberofdomesticandinternationalgroupsmonitoringhumanrightsgenerallyoperatedwithoutgovernmentrestriction,investigatingandpublishingtheirfindingsonhumanrightscases.Governmentofficialsoftenwerecooperativeandresponsivetotheirviews.

Section6.Discrimination,SocietalAbuses,andTraffickinginPersonsShare

Thelawstipulatesthatresidentsshallbefreefromdiscriminationbasedonrace,gender,disability,language,orsocialstatus,andmanylawscarryspecificprohibitionsagainstdiscrimination;thegovernmenteffectivelyenforcedthelaw.

Women

RapeandDomesticViolence:Thelawcriminalizesrape,includingspousalrape,andthegovernmenteffectivelyenforcedthelaw.Inthefirsthalfoftheyear,therewereninecomplaintsofrapelodgedwiththepolice.Thepoliceandcourtsactedpromptlyonrapecases,arrestingfourindividualsaccusedofrape.

Althoughthereisnotaspecificlawondomesticviolence,lawsthatcriminalizetherelevantbehaviors,including“ill-treatmentofminorsorspouses,”wereusedbythegovernmenteffectivelytoprosecutedomesticviolence.However,variousnongovernmentalorganizations(NGOs)andgovernmentofficialsconsidereddomesticviolenceagainstwomentobeagrowingproblem.Domesticviolencefallsunderseveralcrimesinthecriminalcode,includingthecrimeofmistreatmentofminors,personswithincapacity,orspouses.Thesecrimesarepunishablewithimprisonmentrangingfromonetofiveyears.Ifmistreatmentleadstoseriousphysicalinjuriesordeathofthevictim,thepenaltiesmaybeincreasedtoimprisonmentoftwotoeightyearsforcasesresultinginphysicalinjuriesandfiveto15yearsforcasesresultingindeath.Duringthefirsthalfoftheyear,197complaintsofcrimesrelatedtodomesticviolencewerereportedtothepolice.Ofthe197cases,121involvedspousalabuse.InFebruarytheWomen’sGeneralAssociationofMacaureleasedasurveynotingthat80percentofthewomeninitsshelterhadsufferedphysical,psychological,orsexualabuse.TheLegislativeAssemblybegandebateinSeptemberonagovernment-draftedantidomesticviolencebillsettingtoughpenaltiesforabusersandcreatingavictimprotectionscheme.

Thegovernmentmadereferralsforvictimstoreceivemedicaltreatment,andmedicalsocialworkerscounseledvictimsandinformedthemofsocialwelfareservices.Duringthefirsthalfoftheyear,theSocialWelfareBureau(SWB)handled36domesticviolencecasesinvolving44victims.ThegovernmentfundedNGOstoprovidevictimsupportservices,includinghousing,untiltheircomplaintswereresolved.Thegovernmentalsosupportedtwo24-hourhotlines,oneforcounselingandtheotherforreportingdomesticviolencecases.

NGOsandreligiousgroupssponsoredprogramsforvictimsofdomesticviolence,andthegovernmentsupportedandhelpedfundtheseorganizationsandprograms.TheBureauforFamilyAction,agovernmentorganizationsubordinatetotheDepartmentofFamilyandCommunityoftheSocialWelfareInstitute,helpedfemalevictimsofdomesticviolencebyprovidingasafeplaceforthemandtheirchildrenandadviceregardinglegalactionsagainstperpetrators.Arangeofcounselingserviceswasavailabletopersonswhorequestedthematsocialcenters.Twogovernment-supportedreligiousprogramsalsoofferedrehabilitationprogramsforfemalevictimsofviolence.

SexualHarassment:Thereisnolawspecificallyaddressingsexualharassment,unlessitinvolvestheuseofapositionofauthoritytocoercetheperformanceofphysicalacts.Harassmentingeneralisprohibitedunderlawsgoverningequalopportunity,employmentandlaborrights,andlaborrelations.BetweenJanuaryandJune,onecomplaintofgenderdiscriminationwasfiledwiththeLaborAffairsBureau(LAB)butwaslaterwithdrawn.

ReproductiveRights:Couplesandindividualshavetherighttodecidethenumber,spacing,andtimingoftheirchildrenandhavetheinformationandmeanstodosofreefromdiscriminationorcoercion.Accesstocontraception,prenatalcare,andskilledattendanceatdeliveryandinpostpartumcarewerewidelyavailable.Womenandmenweregivenequalaccesstodiagnosticservicesandtreatmentforsexuallytransmittedinfections,includingHIV.

Discrimination:Equalopportunitylegislationmandatesthatwomenreceiveequalpayforequalwork;however,observersestimatedthattherewasasignificantdifferenceinsalarybetweenmenandwomen,particularlyinunskilledjobs.Thelawallowsforcivilsuits,butfewwomentookcasestotheLABorotherentities.Discriminationinhiringpracticesbasedongenderorphysicalabilityisprohibitedbylaw,andpenaltiesexistforemployerswhoviolatetheseguidelines.Nocomplaintsofdiscriminationwerelodgedwiththepolice,LAB,orCAC.

Children

Thegovernmentprotectedtherightsandwelfareofchildrenthroughthegeneralframeworkofcivilandpoliticalrightslegislationthatprotectsallcitizens.Thelawdefinesabuse,neglect,violence,andmaltreatmentofchildrenascriminaloffenses.Inthefirsthalfoftheyear,threephysicalabusecaseswerereportedtothepolice,andtheSWBreceivedninecasesofchildabuse,whichinvolvedninechildren.TheHealthBureauhandledfourchildabusecases.TheSWBarrangedresidentialplacementsandothersupportservicesfortheseabusedchildren.

BirthRegistration:InaccordancewiththeBasicLaw,childrenofChinesenationalresidentsofMacauborninoroutsidetheSARandchildrenborntonon-ChinesenationalpermanentresidentsinsidetheSARareregardedaspermanentresidents.Thereisnodifferentiationbetweenthesecategoriesintermsofaccesstoregistrationofbirth.

SexualExploitationofChildren:Thelawspecificallyprovidesforcriminalpunishmentforsexualabuseofchildrenandstudents,statutoryrape,andprocurementinvolvingminors.Thecriminalcodesets14astheageofsexualconsentand16astheageforparticipationinthelegalsextrade.Childpornographyisprohibitedbylaw.Duringthefirsthalfoftheyear,thereweretwocomplaintsofsexualabuseofchildrenandfivecomplaintsofsexualactswithminorslodgedwiththepolice.Lawenforcementarrestedoneindividualint