The judiciary remained largely under the control of the executive. A significant number of lawyers were subjected to various forms of harassment, including arbitrary arrest and detention. The state of emergency declared in December 1999 remained in force.
Portuguese courts are autonomous and operate independently. A large backlog of pending trials has apparently resulted in the dismissal of cases due to their exceeding the limitation period.
The Italian justice system continued to be hampered by excessively long periods of trial. Silvio Berlusconi, Italy’s wealthiest business figure, and his centre-right coalition won the Italian general election held in 2001.
The human rights situation in China continued to deteriorate. Persecution and torture of members of the Falun Gong spiritual movement and members of political dissident groups continued.
The period covered by this report saw dramatic political changes in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. President Slobodan Milosevic was ousted by a peaceful popular uprising after 13 years in power.
Human Rights Council concludes its 62nd session with action on country crises and key human rights challenges
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