their involvement in the alleged assassination children who had served at least half their attempt. sentence. HUMAN RIGHTS IMPACT OF CLIMATE FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION CHANGE MEDIA The southern region of Madagascar On 22 April, an inter-ministerial decision led experienced its worst drought in 40 years, to the banning of radio and audiovisual with more than 1 million people on the brink broadcasts in the regions of Analamanga, of famine and over 14,000 people living in Atsinanana, Sava, Boeny and Sofia as they famine-like conditions. were deemed to be “responsible for RIGHTS TO FOOD, WATER, EDUCATION AND SANITATION threatening public order and security and The severe drought affected the population of threatening national unity.” The decision was southern Madagascar, most of whom rely on reversed on 26 April after a backlash from subsistence agriculture, livestock and fishing civil society and media organizations. as their main sources of livelihood. Their The government used Law 91-011 of 1991 ability to enjoy the internationally recognized – intended to be applied only in exceptional right to a clean, healthy and sustainable circumstances – to limit the media’s ability to environment which is essential to the share information on the Covid-19 pandemic, enjoyment of many other rights, including the except for government sanctioned rights to life, health, water and sanitation, was information. Journalists who attempted to seriously undermined.1 report information not sanctioned by the Children and women were government were harassed and intimidated. disproportionately affected by the drought. On 30 May, the Madagascar Collective of Children dropped out of school to help their Journalists denounced harassment families to find food. Women had to engage against journalists. Police officers said in negative coping mechanisms, such as journalists were not allowed on the streets restricting adult family members’ food intake during the Covid-19 lockdown. Also in May, a to provide for children and preparing cheaper journalist from Basy Vava newspaper was and less nutritious food for their families. harassed and threatened with prosecution for Additionally, families increasingly migrated to public defamation after she published an other regions to escape hunger. article on alleged embezzlement of public funds by a former communications director DETAINEES’ RIGHTS in the president’s office. Conditions in detention facilities were poor SEXUAL AND GENDER-BASED and overcrowded. The prison administration’s DISCRIMINATION AND VIOLENCE statistics showed that by July, prisons with a maximum capacity for 10,645 inmates held SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS 27,611 people, including 918 children, all of On 28 September, Nifin’Akanga, which whom suffered inhumane conditions. campaigns for decriminalization of abortion, Thousands of people continued to be published a report based on findings from its detained without trial. By July, around 45% of national survey. The report highlighted that the prison population, including 77% of child 52.5% of abortions took place in unhygienic prisoners, were in pretrial detention. conditions outside health facilities, such as in In June, President Rajoelina commuted the the homes of women and girls or of the sentences of 10,840 detainees and pardoned abortion practitioners; and that 31% of at least 2,747 sentenced prisoners, including abortions were performed by people with no people convicted of minor offences who had medical training. The report noted that up to three months left on their sentence; unsafe abortion increased the risks of severe women over 55 and men over 60 who had complications, including haemorrhage, been in prison for 10 years or more; and physical damage, psychological trauma and Amnesty International Report 2021/22 240