This briefing document was originally provided by Amnesty International to European decision-makers on asylum claims ahead of an EU meeting on 16-17 December 2002 to discuss the human rights situation in Algeria. It was intended for asylum adjudicators who, given the difficulty of accessing information on the country, may have been unaware of the full extent of human rights abuses which persist in Algeria to this day. It highlights a number of issues, but is by no means a comprehensive survey. Amnesty International emphasizes that the human rights situation in Algeria still remains extremely volatile and considers that decision-makers should continue to take extremely seriously asylum claims from Algerian nationals or Sahrawi refugees who have been present in Algeria. The level of violence and number of reports of human rights abuses in Algeria continues to be shockingly high, and the ability and willingness of the Algerian authorities to assure protection remain largely elusive.
