Death (Prevention) Act was poorly enforced due to a lack of political will and awareness among law enforcement agencies. Human rights groups accused several security force branches – including police and the Rapid Action Battalion – of torture and other illtreatment. Torture was carried out to extract “confessions”, for extortion or to punish political opponents of the government. CHITTAGONG HILL TRACTS Police in September asked a court to close the investigation into the disappearance of Kalpana Chakma, an Indigenous Peoples’ rights campaigner, from the Chittagong Hill Tracts − an area in southeastern Bangladesh − citing a lack of evidence. She was abducted in 1996. Government restrictions on access to the Chittagong Hill Tracts and on communication with “tribal” people there remained in place, arbitrarily restricting the right to freedom of expression of journalists and human rights organizations. Women and girls in the region faced multiple forms of discrimination and violence including rape and murder due to their gender, Indigenous identity and socio-economic status. Victims of gender-based violence continued to be denied justice because of pressure to settle out of court, non-availability of judges or other bureaucratic delays. VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND GIRLS Human rights groups said that rape conviction rates continued to be extremely low, mainly because investigations were not timely or effective. Many women and girls were reluctant to report rape to the authorities, for fear of being stigmatized and subjected to police harassment. Human rights organization Ain o Salish Kendra confirmed that at least 671 rape cases were reported by media, with the actual number of cases likely to be much higher. The rape and murder of 19-year-old Tonu in March sparked outrage and large-scale street protests. Activists claimed the police deliberately delayed the investigation and pressured the survivor’s family into making false statements. 82 BELARUS Republic of Belarus Head of state: Alyaksandr Lukashenka Head of government: Andrey Kabyakou Severe restrictions on the rights to freedom of expression, of association and of peaceful assembly remained in place. The government continued to refuse cooperation with the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Belarus. At least four people were executed and four people were sentenced to death. BACKGROUND On 28 February, the EU lifted all its sanctions against persons and entities in Belarus except those against four former officials suspected of involvement in enforced disappearances committed in 1999-2000. On 1 July, the government redenominated the value of the Belarusian ruble slashing four zeros, among other measures. This was a response to the continuing economic downfall partially prompted by the downturn in Russia, its principal trading partner. Also in July, the mandate of the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Belarus – established by the UN Human Rights Council in 2012 – was extended for a further year. In September, the new Parliament was elected against the backdrop of severe restrictions on independent media and the political opposition. Only two parliamentarians regarded as representing political opposition were elected. On 24 October, the first national Human Rights Strategy was adopted. It outlined legislative reforms, none of which addressed the death penalty, but promised “to consider” Belarus’ interest in joining the European Convention on Human Rights and the creation of a national human rights institution. Amnesty International Report 2016/17