"[1] In September 2000, Mongolia unilaterally adopted the so-called "Millennium Goal 9", which is "to strengthen human rights and foster democratic governance."
Writing in 2012 in the Jakarta Post, the secretary-general of the Indonesian Community who "led the first demonstrations for democracy and reforms in Mongolia," that "the passion for freedom and human rights" is "palpable in his being.
"[5] Among the serious human-rights problems that face Mongolia, especially within the police and security sector, are the abuse of prisoners by police, uneven law enforcement, poor prison conditions, arbitrary arrest, excessively long periods of pretrial detention, judicial corruption, lack of media independence, government secrecy, domestic violence, and trafficking in persons.
While there is freedom of speech and of the press, "insulting" is a crime, and the government attempts to pressure and silence the news media in various ways.
[citation needed] In 2009, most of the television stations in Ulaanbaatar signed an "agreement" with the Media Office of the General Policy Authority in which they effectively submitted to a degree of government oversight over their content in return for "protection".
On 14 January 2010, the country's President Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj announced that he would, henceforth, systematically use his prerogative to pardon all people sentenced to death.
The decision was controversial; when President Elbegdorj announced it in Parliament, MPRP representatives chose not to give the applause customarily due after a presidential speech.
It does not deter crime and does not lift up mankind," in his speech Archived 2012-10-07 at the Wayback Machine at the High-Level Meeting on the Rule of Law of the 67th session of the United Nations General Assembly on 24 September 2012.
[8] "By ratifying the Second Optional Protocol Mongolia would add yet one more country in the world community to fully abolish the death penalty.
The state should respect very fundamental human rights, and secure them by law," President Elbegdorj pointed out in his greeting to the delegation of the 5th international meeting of Justice Ministers on 18 May 2010.
Amnesty International noted "President Elbegdorj's actions demonstrate commitment to the protection of human rights and set a good example for other Asian countries in the region," on 18 February 2010.
[14] International organization "Hands off Cain" awarded Elbegdorj with "Abolitionist of the Year 2011" noting Mongolia as an example that fosters the right to life among Asian countries.
[16] Corruption is a major problem throughout the Mongolian government and law enforcement, and there is insufficient oversight by either official agencies or the independent media.
Public debate of issues is inhibited by the fact that much government decision making takes place behind closed doors.
[19] Government corruption and the abuse of power by police have a deleterious effect on the right to engage freely in public debate.
There have been several instances of police violence or arbitrary conduct in recent years involving opposition politicians, journalists, or protesters, among them: Authorities do not interfere in the rights of families to make their own decisions about childbirth and upbringing.
Most women have access to obstetric care, but there are widespread problems in regard to waiting times, confidentiality, and lack of professionalism by health-care workers.
The committee also urged the "implementation of the Law on Fighting against Domestic Violence" and called on Mongolia "to ensure that all women who are victims of domestic violence, including rural women, have access to immediate means of redress and protection, including protection orders, access to safe shelters and medical and rehabilitation assistance in all parts of the country" and "to ensure that public officials, especially law enforcement personnel, the judiciary, health-care providers and social workers, are fully familiar with applicable legal provisions, and are sensitized to all forms of violence against women and adequately respond to them."
There is widespread violence against children and sexual abuse of them, particularly within families of the poor class, and it is often the case that authorities do not take these offenses seriously.
Almost 86% of these children are engaged in agricultural activities while others are exposed to the hazards of the mining industry, digging for gold, coal and fluorspar.
The agency's reason for rejecting the request was that the center's name "has a meaning that conflicts with Mongolian customs and traditions and has the potential to set the wrong example for youth and adolescents.
Among its findings were that the destruction of pasture land and water resources as a result of mining has damaged conditions for herders and that they have not been provided with alternative opportunities for employment and the need to moves their herds further from former herding areas, and for longer periods, has caused them to lose access to education, health care, and social services.
Also discussed was the fact that "conflict between mining companies and artisanal miners, civil society organisations and local people has been escalating in recent times, occasionally resulting in violence.
In many mining communities, I heard residents' expectations that hospitals and schools would be built in their soums by companies, without any mention of the government's responsibility to do so.
The investigators found that herders living near mines "face numerous human rights violations, including the rights to live in a safe and secure environment; to access clean water; to choose and protect the source of their livelihood and income; to own property; to participate in decision-making concerning the mineral exploitation on their lands; to access justice and effective remedies; and to preserve their cultural heritage."
[6] A UNESCO report issued in 2005 noted that while Mongolia had sought in recent years to bring its legislation into line with international human rights standards, it is still common for criminal suspects to undergo "torture and ill-treatment" and "perpetrators enjoy impunity".
There are no jury trials; defendants technically have a right to interrogate witnesses, offer evidence, and file appeals, although many persons are convicted as a result of forced confessions.
[6] According to Amnesty International, lawyers and government officials describe Mongolian courts as corrupt and say that trials are often unfair, routinely using as evidence confession obtained through torture.
Fifty-nine different crimes, including acts of terrorism, genocide, rape, sabotage, and murder were punishable by the death penalty until 2012, though no executions took place after 2010, when the president imposed a moratorium.