Members of the Togolese community have approached British officials raising “urgent” concerns about human rights violations in the West African Country.
Togo, a former French colony achieved its independence in 1960 and ever since has been criticised for its human-rights record. As a result of which the EU cut-off it's aid in 1993.
Faure Gnassingbé, became the President of the country in elections that were widely described as having been “fixed” and led to violent attacks that resulted in as many as 500 deaths and the migration of 40,000 refugees.
The most significant human rights issues include use of excessive force by security forces; life-threatening conditions in prisons and detention centres; arbitrary arrest; executive influence on the judiciary; government restrictions on freedom of assembly; corruption; criminalization of same-sex sexual conduct, although not enforced; and trafficking in persons.
The Togolese population in the UK have begun a lobbying process of local members of parliament to try and get Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt to intervene.
In particular they have asked that the elections which have recently taken place in Togo, which was boycotted by the opposition should be annulled. FaureGnassingbé was re-elected as president which will enable him to serve a further two terms in office.
