U S State Department

CABO VERDE 2016 HUMAN RIGHTS Report U S State Department

The government of Cabo Verde is a parliamentary representative democratic republic, largely modeled on the Portuguese system. Constitutional powers are shared between the head of state, President Jorge Carlos Fonseca, and head of government, Prime Minister Ulisses Correia e Silva. The Supreme Court, the National Electoral Commission, and international observers declared the 2016 nationwide legislative elections generally free and fair. Civilian authorities at times did not maintain effective control over security forces. The most serious human rights problems occurred in the following areas: overcrowding of prisons, child abuse, and violence and discrimination against women.