The Universal Forum for Human Rights denounces the abuse of power by the police during the demonstrations to contest the results of the sixth local elections. 

"When we get into the political aspect, it seems to us that the police, as has been said, are acting at the behest of a particular political party, but this cannot be," said Sousa Chale, executive director of the Universal Human Rights Forum.

"The police must not act with excessive force; they must have an educational component and they must begin to act in such a way that they are a power of the state that seeks the peace and safety of citizens," he added.

The Universal Human Rights Forum believes that, with the violence that took place during the demonstrations, Mozambique is worsening its position on the list of countries whose human rights situation is worrying.

"To say that we are making significant progress is not true. On the contrary, we're regressing, and it's not just the case in Mozambique; the world is in turmoil, and that ends up being reflected in Mozambique."

Sousa Chale, were speaking this Thursday at an event celebrating the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.