HRH has received pictures from the 16 October post-election clashes between demonstrators and police at the so-called Freedom Square in the capital Baku. The pictures leave little doubt about the use of violence by both sides. Approximately 600 demonstrators were arrested. More than a hunded of those have yet to be released. Reports of torture of detainees have been confirmed by CoE and OSCE. To see the pictures, click the headline above. (1-DEC-03)
In recent months, Serbia has witnessed some of the largest protests in its modern history. With slogans like “Corruption kills” and “Pumpaj!” (“Pump it!”) students have emerged as the driving force behind these leaderless demonstrations, supported by the wider civil society while intentionally distancing themselves from it. In this op-ed, Uroš Jovanović from Civic Initiatives – a member organisation of Human Rights House Belgrade – explores the roots of the protests, the strategies used to intimidate civil society, and the muted response of international actors.
The European Union should defend the International Criminal Court (ICC) amid serious attacks on its mandate and mission, said a group of INGOs on 4 April 2025. These attacks could undermine justice for victims of serious international crimes around the world, making urgent EU action to uphold the international rules-based order.
During the 2025 Democracy Defender Award seminar in Vienna, HRHF issued recommendations to OSCE States on how to address shrinking space for civil society. HRHF Congratulates Georgian Young Lawyer’s Association for the well-deserved recognition of their commitment to advancing democracy and human rights in Georgia.