The uneasy work of human rights defenders and their protection has been on the agenda for many years. At the end of OSCE Supplementary Human Dimension Meeting on Protection and Promotion of Human Rights, held in Vienna on 12-13 July 2007, the International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights released a statement concerning the human rights defenders at risk. (15-JUL-07)
Placed on website by Shahla Ismailova/ HRH Baku
Statement
The work of human rights defenders has received growing recognition in recent years, and steps have been taken at the international level taken to improve their protection. However, in spite of this, human rights defenders continue to face serious challenges in many parts of the OSCE region, and in some countries, the capacities of independent human rights groups are increasingly being reduced as part of government policies to shield themselves from criticism and to retain power.
The International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights (IHF) is carrying out a campaign in 2007 on behalf of human rights defenders at risk and will use this opportunity to raise its concerns about the situation of human rights defenders in Azerbaijan, Belarus, the Russian Federation, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.
Azerbaijan
Attacks on government critics and politically motivated arrests are long-standing problems in Azerbaijan. Among those vulnerable to intimidation and harassment are human rights defenders who seek to hold state authorities accountable to international standards.
Recommendations to the government of Azerbaijan:
• Welcome broad democratic debate and put an end to politically motivated harassment of those challenging government policies;
• Ensure that human rights defenders and their families enjoy adequate protection against violence and attacks.
