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The Gay and Lesbian Coalition of Republic of Kenya in solidarity with Minority Women In Action are profoundly concerned about the increasing violence, discrimination and violation of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual, trans gendered, intersexes and queer (LGBTIQ) individuals rights in the country. We particularly vehemently condemn the unjust and unconstitutional acts occasioned against Ms. Faith Onyimbo on the early morning of Saturday, April 18th, 2009 at Florida 1000, on Koinange Street.

Activists against homosexuality in the Republic of Uganda stormed parliament on Tuesday protesting against the practice and demanded a probe into the practice in the country. The activists who were holding banners denouncing the activity were led by the Family Life Network in conjunction with religious leaders.

Вярхоўны суд Рэспублікі Беларусь пакінуў без задавальнення скаргу заснавальнікаў ГПА “Наша Вясна” на рашэнне Міністэрства юстыцыі аб адмове ў рэгістрацыі. “Калі дзяржава не гатовая, не хоча ці не можа рэгістраваць праваабарончыя арганізацыі, то гэта застаецца праблемай самой дзяржавы,” – каментуе праваабаронца Валянцін Стэфановіч.

“If the state is not ready, does not want or cannot register human rights NGOs, it will be a problem for the state itself,” – commented a well-known Belarusian human rights defender Valiantsin Stefanovich.

Following the anti-government protests, the Thai government has begun to crack down on the opposition media. Sinfah Tunsarawuth asks if the heavy-handed tactics will incite further chaos.

-Hell. That’s how journalist Ngoy Kikungula wa Maloba sums up the hunger, fear and misery he experienced during his six months in a Congolese prison. Released a month ago, Kikungula, editor of the Lubumbashi newspaper Le Lushois, was arrested after publishing an article about Rwandan rebels advancing on the Katangan capital.

In a statement accepted by consensus on the ‘Joburg + 10′ all African HR defenders conference today, the grave humanitarian and human rights situtation in Darfur is addressed with concern, especially in the light of Sudanese authorities’ recent decision to shut down three of the leading independent national human rights organisations in the country. Read the full statement below.

-Revising the draft press act is a critical step in the law reform process. The government’s pre-print censorship, harassment, and arrests of journalists, editors, and human rights activists are stifling free speech as Republic of the Sudan faces crucial elections, says Georgette Gagnon, right, Africa director at Human Rights Watch.

English PEN is seriously concerned about the eight-year prison sentence handed down to Iranian-American journalist and writer Roxana Saberi.