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On 24 September, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on behalf of the Russian Federation signed the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. He also deposited the instrument of ratification by the Russian Federation the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict to the headquarters of the UN. (30-SEN-08)
 

The Vienna-based South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO), a network of editors, media executives and leading journalists from South East Europe and an affiliate of the International Press Institute (IPI), is concerned about death threats against several media representatives in Bosnia following coverage of Queer festival.

On 28th September, the Media Associations, Human Rights Network – Republic of Uganda (HURINET-U), and members of the Coalition on Freedom of Information (COFI) presented a petition to the Parliament of the Republic of Uganda to expedite the implementation of the Access to Information Law (Under Article 41 of the Constitution of Republic of Uganda, 1995 and the Access to Information Act, 2005).

The extension of Raja Petra Kamaruddin¡’s period of detention to two years is another example of the nefarious uses of Malaysia¡’s Internal Security Act, But the reaction of ordinary citizens shows the tide may be turning in favour of free expression.  

On 24 September OSCE presented a report on the press situation in the Republic of Azerbaijan during the pre-election period. The report notes that there is no pluralism and no differences in terms of ideological angle or political ideas in the Azeri press.

The 2008 Professor Thorolf Rafto Memorial Prize is awarded to Pastor Bulambo Lembelembe Josué, right, for his dedication to end the plight of the people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). (25-SEP-08)
 

The Human Rights House Foundation (HRHF) has called Pastor Bulambo Lembelembe Josué, right, and congratulated him as the winner of this year´s Rafto Award. Pastor Bulambo expressed his gratitude for the award to the Rafto Foundation and confirmed that he will attend the seminar and award ceremony in Bergen early November. (25-SEP-08)
 

Renewed combat in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo has caused a drastic deterioration in the humanitarian situation and immense suffering for civilians, the Congo Advocacy Coalition, a group of 83 aid agencies and human rights groups, said today. The coalition called for urgent action to improve protection of civilians and an immediate increase in assistance to vulnerable populations. Right, militias in Ituri. (25-SEP-08)
 

The 2008 Professor Thorolf Rafto Memorial Prize is awarded to Pastor Bulambo Lembelembe Josué, right, for his dedication to end the plight of the people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). (25-SEP-08)