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HRC56: Belarus attacks on human rights and civil society in exile
On 3 July 2024, Human Rights House Foundation delivered a statement at the 56th session of the UN Human Rights Council, raising the situation for continued attacks on freedom of association, as well as attacks on Belarusians forced into exile.
Georgia: “‘Foreign agent’ legislation has only one aim – to marginalise and shut down all critical voices within the country”.
On 28 May 2024, the Georgian government adopted the so-called “foreign agent” law. Human Rights House Foundation recently spoke to Georgian human rights defender Baia Pataria about these critical developments and what they mean for civil society.
HRC56: “Georgian civil society needs support now.”
On the sidelines of the 56th session of the UN Human Rights Council, Human Rights House Foundation welcomed the appointment of Gina Romero in her role as the new UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights to Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and of Association and asked how the Council can best ensure freedom of peaceful assembly and association is upheld, even in contexts such as Georgia that are witnessing rising authoritarian tendencies.
HRC56: Rising Authoritarianism and its Impact on Civil Society in Eastern Europe
On 1 July 2024, Human Rights House Foundation hosted “Rising Authoritarianism and its Impact on Civil Society in Eastern Europe”, a civil society side event on the sidelines of the 56th session of the UN Human Rights Council.
Serbia: Stop the extradition of Andrey Gnyot to Belarus
Human Rights House Foundation joins Belarusian and international organisations in calling on the Serbian authorities to stop the extradition of Belarusian filmmaker and co-founder of the “Free Association of Athletes SOS-BY”, Andrey Gnyot, from Serbia to Belarus.
Georgia on the verge of descent into authoritarianism: The authorities must immediately stop repressions against independent voices
We, the undersigned members of the Network of Human Rights Houses and other international civil society organisations urge the government of Georgia to immediately end the ongoing repressions against independent voices. We condemn the use of illegal and disproportionate force against largely peaceful protestors, physical attacks against civil society representatives, alleged illegal detention of a well-known blogger, coordinated campaign of smear, harassment and intimidation against journalists, human rights defenders and their family members, including children.
Georgian PM urged to withdraw the Law on Transparency of Foreign Influence, guarantee the safety of journalists and uphold press freedom in Georgia
Human Rights House Foundation joins a coalition of press freedom, journalists and human rights organizations led by The International Press Institute (IPI) in writing to Prime Minister of Georgia, Irakli Kobakhidze, urging him to withdraw the Law on Transparency of Foreign Influence, guarantee the safety of journalists and uphold press freedom in Georgia.
Shadow of authoritarianism hangs over Georgia
As Georgian authorities look to introduce new “foreign agent” legislation, HRHF’s Kety Abashidze outlines the situation unfolding in the country and highlights the importance of international organisations, civil society and like-minded states to show solidarity with the Georgian public and civil society and to call on the authorities to abandon the law.
Human rights defender Anar Mammadli is the latest victim of Azerbaijan’s intensified crackdown against civil society: Mammadli should be released immediately
We, the undersigned human rights organisations, condemn in strongest possible terms the Azerbaijani authorities’ detention of Anar Mammadli, a prominent human rights defender, leader of the country’s largest independent election watchdog and member of the Network of Human Rights Houses. We demand his immediate and unconditional release.