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The more than 100 delegates to the ´Civil Society at a Crossroads: Sustaining human rights organisations in the East and Horn of Africa´ conference that closed today, unanimously adopted a statement expressing deep concern over the human rightssituation in the region. In addition to addressing the security and working conditions of human rights defenders, the statement also made country-specific demands on Republic of Somalia, Republic of the Sudan Republic of Uganda, Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, State of Eritrea and Republic of Kenya. (13-NOV-07)
 

On 10 November 2007, the editor in chief of Azadlig newspaper Ganimat Zahidov, right, was arrested, being formally charged with committing hooliganism and inflicting minor bodily harm. Thus, the father of four young children and the uncle of five children of his imprisoned brother, Sakit Zahidov from the “Azadlig” Newspaper, Zahidov can be imprisoned for a minimum of 3 years. (13-NOV-07)
 

Members of Human Rights House Network express its deep concern in regard to the situation of the Russian Research Centre for Human Rights (RRCHR), which has recently received a letter from the Moscow Property Department. The letter informs the RRCHR of the necessity to leave its current office (Moscow, Luchnikov Lane, 4, doorway 3) by 31st of December 2007. Read the statement below.(13-NOV-07)
 

Having worked for years in close cooperation with Hina Jilani, right, the UN Secretary General´s Special Representative on Human Rights Defenders, the Human Rights House Foundation joins the international protests against the house arrest order that has been issued upon her in her homeland Islamic Republic of Pakistan, following the state of emergency declared by the President of Islamic Republic of Pakistan, General Musharraf, on 3 November 2007. (12-NOV-07)
 

The Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights has on numerous occasions expressed its concerns regarding examples of applying regulations of the Penal Code that penalize defamation towards journalists in the Republic of Poland. At the same time, the Foundation has long demanded for Article 212, which provides grounds to sentence an individual even to the punishment of imprisonment for defamation, to be removed from the Polish Penal Code.(08-NOV-07)

Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili decreed a state of emergency after the violent dispersal of anti-government protests, ordering the shutdown of independent media outlets and deploying troops throughout Tblisi. Journalists have felt the heat during the recent upheaval. (9-NOV-07)
 

Social March “For Justice” took place in Minsk in November the 4th. Participants of the action put number of claims to the authorities – to stop the prices increase, to carry out economical reforms in the Republic of Belarus, to get back the benefits, to give liberty to the privet industry, to increase wages and retires payments. (05-NOV-07)  
 

The Human Rights House Foundation visited Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in March 2007 in order to share the concept of a human rights house with local human rights defenders and their organisations. It became clear that the most vulnerable group was female human rights defenders working to improve women´s position in the Afghan society. In cooperation with the Norwegian Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Committe and FOKUS we have invited four of them to Norway. (07-NOV-07)

Delegates from throughout the Human Rights House Network (HRH N) will gather this weekend in Nairobi for the Network’s annual meeting, immediately followed by a regional and international conference, addressing the security and working conditions for human rights defenders in the East and Horn of Africa, and aspects of the sustainability of their organisations. (07-NOV-07)