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A round-table discussion concerning the issue of how to improve the protection and promotion of human rights in present-day Europe was held on 17 April in Strasbourg at the invitation of the Council of Europe Human Rights Commissioner, Thomas Hammarberg, and the President of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly, Rene van der Lindenround. (20-APR-07)

Croatian Helsinki Committee for Human Rights and Women´s Group B.a.B.e. will monitor situation in prisons in the Republic of Croatia. The aim of the project is to improve the overall situation regarding the respect of fundamental rigths of prisoners, and the conditions in which they serve their sentences. The realization of the year-long project, funded by the Open Society Institute, will start in the coming period. (18-APR-07)
 

10th April delegates of the United Conference of the Russian Research Center for Human Rights re-elected Valentina Melnikova, leader of the Soldiers Mothers, as the Chairperson of the Board. They also elected a new Director of the Center. (17-APR-07)
 

According to the Norwegian Refugee Council´s new report Internal Displacement: Global Overview of Trends and Developments in 2006, there are more than 500.000 internally displaced persons in Burma (Republic of the Union of Myanmar). The estimate is considered modest. The report directs its criticism straight at Burmese authorities since the displacement is caused by the use of force of government troops. In its most recent newsletter, released today, the Norwegian Burma Committe sums up the situation. (18-APR-07)
 

Some were unable to escape from Laayoune and other towns before the Moroccans arrived. Men who managed to get out joined the Polisario independence fighters and sent the women, children and old people to shelter in Tindouf. A 16-year war ended in 1991 and hope grew that the territory would be reunited. The U.N. tried to organise a vote on self-determination, but it never happened. “We want only total, perfect independence, even if I must wait 50 years to see my family again,” says Sidi Mohammed Daddach, the 2002 Rafto Prize Laureate. (17-APR-07)
 

The Rafto Human Rights Series film “On a Tightrope”, portraying Uyghur children an orphanage in the Chinese province of Xinjiang, has been awarded the Short Grand Prix Award at the prestigious Chicago International Documentary Festival. It was the only Norwegian film at the festival which shows more than 100 documentaries from around the Globe. (17-APR-07)

Rabab Amidane (22), right, studies English at the Cadi Ayyad University in Marrakech. Against the backdrop of one of Morocco´s livelier tourist destinations, her younger brother´s fate is to be decided today. She now pleads for Norwegian help to put pressure on Moroccan authorities so that he is not punished severely. Latest: El Oauli Amidane gets five years. (17-APR-07)
 

Police violently quashed an opposition march near Pushkin Square on Saturday 14th of March, beating and detaining more than 100 people.Oon Sunday the police violently clashed with protesters in St. Petersburg. The Dissenters’ Marches this weekend are the third and forth in recent months to be suppressed or violently dispersed by the police.  (16-APR-07).
 

The Human Rights House concept was welcomed by Afghan human rights defenders when the Human Rights House Foundation visited Kabul last month together with the Norwegian PEN. Najia Haneefi (right) was one of many women working for women’s rights who said she feels isolated and stigmatized and needs a stronger regional and international network.(16-APR-07)