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The board of the Rafto Foundation has awarded the 2006 Professor Thorolf Rafto Memorial Prize to one of Vietnam´s most prominent defenders of democracy, religious freedom and human rights: Venerable Thich Quang Do. He receives the prize for his personal courage and perseverance through three decades of peaceful opposition against the communist regime in Vietnam, and as a symbol for the growing democracy movement in the country. (21-SEP-06)
 

By law in the Russian Federation the Church is separated from the State. It is not supposed to meddle into affairs of the State and vice versa. But in practice it is not so. (25-SEP-06)
 

Professor of political science Bernt Hagtvet, right, a long-standing member of the HRH Foundation’s board, has been awarded the prestigeous Humanist prize. The prize is awarded by the Norwegian Humanist Association, who says that Hagtvet was selected for his clear and public humanist stance in questions to do with democracy, human rights, freedom of belief and expression, and equality between people of different religious and cultural origin. (24-SEP-06)
 

“It is with growing unease that we have noted statements by the highest state authorities, including the Minister of Justice–Prosecutor General and the President of Republic of Poland, slighting the good name of Polish courts – the third pillar of power in a democratic state with the rule of law.” state Polish NGOs in their public statement. (22-SEP-06)

The search of Belarusian 10-year citizen Vika Moroz continues from September 8. The orphan brought up at the Belarusian residential school is still in Italy. Her Italian ‘adoptive parents’ try to defend the girl out of “violence” in Belarus; Belarusian authorities state about “the kidnapping” (22-SEP-06)

The board of the Rafto Foundation has decided to award the 2006 Professor Thorolf Rafto Memorial Prize to one of Vietnam´s most prominent defenders of democracy, religious freedom and human rights: Venerable Thich Quang Do. He receives the prize for his personal courage and perseverance through three decades of peaceful opposition against the communist regime in Vietnam, and as a symbol for the growing democracy movement in the country. (21-SEP-2006)

In a statement 13. September 2006, The Uyghur American Association (UAA), which represents the collective voice of the Uyghur people in the United States of America, expresses delight by the recent news that its current president, Ms. Rebiya Kadeer, has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. Rebiya Kadeer was awarded the Rafto Prize in 2004. (21-SEP-2006)

40 civil society organizations have come to the defence of the Republic of Kenya National Commission; on Human Rights, Maina Kiai; and termed the abuse of office; accusation levelled against him; as illegal, irregular, questionable and part of a wider plot to harass and intimidate human rights defenders. Right, Millie Odhiambo, Executive Director of CRADLE, who spoke on behalf of the group.

Free expression advocates from around the world gathered this week in Oslo, Norway, at the IFEX General Meeting. Thirty-seven IFEX members signed on to the following statement, calling on the Azerbaijani authorities to address the deterioration in press freedom: