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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:

The Norwegian tabloid daily Dagbladet writes today that it will no longer cooperate with the Salvation Army. Dagbladet has been the Salvation Army´s key partner for the very popular and profitable Christmas concerts, but since the story broke of the Army´s blatantly discriminating employment policies, openly targeting and victimising gays for their sexual orientation, so many artists have withdrawn from further participation in these concerts that the whole event has become more of an embarrassment to everyone involved. (20-SEP-06)
 

The enhanced United Nations Human Rights Council today discussed forced disappearances, minority issues, and the fundamental freedoms of indigenous people as it continued its second session in Geneva. Stephen J. Toope, Chairperson-Rapporteur of the Working Group on enforced or involuntary disappearances, highlighted in his report that enforced disappearance was a global problem, a point also emphasized by the Independent Expert on minority issues, Gay McDougall, when she addressed the meeting.

International Service for Human Rights, ISHR, with whom HRH has cooperated a lot over the last years, is producing a new type of report during this session of the Human Rights Council. The reports are called the Daily Updates and review what happens each day during the second session of the Human Rights Council. They cover not only the discussions and debates in the plenary, but also negotiations and any significant events that occur. (19-SEP-06)
 

During the year every 16th of the month the Days of Solidarity are held in the Republic of Belarus. It is dedicated to the memory of the abducted politicians and journalists and political prisoners of Republic of Belarus. This time the big mass action took place in Minsk with the speechification of the abducted persons’ relatives, oppositional Belarusian politicians, civil activists and musicians, prohibited by authorities. More then 5000 people came there to express their civil position. (18-SEP-06)

Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in Bosnia and Herzegovina, as a part of the project „Elections for the Future – the Brussels Phase“, financed by the Federal Republic of Germany – Stability Pact for South-Eastern Europe, conducting monitoring of the pre-election  campaign. Results of this monitoring will be published weekly. On Friday, September 15, Helsinki Committee published Press release on their findings, nammed “Campaign featuring hate speech”. (18-SEP-06)
 

An official Chinese delegation spoke on Saturday about Panchen Lama´s, right, whereabouts. This is the first time anything has been said – true or untrue – about the second highest religious leader of Tibet since he was kidnapped in 1995. Panchen Lama was then only six years old. He has not been seen since. (18-SEP-06)
 

Every 16th of the month, the Day of Solidarity, dedicated to the memory of the abducted politicians and journalists and political prisoners of Republic of Belarus, is held. This month a big mass action took place in Minsk with the specification of the abducted persons’ relatives, oppositional Belarusian politicians, civil activists and musicians, prohibited by authorities. More than 5000 people cam to express their position. (18-SEP-06)
 

Media Freedom, one of the fundamental principles of democratic society, has permanently been violated in the Republic of Azerbaijan in the last two years. The current press situation in the Republic of Azerbaijan resembles the situation in the Republic of Belarus, said Andreas Herkel, the co-reporter on Republic of Azerbaijan from the PACE. The Norwegian Ambassador Steinar Gil, right, thinks that “impunity for those who use violence against journalists encourages new attacks on media representatives” (18-SEP-06)