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In spite of mass protests and numerous statements of human rights activists, the Russian State Duma, on June 14, adopted a package of “revolutionary” laws for the Russian army in the last third reading. These laws abolish a few draft deferments and curtail the mandatory military service to 12 months from January 1, 2008. Protest actions against the abolition of draft deferments were held all over the country. (23-JUN-06)
 

EU Council experts’ working group can make a decision about stoppage of General Preferences System concerning Republic of Belarus in September 2006. The reason is not carrying-out of ILO requirements. This can lead Republic of Belarus to not only a waste of millions of dollars but to more dependence from the Russian Federation.  (23-JUN-06)

As African heads of state prepare visit Gambia for the 7th African Union Summit in July, African free expression organizations warn that the state of free expression and press freedom is deteriorating rapidly across the continent. The summit will provide groups with the opportunity to highlight rights abuses in the light of recent claims of an increase in the arrest and harrassment of journalists.  (23-JUNE-06)
 

The Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights (HFHR) requests  Kazimierz Marcinkiewicz – Prime Minister of Republic of Poland to submit to the Sejm an appropriate bill for ratification of the Protocol No.14 to the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). Republic of Poland remains one of only five states that have yet to submit ratification instruments (including the Russian Federation and Turkey). (23-JUNE-06)

As African heads of state prepare visit Gambia for the 7th African Union Summit in July, African free expression organizations warn that the state of free expression and press freedom is deteriorating rapidly across the continent. The summit will provide groups with the opportunity to highlight rights abuses in the light of recent claims of an increase in the arrest and harrassment of journalists.  (23-JUNE-06)
 

The Human Rights Square next to the Rafto Human Rights House in Bergen has been approved as a United Nations Human Rights Plaza and was ceremoniously opened yesterday on June 19th. The date of the ceremony was not chosen accidentally: June 19th is the birthday of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. She received the Rafto Prize in 1990 and the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991. Suu Kyi has been kept in house arrest for nearly 11 years. (20-JUNE-2006)
 

Earlier today, Niels Jacob Harbitz, right, HRH´s project manager for Africa, spoke at a seminar in Oslo arranged by Landsforeningen for lesbisk og homofil frigjøring (LHH) and Skeiv Solidaritet (Queer Solidarity), on how to support gays and lesbians in East Africa.  Below is an edited extract of Harbitz’s contribution. (20-JUNE-06)
    

The Human Rights Square next to the Rafto Human Rights House in Bergen has been approved as a United Nations Human Rights Plaza and was ceremoniously opened yesterday on June 19th. The date of the ceremony was not chosen accidentally: June 19th is the birthday of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. She received the Rafto Prize in 1990 and the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991. Suu Kyi has been kept in house arrest for nearly 11 years. (20-JUNE-2006)
 

Today, 19 June, is Aung San Suu Kyi´s 61st birthday. The Norwegian Burma Committee congratulates, but will not celebrate. The leader of Burma´s opposition is still under house arrest. Since 1989, the Nobel Peace Prize laureate of 1991 has been imprisoned for more than ten years. The human rights situation in Burma is deteriorating, Åse Sand, right, of the NBC reminds us. (19-JUNE-06)