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The full report on the International Consultation on Women Human Rights Defenders (WHRD) held on November 29-December 2, 2005 in Colombo, Sri Lanka and attended by the UN Special Representative on Human Rights Defenders, Ms. Hina Jilani, right, is now available online. The report documents discussions and analyses of violation and abuse committed against female human rights defenders.

The annual meeting of the Norwegian Helsinki Committee (NHC) is deeply concerned about the critical situation for human rights in the Republic of Belarus 19 March. When thousands of demonstrators took to the streets protesting against the unfree nd manipulated elections, President Lukachenko’s regime reacted with mass arrests and violence. (27-MAR-06)
 

Azerbaijani opposition, which is living the uneasy post-election period (November 2005) and at the same time pre-election period (repeated elections in May 2006), undergoes certain transformations. Musavat party plans restructuring and adoption of new programmes on the congress in May. The party leader clarifies the cooperation strategy within the party. The classical wing of PPFA transformed into the Classical Popular Front Party with new programme and charter. The political Azadlig Bloc, which was transformed from the election bloc in last February, plans to create a single headquarters to monitor elections, though not participating in them. (26-MAR-2006)
 

6-7 March there was a 2-days seminar “Security of information on the activities of human rights organizations” in Kazan’, organized on the initiative of the Interregional group “Human Rights Network” belonging to the Russian Research Center for Human Rights. Today the problem of personal data  security in the human rights community is extremely important in connection with the preparation of a new bill “On information, informational technologies and protection of information” and because of  increasing number of hackers attacks and attempts of authorities to control human rights web-sites. (25-MAR-06)
 

6-7 March the interregional group ´Defending Rights Net´ belonging to the Russian Research Center for Human Rights arranged a seminar on ´Security of information of the activities of human rights organizations´ in Kazan. The problem of personal data security in the human rights community is extremely important, especially as new bill ´On information, information technologies and protection of information´ is in the making. (25-MAR-06)
 

30 international and journalists have been arrested in Republic of Belarus form14 to 24 of March in the Republic of Belarus. Andrej Dynko the chief-editor of Nasha Niva has been sentenced to 10 days´of imprisonment. Six international journalists are among the arrested. See the list below. (24-MARCH-06)
 

“Bitter accusations and moral blackmail directed at people that hold different opinions, the embarrassing battles waged  through the use of investigative committees, claims to having a monopoly on the truth and moral authority – these are the phenomena that have escalated during the recent months and are the cause of our serious concern. An atmosphere is being created that is conducive to the violation of basic rights” warnes Helsinki Committee in Poland. (24-MAR-06)

Beatrice Mtetwa (pictured right), a prominent media and human rights lawyer working to defend and protect journalists in Zimbabwe, was presented with the Index Law Award on 22 March. Index on Censorship´s annual Freedom of Expression Awards honours journalists, writers, lawyers, campaigners, filmmakers and whistleblowers who have made a significant contribution to free expression over the past year. (24-MAR-06)
 

As the October Square in Minsk, where demonstrators have kept their protest vigil around the clock since the 19 March elections, was, emptied by force earlier today, a similar camp immediately took shape outside the Norwegian Parliament, in solidarity and to keep the momentum of the protests up. www.humanrightshouse.org will be back with further news and background on the camp and its consequences. (24-MAR-06)