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Azeri authorities must stop its harassment
Azeri authorities must stop the harassment of independent journalists, political activists and human rights defenders. This is the message in a statement from the Human Rights House Network in the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Russian Federation, Republic of Belarus, Republic of Poland, Norway, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Republic of Croatia, England, Republic of Kenya and Republic of Uganda, the Swedish Helsinki Committee and the Human Rights Defenders Office of the International Service for Human Rights adopted 8 September in Baku. (22-SEP-05)
Tunisian human rights defender sentenced to three and a half years in prison
From both Frontline, the International Foundation for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders and International PEN, www.humanrightshouse.org has received the following urgent action appeal regarding the case of lawyer and human rights defender Mohammed Maherzi Abou. Please write Tunisian authorities on addresses provided below, requesting Abou’s immediate and unconditional release. (21-SEP-05)
UN special reporter banned entry
A UN special reporter was banned entry to the country because his mission is to collect information about the human rights in the Republic of Belarus. Instead, he will visit the Baltic states where he is going to meet representatives of the government and other governmental and nongovernmental organizations. (19-SEP-05)
Pinsk press under pressure
New chair of the Pinsk ideology department forces heads of organizations and enterprises to subscribe to Sovetskaya Belorussiya, a pro-governmental newspaper. Simultaneously, Miastsovy Chas weekly, the only independent newspaper is banned. (19-SEP-05)
Norwegian human rights policy criticized in shadow report
The Norwegian government´s decision not to abide by UNHCR guidelines regarding return to unsafe areas is among many areas that seven Norwegian NGOs criticize in a supplementary report submitted to the UN Human Rights Committee last week. The report is an independent examination of Norway’s 5th Periodic Report under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. (19-SEP-05)
Download PDF version of the Shadow Report
Human Rights programme at Nordic Panorama
The Rafto Human Rights House is very pleased to be able to present a special human rights programme at the Nordic Panorama 2005 (23 – 28 September), in close co-operation with two of the leading international film festivals dedicated to human rights documentaries: One World in Prague, and Human Rights in Film in Warsaw. (18-SEP-2005)
Call for applications on freedom of expression projects in South Caucasus
ARTICLE 19, the Global Campaign for Free Expression, is inviting appplications for a one¨Cweek intensive training course on theoretical and practical aspects of promoting freedom of expression and freedom of information in the South Caucasus. The course, developed in conjunction with journalists, freedom of information centers, and human rights organisations from the region, will take place in Kyiv from 22 to 27 November 2005. (16-SEPT-05)
First ICTY case transferred to Croatia
On 14 September, the ICTY issued a decision referring the case against Rahim Ademi andMirko Norac to the Republic of Croatia. Apart from being the first case in which persons already indicted by the Tribunal have been referred to the Republic of Croatia, it is also the only case that the Tribunal’s Prosecution was requesting to be transferred to the Republic of Croatia. (16-SEP-05)
Marek Antoni Nowicki shortlisted for CoE Commissioner for Human Rights
On the 7th of September, the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers selected three candidates for the post of Commissioner for Human Rights. One of them is Marek Antoni Nowicki, president of the Helsinki foundation for Human Rights since November 2003. (16-SEP-05)