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Federation Council approved Federal law “On Amendments to the Legislative Acts of the Russian Federa
The adoption of this law completes the creation of the new Russian electoral legislation system that, according to human rights and politician activists, represents a rolling-back of democracy. (12-AUG-05)
CoE commissioner met Russian human rights activists
On the 31st of July a meeting between Russian human rights activists and Mr. Alvaro Gil-Robles, the commissioner for human rights of the Council of Europe, took place. They discussed Gil-Robles’ report about human rights in the Russian Federation. (11-AUG-05)
Russian activists met CoE’s human rights Commissioner
The Commissioner for human rights of the Council of Europe, Mr. Alvaro Gil-Robles, has compared the Russian Federation to a train full of passengers that don’t know where they are going. On 31st July he met Russian human rights activists. (11-AUG-05)
New threats to free expression in wake of London attacks
The British government is proposing powerful new controls on freedom of expression as part of its current strategy to ward off fresh terror attacks on the country — including charging the worst offenders with treason and rewriting British human rights laws to make it all possible. Index on Censorship’s Rohan Jayasekera reports. (09-AUG-05)
Repressive measures against Poles in Belarus
The situation of Poles in the Republic of Belarus is deteriorating. Following the seizure by the state authorities of the Grodno headquarters of the Association of Poles in the Republic of Belarus and the arrest of the activists and Polish and Belarusian journalists that were present there on 27 July, this week consecutive members of the Association’s authorities were placed under arrest. (05-AUG-05)
Ambitious plans for the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights
The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights’ strategic plan for the period 2004/9 guides its work. The plan’s objectives are: Reduction of systemic human rights violations, leadership in framing and informing human rights discourse, increased opportunities for realization of economic and social rights , establishment of comprehensive human rights educations systems and establishment of institutional capacity to deliver effectively on human rights. (3-AUG-05)
Rights of asylum seeers violated in Bosnia
The rights of asylum seekers are violated more frequently than rights of other citizens in Bosnia and Herzegovina, according to the Helsinki Committee for Human Rights. (25-JULY-05)
Letter regarding the situation of the Association of Poles in Belarus
A Letter from the Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights in the Republic of Poland to the International Helsinki Federation regarding the situation of the Association of Poles in the Republic of Belarus (28-JULY-05)
Human rights defenders arrested in Kenya
In the Republic of Kenya, human rights defenders urging for constitutional review process have been arbitrarily arrested, according to the Kenyan Human Rights Commission (KHRC). To send an appeal, see the information from the Observatory. (26-JULY-05)