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Valentina Melnikova, the chairperson of the new party “Soldiers’ Mothers” told Gazeta.ru why there was a need for the party and of the importance of a peace settlement in the Chechen Republic. While liberal parties are trying — in vain, it must be said — to forge a coalition, a party of a new type is being established in the Russian Federation. The United People’s Party of Soldiers’ Mothers belongs neither to the right nor to the left wing. Public opinion polls held by the Levada Center in October showed that 72 percent of respondents approved of the activities of the Committee of Soldiers’ Mothers. (09-MAR-05)
 

Last Thursday, 3 of March, Conference of the Russian Research Center for Human Rights (RRCHR) took place. (09-MAR-05)
 

About 90 non-government organisations have opposed a proposal in the Constitution Amendment Bill, 2005, to lift presidential term limits. – Lifting term limits is to ignore the very lessons we claim to have learnt, the National Coordinator of the Ugandan Human Rights Network,  Martin Masiga (picture), also co-ordinating the Republic of Uganda Human Rights House Project, told journalists in Kampala yesterday. (7-MAR-05)
 

The proposed Witness Protection Bill, 2004, interferes with the globally recognised rights of an accused person, The Centre for Law and Research International (CLARION) warns. Clarion, one of the seven NGOs involved in the Human Rights House project in Nairobi, sounded the alarm last week, saying the Bill was in conflict with the recognised right to fair trial. (9-MAR-05)
 

Women who use the Internet to disseminate their ideas have found themselves caught up in some governments´ harsh attempts to control information exchange on the worldwide web. To mark this year´s Women´s Day on 8 March, English PEN is focusing on cases of women under attack for using new information technology to challenge their governments. (08-MAR-05)
 

Later this month, as HRH’s Project Manager for Central and East Africa Niels Jacob Harbitz visits Republic of Kenya, a meeting between representatives of the Kenya Human Rights House Project and the Green Belt Movement, the organisation established by last year’s Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Wangari Maathai, has also been scheduled. Overlapping interests and possible cooperation will be discussed. (8-MAR-05)
 

Women who use the Internet to disseminate their ideas have found themselves caught up in some governments´ harsh attempts to control information exchange on the worldwide web. To mark this year´s Women´s Day on 8 March, English PEN is focusing on cases of women under attack for using new information technology to challenge their governments. (08-MAR-05)
 

International attention towards the human rights situation in North Korea is on the rise. Urged by the European Union, the United Nations High Commission for Human Rights has appointed a Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation there. The US Congress has also unanimously passed the North Korean Human Rights Act (H.R. 4011). Despite these and ther initiatives, serious violations continue to occur. (5-MAR-05)
  

Index on Censorship hosted its 5th annual Freedom of Expression Awards on 1 March at City H all, Central London. The free expression organisation honoured writers, filmmakers, journalists, whistleblowers and lawyers who contribute significantly to the defence of freedom of expression worldwide. This year´s winners include a campaigner against human trafficking, a film about ethnic violence in India, and an organisation defending constitutional rights. (02-MAR-05)