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The first session of the XXIV Human Rights School, organized by the Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights, took place on 7-9 January. Its participants represent various environments, including teachers, police officers, civil workers, clerics, non-government organization activists. There are still 8 sessions ahead of them and an examination in June. (14-JAN-05)

Human Rights Watch published its next annual report on the situation in the world in 2004. The report contains serious critics towards the Azerbaijani government which has “a long-standing record of pressuring civil society groups and arbitrarily limiting critical   expression and political activism”. It has done so with a new intensity   following the October 2003 presidential elections, which international and   domestic observers said were marred by widespread fraud, reads the report. (14-JAN-2005)

-I have received a summons from a revolutionary court, the Nobel Peace Prize Laureate for 2003 Shirin Ebadi informed her international contacts yesterday. -The summons only says I will have to report before the court within three days. If not, I will be arrested. It does not say why I have to appear, but in any case, I will not do so until the very last minute, i.e. on Sunday. (14-JAN-05)
   

The Zambian Human Rights Commission has written to Inspector General of Police Zunga Siakalima, asking him to identify and provide details of officers who assaulted journalists during a demonstration. Last December, a protest by opposition parties and civil society organisations pressing for the speedy adoption of a new constitution was violently disrupted by police. (14-JAN-05)
 

The Zanu PF government, under immense pressure to level the electoral playing field as Zimbabwe’s crucial parliamentary polls draw closer, is partially opening the airwaves to opposition political parties. But analysts are not impressed. They say the development is intended to hoodwink regional leaders into believing that the government is committed to the Mauritius protocol. (14-JAN-05)
 

Human Rights Watch next annual report contains serious critics towards the Azerbaijani government which has “a long-standing record of pressuring civil society groups and arbitrarily limiting critical   expression and political activism”. It has done so with a new intensity   following the October 2003 presidential elections, which international and   domestic observers said were marred by widespread fraud, reads the report. (14-JAN-2005)

Amidst resumed hostilities, the head of the Presidential Peace Team, Internal Affairs Minister Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda, says his team is in touch with the Lords Resistance Army (LRA) over the general ceasefire. “Contacts between the LRA and us through the mediator, Ms Betty Bigombe, have been on constantly,” Rugunda added. “We are being informed of every development.” (13-JAN-05) 
 

Robert Mugabe is doing all he can to reduce the damage his Zanu (PF) ruling party looks likely to suffer over the hotly disputed internal primary elections. After his rushed return from holidays in the Far East at the weekend, he has been holding a series of emergency meetings in a bid to deal with the explosive situation. (13-JAN-05)
  

Accordig to VIASNA the housing authorities of the city of Hrodna ordered Hrodna organization of Belarusian People’s Front to leave their office in Karl Marx Street. The head of Hrodna BPF organization Mikola Voran believes that such actions of Hrodna authorities create danger for the future existence of the organization. (11-JAN-05)