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The Professor Thorolf Rafto Memorial Prize for 2004 is awarded to Rebiya Kadeer, from the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region (XUAR), People’s Republic of China. Kadeer is a prisoner of conscience and a prominent symbol of the Uighurs’ struggle for basic human rights. (23-SEP-04) 

Human rights defenders have been increasingly targeted by state authorities since the beginning of the second Chechen war, according to a new report from the International Helsinki Federation.
 

President of Republic of Belarus Aliaksandr Lukashenka ordered to establish propagandist groups from workers of executive organs of all level. The main such body is the republican propagandist group, which consists of 18 persons and is headed by by the vice-speaker of the Parliament Uladzimir Siamashka. (21-SEP-2004)

On 16 September, human rights activists and relatives marked the fifth anniversary of the disappearance of Belarusian Opposition Leader Viktar Hanchar (picture) and Businessman Anatol Krasowski. The police detained several persons.  (21-SEP-04)
 

The Croatian government has proposed to its Parliament that September 22nd should be the National Day to combat violence against Women. (20-SEP-04)
 

The Republic of South Africa announced its official recognition of the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR), according to a joint communiqué signed today by the Saharawi Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Mohamed Salem Ould Salek and Mrs. Nkozazana Dlamini-Zuma, South African Minister for Foreign Affairs.The communiqué, of which SPS received a copy, declares the decision of the two countries “to establish diplomatic relations at ambassadorial level as of Wednesday, 15th of September 2004”. (19-SEP-2004)
 

Saharawi political prisoners in the Carcel negra (Black Jail) of El Aaiun, launched an appeal to the international community to pressure Rabat so as to conform with the principles of the “conventions, treaties and human rights accords Morocco has ratified”. The Saharawi political prisoners indicated, in a communiqué they publicised Friday, that “it is time to put an end to human rights violations in Western Sahara and to judge the persons responsible of crimes perpetrated against Saharawi population in occupied territories of Western Sahara”. (19-SEP-2004)
 

Belarusian Humanitarian Lyceum, unique educational establishment with European level of teaching, was lawlessly liquidated by the authorities in 2003. As a result, the lyceum lost its premises and now has to hold its lessons in practically underground conditions, mostly at private flats. (16-SEP-04)

The Women´s League of Burma has released a new report System of Impunity exposing ongoing sexual violence by the regime´s armed forces throughout Burma (Republic of the Union of Myanmar), as they continue to build up their military infrastructure and consolidate control in every part of the country. Women and girls in all the ethnic states, as well as in Central Burma have suffered experiences of rape by SPDC military personnel, including gang rape and murder, sexual slavery and forced ‘marriage.’ The report details ongoing incidents of sexual violence, as recently as July 31, 2004, when a 12-year-old Palaung ethnic girl was raped in Shan State. (13-SEP-2004)