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Amnesty International, the Norwegian Helsinki Committee and Human Rights House Foundation have issued a joint letter, commemorating the 1st anniversary of the killings of the prominent Russian human rights lawyer Stanislav Markelov, right, and the Novaya Gazeta journalist Anastasia Baburova. Follow the link to the letter, right.

15 January, 2009

Non-governmental organizations in Georgia are deeply concerned by a smear campaign against human rights defenders and NGOs which surfaced in Georgia in December 2009. We are particularly concerned by the fact that those media and political figures used sensitive topics such as the Russia-Georgia war, ethno-territorial conflicts, minorities etc., to manipulate the public and mislead them in respect of human rights defenders and their work.

The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a joint programme of the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) and the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), requests your urgent intervention in the following situation in Georgia.

Сябры Сеткі Дамоў правоў чалавека занепакоеныя паведамленнямі аб ажыццяўленні выкраданняў маладзёвых актывістаў, якія адбываліся ў Беларусі апошнім часам. Відавочная сувязь паміж некалькімі падобнымі інцыдэнтамі, таксама тое, што супрацьпраўныя дзеянні супраць маладых людзей чыніліся не з мэтай вымагання грошай. Асаблівую трывогу выклікаюць падазрэнні ў задзейнічанні ў гэтых выкраданнях супрацоўнікаў міліцыі і КДБ.

Members of the Human Rights House Network are alarmed by recent reports of abductions of youth activists in the Republic of Belarus. These incidents appear to be a new and intimidating tool for harassment of Belarusian activists, who in an organised manner or independently demonstrate their opposition to the rule of the government of Republic of Belarus. As such, they represent a violation of the freedom of expression as well as the right to assembly and association.

Сябры Сеткі Дамоў правоў чалавека занепакоеныя паведамленнямі аб ажыццяўленні выкраданняў маладзёвых актывістаў, якія адбываліся ў Беларусі апошнім часам. Выкраданні з’яўляюцца новым інструментам запалохвання актывістаў, якія арганізавана і адкрыта становяцца ў апазіцыю да цяперашніх беларускіх уладаў. Ціск на іх – гэта парушэнне свабоды слова, права на свабоду сходаў і аб’яднанняў.

Members of the South Caucasus Network of Human Rights Defenders applaud the Concluding Observations on Republic of Azerbaijan issued by the UN Committee Against Torture (CAT) on 19 November 2009. We observe that many of the main concerns raised by Azerbaijani members of the South Caucasus Network of Human Rights Defenders and the Human Rights House Foundation during the review of Republic of Azerbaijan in November 2009 have been reflected in CAT’s concluding observations.

Members of the Norwegian Human Rights House urge the Iranian authorities to respect the dignity and work of the human rights lawyer and Nobel Peace Prize winner 2003, Shirin Ebadi. We ask the authorities to return the confiscated award and put an end to all kind of repression against the highly respected human rights defender and her relatives.

The United Nations Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of State of Eritrea took place on Monday 30 November 2009. As you know, a coalition of Eritrean Diaspora communities submitted a joint report for this occasion. The coalition consisted of Eritrean Australian Mercy Association Inc., Eritrean Community in Australia Inc., Eritrean Global Solidarity, Network of Eritrean Civil Societies – Europe, and Suwera Center for Human Rights. The Awate Foundation coordinated the coalition’s work and submitted the report on its behalf. The Human Rights House Foundation (HRHF) provided technical and editorial assistance and facilitated the advocacy carried out by representatives of the coalition who were present at the Human Rights Council in Geneva during the review.