Latest

This year the Food First Information and Action Network, FIAN International, the only human rights organisation working exclusively to promote the right to food, celebrates 25 years since its foundation. 25 years ago the organisation took its first steps to defend the basic right of all people to permanent and unrestricted access to adequate, nutritious and culturally appropriate food that enables them to live with dignity.

Tbilisi City Court passed a two month preliminary imprisonment against three detained photo reporters. The lawyers requested not to use the imprisonment as a preliminary compulsory measure, but the judge satisfied the request of prosecution and left them under custody. The trial is scheduled for 1 September.

Belarusians keep organising mass silent protest. Inspite of altered format of the actions, the protesters are being brutally arrested. The international community condemns such actions of Belarusian authorities and urges them to stop violence against demonstrators.

У Беларусі працягваюцца масавыя акцыі маўклівага пратэсту. Нягледзячы на змененую канцэпцыю правядзення акцый, працягваюцца і жорсткія затрыманні пратэстоўцаў. Міжнародная супольнасць асуджае такія дзеянні беларускіх уладаў і заклікае cпыніць гвалт над пратэстоўцамі.

On 22 June 2011, the District Court for Warszawa-Śródmieście dismissed Wojciech Czuchnowski’s appeal against the decision to discontinue the probe conducted by the Regional Public Prosecutor’s Office in Zielona Góra. In January 2011, Wojciech Czuchnowski was awarded victim status in this case. The Judge held that the police officers had no intent to harm Wojciech Czuchnowski in any way.

At the 23-24 June 2011 meeting of the European Council, held in Brussels, the EU Member States’ heads of government and state discussed the impact of increased immigration on the Schengen Agreement, the treaty which removed internal border controls in the countries forming the Schengen Area. The proposal to depart from the Schengen rules, one of the most notable achievements of the European integration, must give rise to serious doubts.

On the night of 7 July 2011, individuals in civil clothes detained 5 photo-reporters at their homes without any warnings or explanation.

“More efforts are needed to address serious shortcomings in the judiciary and increase its transparency and fairness” said the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Thomas Hammarberg, releasing today a report on the visit to Georgia 18-20 April 2011. The report focuses on the level of protection of human rights in the justice system in Georgia.

English PEN protests the incommunicado detention of “Awramba Times” deputy editor Woubshet Taye and “Feteh” columnist Reeyot Alemu, who were arrested on 19 and 21 June 2011 respectively. Neither has been charged to date but it is thought that both were arrested under Ethiopia’s 2009 antiterrorism law, which allows for prison sentences of up to 20 years. On 30 June two Swedish journalists have been also detained without charge in eastern Ethiopia.

Silent protest actions in Belarus end up with beating up and arrests of peaceful citizens and journalists. After the nation-wide action held on 29 June, more than 300 people were detained. Such an inadequate reaction to peaceful protests was condemned by the international community.

NHC announces a contest for project proposals aiming at improving the situation regarding human rights, democratization or civil society in Central Asia.

Yasmine El Rashidi on Revolution in Egypt as part of The Shubbak Festival — The People Demand Al-Sha`ab Yurid.