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Legal executives: how qualified they will be?
According to the proposed scheme of the legal executive profession (‘doradca prawny’), law graduates will be qualified to provide legal advice and draft legal opinions, pleadings and contracts. They will also be authorised to act before public administration bodies and represent clients in civil matters pending before the lowest level (district) courts. In the opinion of the HFHR, such a proposal raises substantial doubts.
Another ECHR judgement on the Polish lustration case
The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) delivered the judgement in the case of Zabłocki v. Poland (31 May 2011, Application No. 10104/08), another decision concerning legal measures used in the Polish lustration proceedings. Once again, the Court found a violation of the right to a fair trial under Article 6 § 1 read in conjunction with Article 6 § 3 of the Convention.
A blogger from Mosina acquitted
On Wednesday, 8 June 2011, the Circuit Court in Poznań acquitted Łukasz Kasprowicz, the blogger charged with defaming the mayor of Mosina, a town near Poznań in western Poland. Mr. Kasprowicz was found not guilty on 13 of the 15 counts. The Court discontinued the proceedings regarding the remaining two counts, citing the negligible social harm presented by the alleged offences.
Праект “Назіранне за выбарамі: тэорыя і практыка” распачынае прыём заявак на ўдзел
Абраныя ўдзельнікі пройдуць тыднёвы інтэнсіўны навучальны курс ў Вільні, распрацаваны выбітнымі нарвежскімі палітолагамі, якія маюць досвед назірання ў шматлікіх міжнародных місіях. Па паспяховым сканчэнні курса удзельнікі атрымаюць сертіфікат Belarus Watch, а таксама адмысловы сертыфікат ЕГУ. Акрамя курса яны таксама возьмуць удзел у міжнароднай місіі па назіранні за выбарамі ў адной з еўрапейскіх краін ў 2011 годзе, падчас якой удзельнікі атрымаюць практычны досвед у якасці акрэдытаваных кароткатэрміновых міжнародных назіральнікаў. Мэтанакіраваныя і актыўныя ўдзельнікі будуць запрошаныя на яшчэ, прынамсі, адну місію па назіранні.
Norway should call for national ceasefire in Burma
In the last two weeks skirmishes broke out between the Burmese army and the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) in north of the country. A 17 years old ceasefire agreement between KIA and the Burmese regime has been broken. 10 000 have fled their homes. The Norwegian Burma Committee fears numbers will increase and a deterioration of the humanitarian situation.
Міжнародная супольнасць цісне на рэжым Беларусі новымі санкцыямі
Рада па правах чалавека ААН прыняла рэзалюцыю аб сітуацыі з правамі чалавека ў Беларусі, а Рада міністраў ЕЗ адзначыла галоўныя праблемы ў дзейнасці беларускіх уладаў і прыняла рашэнне ўвесці санкцыі ў дачыненні да бізнэсу “асабістага банкіра” Лукашэнкі.
Injunctions are a necessary evil: Privacy, free speech and a feral press
A public debate to celebrate the launch of the new issue of Index on Censorship magazine, Privacy is dead! Long live privacy.
Domestic violence against children remains a serious problem in Georgia
According to data provided by Georgia’s Social Service Agency, 89 cases of violence against children were reported over the period of January 2010 to November 2010. 74 of these cases were reported by the police, 12 cases were reported by children, family and NGO’s and 3 cases were reported by school officials. Of these cases, the types of violence varied; in 38 of the cases, psycho-emotional violence was reported; physical violence (33 cases); neglect (14 cases), and there were four cases reported of attempted sexual abuse. However, these numbers only represent the actual cases of abuse that were reported to the social service agency, it is thought that the real numbers are much higher.
Russia: Memorial’s chair Oleg Orlov acquitted
On 14 June, a Moscow court ruled to acquit Oleg Orlov, Chair of the Memorial Human Rights Society, one of Europe’s most respected human rights groups. Mr. Orlov was charged with defamation against Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov, in connection with statements Orlov made at the time Memorial employee and award winning human rights defender Natalya Estemirova was killed in 2009.
В Вильнюсе – дискуссия о советском кинематографе Литвы и Беларуси
20 июня в Вильнюсе, в Доме прав человека, состоится открытая дискуссия с участием кинокритиков, кинотеоретиков и студентов из Литвы и Беларуси – заключительная встреча проекта «Литовское/советское кино: Реконструкция» .
В Вильнюсе – дискуссия о советском кинематографе Литвы и Беларуси
20 июня в Вильнюсе, в Доме прав человека, состоится открытая дискуссия с участием кинокритиков, кинотеоретиков и студентов из Литвы и Беларуси – заключительная встреча проекта «Литовское/советское кино: Реконструкция» .
Free Press defenders receive awards at the Nobel Institute in Oslo
On June 15 journalists from Russia, Belarus, Azerbaijan, and Ukraine received awards for their constructive and devoted work for the free press in Russia, Azerbaijan, Ukraine and Belarus. The “Free Press of Eastern Europe” prize was also given to a newspaper from Dagestan and a news portal in Armenia for the work they do despite the pressure, persecution and censorship.