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Rafto Prize laureate speeks about human rights crisis in Mexico
As Mexico celebrates the bicentennial of its independence and the centennial of its revolution, the reality is that we are seeing the most aggressive human rights violations against its population and against migrants who pass through its territory, said José Raúl Vera López, the 2010 Rafto Prize laureate, in his speech at the Rafto Symposium on 5 November.
Burma: elections without free expression
On 7 November, the first general election in nearly two decades will take place in Burma (Republic of the Union of Myanmar). The media is restricted from reporting on opposition campaigns and people are denied the right to freedom of expression. Human rights organisations are gravely concerned that the upcoming elections will not be free, fair and inclusive and do not believe that it will be a meaningful step towards the promotion of human rights and democracy in Burma (Republic of the Union of Myanmar).
Profound pessimism about Azerbaijan’s elections
In the build-up to the 7 November parliamentary elections in the Republic of Azerbaijan, the credibility of the electoral process has reached an all-time low. The usual obstacles – including voter intimidation, harassment of opposition, biased media, low turnout, vote buying, extensive use of administrative resources by the ruling party for campaigning purposes, police interference – are all expected to happen again.
Катаванні на Беларусі: погляд знутры
Група праваабаронцаў з розных беларускіх праваабарончых арганізацый падрыхтавала альтэрнатыўны даклад у камітэт па катаваннях. Даклад тычыцца абавязкаў Беларусі згодна з Канвенцыяй ААН супраць катаванняў і іншых жорсткіх, бесчалавечных ці прыніжаючых годнасць відаў абыходжання і пакарання. Гэта першы альтэрнатыўны даклад па катаваннях, які будзе прадстаўлены ў ААН у снежні, і ўжо вясной 2011 года разгледжаны ў камітэце супраць катаванняў.
HRHN delegation to Azerbaijan
Human rights defenders from Human Rights House Foundation, Norway, Article 42, Georgia and the Ukrainian Helsinki Union are in Azerbaijan to support local human rights organisations and report about their problems during the up-coming parliamentary elections 7 November.
Ukrainian Parliament urged to adopt law on access to public information
Article 19 and International Media Support (IMS) urge the Ukrainian Parliament to demonstrate their commitment to transparency and public accountability by adopting a new Access to Public Information Law. The law had been scheduled for consideration on 2 November, but was unexpectedly removed.
Abuses in using surveillance methods against journalists – the need of legislative changes in Poland
Over the last few years the question of the abuse of the surveillance methods against journalists in the Republic of Poland returns on a regular basis. In reference to the information revealed recently that special services regularly carried out surveillance of top Polish journalists in order to reveal their sources of information, Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights issued two letters to Prime Minister expressing its concern in this respect.
Norwegian NGOs showed solidarity with Russian pro-democracy movement
Eight Norwegian nongovernmental human rights organisations, including Amnesty International Norway, the Norwegian Helsinki Committee and Human Rights House Foundation, showed their support to a pro-democracy civil Russian movement “Strategy 31“ by organising a demonstration in Oslo.
Burma after elections: what role for the ethnic nationalities?
Norwegian Mission to the East invites to an open seminar in Burma: Aftermath of the Burmese elections and the road map to democracy: What role for the ethnic nationalities?