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Announcement of the Rafto Human Rights Prize 2010 approaches
The recipient of the Rafto Human Rights Prize for 2010 will be announced on 23 September 2010 at the Rafto Human Rights House in Bergen. The announcement of the recipient will be webcasted on the Rafto website. The Prize laureate will be honoured at a ceremony on 7 November 2010, at the National Venue of Theatre in Bergen, Norway.
Documentary film “Burma’s Nuclear Ambitions”
The Fritt Ord Foundation invites the public to a screening of the documentary film Burma’s Nuclear Ambitions and a debate in the run-up to the general elections in Burma this coming November. The screening will be held at Uranienborgveien 2 in Oslo on Tuesday, 21 September 2010, from 5-7 p.m.
‘The Third Pole’: Impacts of Climate Change on the Tibetan Plateau
The Third Pole presentation will highlight the effects of climate change in the Tibetan Plateau and in South Asia. The world’s largest glacier reserves other than the two Poles are on the Tibetan plateau. The accelerated melting of the glaciers is a serious threat to South Asia.
Ukraine: international conference dedicated to ‘disappeared’ journalists
On 16 September 2000, Ukrainian journalist Georgiy Gongadze ‘disappeared’ on his way home from work and was later found dead. To date none of the masterminds behind his killing has been brought to justice. To commemorate Georgiy and honour journalists in the Republic of Belarus, the Russian Federation and Ukraine, who, like him, were killed because of their work, on 16 September, 2010 Article 19 and IMS are hosting an international conference in Kyiv to redefine advocacy strategies to combat impunity.
Azerbaijan: joint mission concerned by state of freedom of expression ahead of elections
A coalition of nine freedom of expression organizations undertook a joint mission to Republic of Azerbaijan from September 7-9. In a joint statement released on 15 September, organisations call for the Azerbaijani government to immediately and unconditionally release imprisoned journalists, and appeal to authorities to put an end to the climate of impunity gripping the country.
“Улады нясуць адказнасць за бяспеку журналістаў”
У прынятай заяве аўтарытэтная праваабарончая арганізацыя Нарвежскі Хельсінскі камітэт патрабуе, каб беларускія ўлады гарантавалі бяспеку незалежных журналістаў Наталлі Радзінай, Святланы Калінкінай і Мікалая Халезіна. Нагодай прыняцця заявы стала тое, што гэтыя асобы – сябры нядаўна загінуўшага Алега Бябеніна, якім невядомыя пагражаюць смерцю.
Belarus paid final respects to another independent journalist
The funeral of Aleh Biabenin, the founder and editor of the charter97.org website, was attended by hundreds of people. The Belarusian Government has promised to invite the OSCE experts to ensure a proper investigation of the media activist’s suspicious „suicide“ on 3 September. However, anonymous threats to some of his colleagues keep appearing daily.
Alleged ill-treatment/ Threats/ Violations of due process/ Fear for safety
The International Secretariat of OMCT has been informed by the Human Rights Center (HRIDC), a member of OMCT SOS Network, that Mr. Vakhtang Maisaia, a political scientist and military expert, who was arrested for espionage on 5 May 2009, was severely beaten on 24 August 2010 in Gldani Prison #8 in Tbilisi.
Belarusian human rights defender forum
On 25 September 2010, the Belarusian Human Rights House in Exile in Vilnius is organizing the Belarusian Human Rights Defender Forum to discuss the current situation of human rights defenders in the Republic of Belarus and possibilities of working out a joint development strategy for the Belarusian human rights community.
China: authorities curtail travel for ethnic minorities in Xinjiang region
Chinese authorities in the northwestern region of Xinjiang have imposed travel restrictions on the region’s ethnic minorities since the regional capital Urumqi was rocked by deadly ethnic rioting last year, local residents and travel industry sources said.