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When: Thursday, 9. September 2010 To: Thursday, 9. September 2010 Where: Oslo, Wergelandsveien 29 – 0167, Host: Norwegian PEN Contact: (+47 22 60 74 50) More info: www.norskpen.no/php/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=490&Itemid=70

Spring campaign is all about security and human rights, with particular emphasis on the illegal arrests and disappearances.

Hear the story of Fatima Tekaeva about her son – torture victim – Rasul Kudaev.

As a member of the Council of Europe, Republic of Azerbaijan has committed to respect basic freedoms, human rights and democracy. In spite of this commitment, human rights violations continue to be numerous and widespread and occur on a systematic basis. 16 human rights organisations welcome the thorough report of the Committee of the Honouring of Obligations and Commitments by Member States of the Council of Europe, Doc 12270 31 May 2010 and urge the members of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe to adopt the Draft resolution.

”Non-implementation of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD) in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) is the main generator of human rights violations in BiH over the past years”, it is stated by the NGO Coalition for the UN up-coming session of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD).

The Special Rapporteur of the Human Rights Council visited Republic of Poland from 5-22 May 2009 at the invitation of the Government, and therein after published a report concerning the mission. The main purpose of the visit was to assess and understand Poland’s trajectory regarding sexual and reproductive health rights and harm reduction policies.

Burmese democracy leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi turned 65 on 19 June. She spent her birthday in detention for the 15th time since 1989. However, her supporters all over the world made sure that the day was not passed in silence. In Bergen, the Burmese community, Amnesty International Region West and the Rafto Foundation worked together to mark the event.

On 15 June 2010 European Court of Human Rights passed a judgement in the case Grzelak v. Republic of Poland (no. 7710/02). The Tribunal stated that the lack of factual access to ethics classes in Polish schools constitutes a violation by the authorities of the right to cultivate religion beliefs and is of discriminatory character.

On 26 May 2010 the Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights submitted to the Constitutional Court an amicus curiae brief in the case no. K 36/09. The case concerns the compliance of the reduction of retirement benefits of former officers of the communist state security services with Polish Constitution and the European Convention on Human Rights.

The widespread violence in southern Kyrgyz Republic – with hundreds killed and tens of thousands fleeing – highlights the need for more international involvement in the country. Western countries’ lack of interest in and understanding of the desperate situation democratic forces in Kyrgyz Republic have found themselves in for a number of years have allowed cynical politicians to act in their private interest and instigate unrest.

The twelfth of June is the anniversary of the disputed Iranian presidential election. The ensuing events of last summer challenged assumptions about the political impact of the media, especially the internet, on Iranian society. Mahmood Enayat is a doctoral student at the Oxford Internet Institute, University of Oxford, presents his thoughts about the role of internet in Islamic Republic of Iran today.

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi will be spending her 65th birthday on 19 June in detention, and has now been detained for almost 15 years. There will be demonstrations and campaigns around the world for Daw Aung San Suu Kyi on 19 June. In Bergen, the community of people from Burma in Bergen, the Rafto Foundation and Amnesty International Region Vest invite to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s 65th birthday ceremony.