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Greece: NATO, UN back us over Macedonia
Athens’ demands from Skopje are backed by NATO and the United Nations, the Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis said Monday in an interview to German media.
Lajcak: Stop criticizing us
The Office of Bosnia’s top international envoy, High Representative Miroslav Lajcak, has demanded local leaders stop their growing criticism of the international community.
Rafto Laureate under siege in Western Sahara
In 2002, the Rafto Prize was awarded to the Saharawi symbol of freedom and liberation, Sidi Mohammed Daddach. At the time, he had endured more years in prison than outside. Six years on, he finds himself under constant surveillance, and Western Sahara still under Moroccan occupation.
Arbitrary detention of human rights defenders continues in OSCE states
As the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) publishes its report entitled ‘Human Rights Defenders in the OSCE Region: Challenges and Good Practices’ today in Vienna, the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a joint programme of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), remains extremely concerned over the ongoing repression of human rights defenders, and in particular over the practice of arbitrary detention against human rights defenders in a number of OSCE Participating States.
Free speech rapporteurs concerned about ‘defamation of religion’ and ‘anti-extremism’ laws
The freedom of expression rapporteurs of the United Nations, the OSCE, the Organization of American States (OAS), and the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) released a joint declaration today on defamation of religions, and anti-terrorism and anti-extremism legislation.
Bundalo afraid to testify
Two Prosecution witnesses say that they are afraid for their family members’ safety because of their testimonies about crimes committed in Kalinovik. Testifying against the three indictees, charged with crimes committed in Kalinovik, Ilija Djorem and protected witness W1 said that they were afraid to testify because their family members might suffer some consequences.
Serb civilians identified in Croatian mass grave
The remains of 160 Serbs from Banija, Kordun and Lika were discovered at the site, 40 of them women. They were killed in August 1995 in a Croatian military attack on a UN protected zone, known as Sector North.
Prime minister thanks France for sincerity
Macedonia’s Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski says he “highly appreciates the sincerity” of the French Foreign Minister, who said Skopje cannot progress in the EU until the name row is solved.
Human rights photo competition: results announced
The Belarusian Human Rights House in Vilnius joined the celebration of the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by conducting a photo competition for the best illustration of human rights in the Republic of Belarus. The results of the competition were summed up and announced on 10 December.
Somali radio station closed, journalists beaten
The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) protests the shutting down of Radio Markabley in Bardhere District of Gedo Region in southwest Republic of Somalia by the Regional Islamic Administration. Head of the Security of Islamic Administration in Bardhere Sheik Barre Qoje went to the newly established radio station on 10th December around 19:20 hrs local time and ordered to radio to shutdown. The journalists and the other staff immediately obeyed.
Joint statement by FIDH and Human Rights Center “Viasna” (in brief)
On 10 December the International Federation of Human Rights (FIDH) and the Human Rights Center “Viasna” issued a joint statement on the human rights situation in the Republic of Belarus.