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The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) today condemned the attack and attempted abduction of journalist and media advocate Geoffrey Ssebagala by unidentified men in the Ugandan capital, Kampala on Monday and called on authorities to ensure his safety. “The attempted abduction of Ssebagala is no doubt orchestrated by those who feel threatened by his work as a journalist and advocate for other journalists,” said Gabriel Baglo, Director of the IFJ Africa Office.

Наш фестиваль – фестиваль коротких визуальных высказываний на социальную тему.

The Council of Europe’s Committee for the prevention of torture and inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment (CPT) has published in the beginning of September, the report on its 3rd periodic visit to Republic of Croatia, in 2007, together with the authorities’response. These documents have been made public at the request of the Croatian Government.

The Government was on the spot on Sunday from its own ministers and church leaders for wavering on implementation of the Waki report. Anglican Church of Republic of Kenya Archbishop Benjamin Nzimbi called on the Government to “swiftly and decisively” implement the Waki report as Justice minister Martha Karua, right, said the Government should honour its pledge “and implement the report.

The Human Rights Week is a week of celebration to commemorate the 60 years of Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). Reflections on human rights achievements are done during this time.
A number of activities have been lined up for the week among which:

Media advocacy;
Peaceful Procession;
A Book Fair;
Human Rights Film Festival;
Human Rights Networking Forum; and
Night Vigil held to remember the fallen Human Rights Defenders.

Over 150 representatives of national human rights institutions (NHRIs) worldwide gathered at the 9th International Conference of NHRIs in Nairobi, Republic of Kenya, from 22 to 24 October, to strengthen cooperation and discuss their important role in advancing the rule of law, especially in relation to the administration of justice.

On 21 October 2008, the Belarusian Association of Journalists issued a statement expressing the organization’s concern over the deteriorating situation with the media and freedom of expression in the Republic of Belarus.

The Norwegian Helsinki Committee’s advisor Aage Borchgrevink, right, is currently in Tblisi to investigate alleged occurences of war crimes and crimes against humanity during and after the armed conflict in August. According to a statement published in Tblisi last Friday, ethnic cleansing continues in the de-facto border region between Georgia and South Ossetia.

On 21 October 2008, the Human Rights House in Vilnius hosted public consultations on the role and place of Republic of Belarus in the European Neighborhood Program. The consultations were attended by representatives of the diplomatic missions of the EU member countries to Lithuania, members of the Lithuanian Parliament, representatives of the Lithuanian MFA, Belarusian NGOs, human rights defenders, and scholars.

ARTICLE 19 has recently analysed Kazakhstan’s 2008 draft Law on Publishing Activities and suggested it for the reconsideration by the Kazakh authorities. The major concern with the existing draft was the authorities’ proposed registration and licensing scheme for a wide range of publishing activities and the rigid approach to relations between authors and publishers that it would impose.

In late September, the Swiss Association against Impunity (TRIAL – Track Impunity Always) lodged six cases before the European Court of Human Rights. The cases concern a massacre that took place on 21 August 1992 at Mount Vlasic, in which around 200 civilians were killed.

The Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights is one of this year’s winners of the Sergio Vieira de Mello Award. The Prize is awarded for active involvement in peaceful coexistence and cooperation of communities, religions and denominations, and cultures. Right, de Mello, who was killed in a bomb attack in Baghdad in August 2003.