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The use of lethal force against peaceful demonstrators by the Armenian police causes deep concern.

-The 20th century demonstrated that genocide is not restricted to any particular period, ideology or part of the world. As such, it is rather a dark side of civilisation, and one that we have to build bulwarks against, over and over again, says Bernt Hagtvet, right, Professor of Political Theory at the University of Oslo. Hagtvet, a board member of HRH F, has edited a huge, comparative study on genocide that was launched yesterday. (11-MAR-08)
 

The Norwegian Tibet Committee (NTC) and the Tibetan community of Norway demonstrated in front of the Chinese Embassy yesterday to commemorate the 49th anniversary of the Lhasa prising. The Embassy was angered, but all the fficials could do was close the Embassy and watch the demonstration from behind the curtains. (11-MAR-08)
 

-The 20th century demonstrated that genocide is not restricted to any particular period, ideology or part of the world. As such, it is rather a dark side of civilisation, and one that we have to build bulwarks against, over and over again, says Bernt Hagtvet, right, Professor of Political Theory at the University of Oslo. Hagtvet, a board member of HRH F, has edited a huge, comparative study on genocide that was launched yesterday (11-MAR-08)
 

Sudanese Government military forces and Darfur´s rebel movements have both committed human rights abuses in the war-wracked region, carrying out killings, acts of sexual violence, looting, the destruction of property, arbitrary arrests and forced displacement, Sima Samar, right, an independent United Nations envoy said today. (11-MAR-08)
 

On March 4, during a session of the Milli Mejlis, Ombudsman Elmira Suleymanova (right) presented her annual report. Suleymanova touched issues such as the situation of speech freedom in the Republic of Azerbaijan. The report was criticized by the deputies of Milli Mejlis. (08-MAR-08)
    

In the OSCE’s Baku Office, “Defamation in the OSCE Space: Learning Legislation and Experience” training was conducted for judges from Baku’s Appellate Court. The judges learned about European practices in the area of defamation. (07-MAR-08)
   

The Democracy Commission Small Grants Program of the US Embassy in the Republic of Azerbaijan introduced new guidelines and procedures related to grants program. The main change is that now the Republic of Azerbaijan based organizations will be able to apply to the Democracy Commission throughout the year, not twice a year as it used to be before. (05-MAR-08)
    

The 3-rd anniversary of the murder of “Monitor” magazine Editor-in-chief Elmar Huseynov was commemorated by national organizations with a number of arrangements. The lack of progress made in the murder investigation over the past three years is a major conclusion and concern of the human rights activists. (03-MAR-08)
    

The Media Rights Institute has prepared a draft law “On Expression Freedom” and it will be published in the near future. During the preparation of this draft law the theses of Georgia’s draft law “On Expression Freedom” and legal conceptions of European countries were considered. (29-FEB-08)
     

-On this occasion, which moves me deeply, I would like to express my thanks to the Norwegian Authors’ Union for conferring on me its 2007 Freedom of Expression Prize. I am also grateful to the Norwegian Tibet Committee for its whole-hearted support and assistance. And to my Tibetan countrymen who dwell in Norway, I offer the traditional Tibetan wish for good fortune: Tashi Delek! Read Tsering Woeser’s, right, speech, delivered by her husband upon accepting the Norwegian Author’s Association’s Freedom of Expression Award for 2007, below. (08-MAR-08)
  

On March 4, the Azeri Ombudsman Elmira Suleymanova, right, presented her annual report in the Azeri Parliament. Suleymanova touched issues such as the situation of speech freedom in the Republic of Azerbaijan. The ombudsperson was criticized by members of parliament for not doing enough to get imprisoned journalists released. (08-MAR-08)