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The delicate balance of Malaysia’s inter-ethnic politics has come under threat from an unexpected source and the response from the national government poses serious questions about freedom of expression. A recent rally resulted in clashes between demonstrators and the police, in which a police officer was injured, police vehicles were attacked and more than 200 were arrested. (11-DEC-07)
 

The 7th International Film Festival Watch Docs – Human Rights in Film is currently taking place in Warsaw. The festival is organized by the Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights, Public Film Institute and the Ujazdowski Castle Centre for Contemporary Art. The best documentaries from around the world, which use an interesting and original form to deliver contents associated with human rights tactics, will be presented during the festival that will last from 7 to 16 December.( 10-DEC-07)

The Norwegian Council for the Rights of the Kurds (RKR) invites everyone interested to four different seminars, all to be hosted at different venues around Oslo next week, under the joint headline ´The Oslo Conference on Peace, Democracy and Human Rights in the Middle East´. To read more about the four seminars in English, see below. For information in Norwegian, click here . (07-DEC-07)
 

The 7th International Film Festival Watch Docs – Human Rights in Film, organized by the Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights, Public Film Institute and the Ujazdowski Castle Centre for Contemporary Art, is currently taking place in Warsaw. The best documentaries from around the world, which use an interesting and original form to deliver contents associated with human rights tactics, will be presented during the festival that will last from 7 to 16 December. (10-DEC-07)
  

The Moscow City Psychology-Teacher´s Training University conducted a seminar this week on suicide prevention in the Russian Army. The issue is vital to Russian society: according to the General Office of the Public Prosecutor, more than 6,500 army personnel suffered from ‘dedovshina’ (harassment, humiliation, and other violations of soldiers´ dignity) last year. Of these, approximately 70 went on to commit suicide. (07-DEC-07)
 

The Norwegian Council for the Rights of the Kurds (RKR) invites everyone interested to four different seminars, all to be hosted at different venues around Oslo next week, under the joint headline ´The Oslo Conference on Peace, Democracy and Human Rights in the Middle East´. To read more about the four seminars in English, see below. For information in Norwegian, click here . (07-DEC-07)
 

The fourth annual conference on the EU, Republic of Turkey and the Kurds took place in the EU Parliament in Brussles from 3-4 December. The Rafto Foundation in Bergen was one of the main organizers of this event. Leyla Zana (right), the 1994 Rafto Prize laureate opened the event. The EUTCC reflects on two days of valuable dialogue and debate (06-DEC-07).  

SUPPORT THE RELEASE OF ALL PRISONERS OF CONSCIENCE IN BURMA. The Rafto Foundation in cooperation with Amnesty International Norway, Exile Burmese and Save the Children Norway arrange a mass demonstration for Burma on Monday, 10 December at Torgallmenningen at 13:00 (05-DEC-07).

The Warsaw City Council decided that Hyde Park – a place where it will be possible to organize an assembly without informing the capital’s president in advance and without the need to receive many permits – will be set up in front of the Palace of Culture and Science (right). It is the first place like that in the Republic of Poland. Opening ceremony will take place on December 12, 2007. (05-DEC-07)

The Norwegian Tibet Committee encourages everyone to sign on to the following appeal: On December 10th, the International Olympic Committee is holding an important Executive Board meeting in Lausanne, Switzerland, which will include discussion of the upcoming Beijing 2008 Olympics. December 10th is also International Human Rights Day, and Tibetans and people of conscience will be taking action in Lausanne and around the world to call on the IOC to speak up for Tibet and human rights. (05-DEC-07)
 

The East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Network is deeply concerned about the news trickling in that Somaliland authorities have ordered journalists seeking refuge in the country to leave immediately. The 24 journalists had fled the violence in Mogadishu and are seeking refuge in Somaliland. (05-DEC-07)
 

The Norwegian Tibet Committee encourages everyone to sign on to the following appeal: On December 10th, the International Olympic Committee is holding an important Executive Board meeting in Lausanne, Switzerland, which will include discussion of the upcoming Beijing 2008 Olympics. December 10th is also International Human Rights Day, and Tibetans and people of conscience will be taking action in Lausanne and around the world to call on the IOC to speak up for Tibet and human rights. (05-DEC-07)