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The International Day of Peace, observed around the world on 21 September, presents a unique opportunity for all, governments, non-governmental and international organizations and all individuals to strive for peace and explore different venues for upholding peace on a global, national, and local level. In the Republic of Azerbaijan this day was celebrated by the Exhibition “1000 Women for Peace”. (23-SEP-07)
    

On the 20-th of September, the scientific-practical conference on the results of the monitoring of the Family Code of Republic of Azerbaijan Republic was held. The conference was dedicated to the discussions of the recommendations of certain amendments in the Family Code, which are due to be adopted by Milli Mejlis (the National Parliament) within a few months. (21-SEP-07) 
         

On the 7-th of September the International Day of Journalists’ Solidarity was celebrated in the Republic of Azerbaijan with the initiative of the Institute for Reporters’ Freedom and Safety and participation of media and human rights representatives. The visit to the grave of the slain Azerbaijani journalist Elmar Huseynov was organized on this occasion as well. (09-SEP-07)
    

Tomas Hammerberg (right), COE Human Rights Commissioner, had a working-visit to Republic of Azerbaijan, during which he met with representatives of human rights organizations, mass media outlets and government. On this occasion, Article 19 in the open letter to T. Hammarberg drew his attention to the necessity to raise his concerns with the authorities and to highlight the violations against freedom of expression and freedom of the press in the country. (07-SEP-07) 
       

On 31 August 2007, the Human Rights Watch wrote a letter to the Board of Directors of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) on the Banks’ Country Strategy Review in the Republic of Azerbaijan. The HRW also encouraged the EBRD to advance the short list of concrete and measurable reform steps as part of its dialogue with Republic of Azerbaijan. (02-SEP-07)
  

Anna Politkovskaya was a Russian journalist and human rights activist well known for her opposition to the Chechen conflict and Russian president Putin. On October 7, 2006 she was shot dead in her apartment building. We wish to honour Anna Politkovskaya´s memory this Sunday 7 October, one year after her death, with an event in Bergen at the Rafto Human Rights House.
(02-OCT-07)

Anna Politkovskaya was a Russian journalist and human rights activist well known for her opposition to the Chechen conflict and Russian president Putin. On October 7, 2006 she was shot dead in her apartment building. We wish to honour Anna Politkovskaya´s memory this Sunday 7 October, one year after her death, with an event in Bergen at the Rafto Human Rights House. (02-OCT-07)
  

A demonstration in support of the peaceful protesters in Burma took place in Bergen on 29 September. Bergen Sosialistiske Ungdom took initiative for a cross-political demonstration against the military dictatorship in Burma to show their support of the monks marching through the streets of Rangoon. Around 200 people joined this demonstration in Bergen. (30-SEP-07)

More on human rights defenders at the Council of Europe CoE Secretary General proposes a mechanism to address reprisals against human rights defenders. PACE: Don’t compromise on Russian human rights

Support to the peaceful protesters in Burma was the main message of a demonstration in Bergen, Norway, today, initiated by Sosialistisk Ungdom (Socialist Youth), but joined by many other political and human rights groups. -We are humbled and full of admiration for the courage shown by the Burmese monks and nuns, said Arne Liljedahl Lynngård of the Rafto Foundation in his appeal. (29-SEP-07)
 

Venerable Thich Quang Do, right, the 2006 Rafto Prize Laureate, calls on United Nations to take emergency action on Burma and expresses solidarity with Buddhists´ and civilians´ peaceful, democratic protests. In his Letter to the UN Secretary General, Thich Quang Do wrote: “I express the deep alarm of the Unified Buddhist Church of Vietnam on the violent repression of peaceful and democratic protests by the military government of Burma/Myanmar. (28-SEP-07)
 

Bosnian public is concerned with the situation in education based on the fact that one part of country is experiencing actions supporting segregation of children in schools, and their separation on the basis of ethnicity and belonging to different constituent peoples. (27-SEP-07)