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After over four years of efforts of non-governmental organizations in Bosnia and Herzegovina to see established mechanisms of cooperation between the government and the civil society sector in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Agreement between the Council of Ministers of BH and representative of a coalition of non-governmental organizations “To work and succeed together” was signed today. The non-governmental organizations said on this occasion that “Only the citizens will ultimately “profit” from this act!” (07-MAY-07)
 

At its recent annual meeting, Norwegian PEN elected publisher, writer and columnist Anders Heger, right, as the organisation´s new president. Heger succeeds Kjell Olaf Jensen, who chaired the organisation for ten years. Heger, a renowned publisher, author and columnist, has been an active member of PEN for years and shown great commitment to freedom of expression issues. (07-MAY-07)
 

On 3 May 2007, the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg made a judgment in the case Baczkowski and Others versus Republic of Poland. The Court stated that Republic of Poland violated Article 11, Article 13 and Article 14 of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms. The Applicants did not claim any compensation for damage and deemed that they will be sufficiently satisfied, if the Court states the violation of the Convention. They lodged the complaint in the public interest. (04-MAY-07)

This year’s World Press Freedom Day was marked by journalists, non-governmental organisations, educators, campaigners and media professionals, who gathered at Portcullis House in London. UNESCO, who hosted the event, put forth the motion ´world media freedom is in retreat´. The OSCE´s Miklos Haraszti was among those who spoke for the motion; those debating against included political blogger Iain Dale. (04-MAY-07)
 

On 3 May 2007, the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg made an historical ruling. It states that Republic of Poland violated Article 11, 13 and 14 of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms when banning the Equality March 2005. This is the first verdict that states discrimination affecting the freedom of peaceful assembly by individuals working in support of non-discrimination of sexual minorities.(04-MAY-07)
  

This year the UK commemorates the Act of Abolition that ended the transatlantic slave trade in British territories. The 2006 Anti Slavery Award honoured modern day abolitionist James Aguer, right, for his work in freeing slaves abducted in the war in the Republic of the Sudan, coming as a timely reminder of the continuing existence of slavery in the contemporary world. There are perhaps few countries whose history has been so intricately linked to slavery, and it is not over yet. (01-MAY-07)
 

At the end of February, Holly Cartner Executive Director Europe and Central Asia division Human Rights Watch sent a letter to Republic of Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev, expressing the deep concern about the rapidly deteriorating environment for independent media in the Republic of Azerbaijan. The letter urged the President to take steps to end impunity for violence against journalists and ensure that Republic of Azerbaijan complies with its international commitments to freedom of expression and the press. (28-FEB-07)
 

Azerbaijani people are mourning on the 15-th anniversary of the Khojaly tragedy, the Azerbaijani town where Armenian and Russian army conducted the unseen cruelty and barbarity to the innocent peaceful population on the night of 25 February 1992. Within the night over 600 civilians were killed, 56 of which were killed with particular cruelty. Azerbaijani people all over the country and beyond its borders revered the memory of the killed compatriots by attending the memorials in their honor, making the awareness-raising actions and rallies to spread the information about the tragedy. (25-FEB-07) 
 

A group of public human rights and environmental organizations and public activists launched the campaign on protecting the historical-cultural heritage of Baku city. The campaign was caused by a serious concern for the numerous ongoing constructions by ruining the architectural buildings of historical and cultural importance to the country. The new buildings and city planning seriously harms the green parts of Baku too, as hundreds of old trees are cut off to make the pavement easier. (15-FEB-07)
 

“Last year condition of press and freedom of speech continued deteriorating in Azerbaijan” was the main conclusion of US-based International Committee to Protect Journalists (ICPJ) in their annual report of 2006. “President Ilham Aliyev and his allies used courts as an instrument against independent media, instituted criminal  cases on charge of defamation, brought false charges on illicit drug trafficking and jailed journalists, who criticized  the government”, reads the report. (10-FEB-07)
 

The PACE spring session, CE, plans to discuss the fulfillment of commitments undertaken by Republic of Azerbaijan during admittance to Council of Europe. CE continues cooperation with Republic of Azerbaijan to achieve “wide-scale democracy,” says Jean-Louis Loran, CE General Director for Political Affairs. CE aims working to reform Electoral Code, improve principles of formation of electoral commissions, organization of elections and voting, vote counting and procedure of administration of complaints. (05-FEB-07)
 

Two more sentences in the media world of Republic of Azerbaijan – the journalists of Nota Bene Newspaper Faramaz Allahverdiyev and Sardar Alibeyli were convicted on the claim put forth by Interior Minster Ramil Usubov and the head of the State Committee to Work with Diaspora Nazim Ibrahimov. They were found guilty under the Articles 147 and 148 of the Criminal Code (libel) for, which appeared in the December 3-6, 2006 edition of Nota Bene. (02-FEB-07)