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The Norwegian Burma Committee welcomes the release of the former student leaders Min Ko Naing, Ko Ko Gyi, Htay Kway, Min Zeya and Myint Aye, who have been detained without charge and at an unknown location since September last year. The five well-known prisoners of conscience are released shortly before the UN Security Council will decide on a proposed resolution on Burma (Republic of the Union of Myanmar). (11-JAN-07)
 

Chinese authorities continue to fabricate accusations against the Uyghurs in general, and against Rebiya Kadeer in particular. In a press release on January 9, The Uyghur American Association states that there is no substance to the claims from the Chinese government of the existence of active terrorist groups among the Uyghur population. “We oppose all forms of violence,” says Rebiya Kadeer, right, president of the UAA. read the full press release below. (10-JAN-07)
 

On January 23 the Supreme Court in the Russian Federation will decide on the fate of human rights organisation Russian-Chechen Friendhip Society. It will be the last domestic remedy that the organization has at its disposal to ensure that the court ruling on liquidation will be returned to the new consideration at the court of the first instance. The International Helsinki Federation and the Human Rights House Foundation supports the NGO´s call for help. (09-JAN-07)
  

On January 23 the Supreme Court in the Russian Federation will decide on the fate of human rights organisation Russian-Chechen Friendhip Society. It will be the last domestic remedy that the organization has at its disposal to ensure that the court ruling on liquidation will be returned to the new consideration at the court of the first instance. The International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights and the Human Rights House Foundation supports the NGO´s call for help. (09-JAN-07)
  

Activists are calling on Kenyan men to become more involved in campaigns to end the widespread physical and sexual abuse of women and girls. Kennedy Otina who is the coordinator of the NGO Men for Gender Equality underlines the close link between gender based violence and HIV as he confirms that rape is a big contributor to HIV/AIDS. Gender-based violence (GBV) is endemic in the Republic of Kenya but few cases make it to the courts, while many women suffer a lifetime of abuse in silence. (05-JAN-07)
   

‘On Saturday before dawn, we regressed to an era of barbarianism. From the outset, it was obvious the conscious decision to eschew an international court meant Saddam Hussein would be quickly hung. With premeditation, he was turned over to a tribunal consisting of Iraqi Kurds and Shiites, thus sealing his fate.’ writes Marek Antoni Nowicki, the President of the Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights and former UN international ombudsman for Kosovo. (03-JAN-07)

On December, 29 representatives of the Russian Research Center for Human Rights at the press-conference sum up the results of the year 2006. Members of the Center evaluated events in the country and told journalists about their activities in 2006. Besides, they presented books published by the Center. (2-JAN-07)
 

Passing an honour guard and welcomed with applause from staff, former Republic of Korea Foreign Minister Ban Ki-moon took over formally as United Nations Secretary-General today with a call for collective action to address a host of international crises from Sudan’s Darfur conflict to the nuclear programmes of Islamic Republic of Iran and North Korea.

On December, 29 representatives of the Russian Research Center for Human Rights held a press-conference to sum up the results of the year 2006. Members of the  Russian Research Center for Human Rights reported on and evaluated their activities in 2006 especially the project “Getting the younger generation involved in protection of human rights, due to development of the volunteer movement” funded by the European Union.  Besides, they presented books published by the Center. (02-JAN-07)
  

At the end of 2006 there were released some official figures concerning the activities of the Ministry of Justice and Milli Mejlis (the National Parliament). According to the statistics, there are totally over 2,300 registered NGO-s and 2,800 mass media outlets in the Republic of Azerbaijan. Milli Mejlis adopted 154 laws and took 21 decisions in 2006 and according to the Speaker of the Parliament Ogtay Asadov (on the right) “This year parliament completely fulfilled its legislative function reflected in the constitution”. (30-DEC-06)
 

The analytical service of Turan Agency, determined 10 most important events of 2006. The list includes the first official visit of Ilham Aliyev to USA, activity start of Baku-Tbilisi-Jeykhan pipeline as well as closure of ANS broadcasting and expel of Azadlig party and several mass media outlets from the building at Khagani 33. (29-DEC-06)
 

On the 28-th of December, President Ilham Aliyev issued a decree to approve national plan of actions for human rights protection. Preamble of the decree reads that the plan has been adopted with the purpose to continue reforms in field of human rights, to bring national standard acts in this field in full correspondence with international standards, to improve state agencies’ activities from viewpoint of human rights, to expand legal education of population and develop relationships between state and civil society. (29-DEC-06)