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Despite of the long term hunger strike by the students of the Independent Republic of Azerbaijan University that was joined by the parents, the Ministry of Education has not made any concrete steps in resolution of the students’ problem. Because of hard health condition, the students changed the form of protest from hunger strike to the “sitting strike” (02-JUL-2006)
 

Tibetans and their supporters will hold protests worldwide tomorrow, 1 July, to denounce the launch of the railway that will connect Beijing and Lhasa, Tibet’s capital. The “Reject the Railway” campaign will see protests at Chinese embassies and consulates in major cities around the world, including Ottawa, New York, London, and Dharamsala, India. The Norwegian Tibet Committee is following the developments closely. (30-JUN-06)
 

The Norwegian Council for the Rights of the Kurds (RKR) asks Norwegian mayors to sign an appeal to support 56 Kurdish mayors in the Republic of Turkey. They are all charged to up till 10 years’ imprisonment for having written a letter to Denmark’s Prime-Minister Fogh Rasmussen asking him not to close down the Kurdish satellite channel Roj-TV which today broadcasts from Denmark in the Kurdish language. The Turkish Prosecutor- General considers this to be an expression of supporting the PKK-movement, which is forbidden in the Republic of Turkey.  (29-JUN-06)
 

A press release from the Uyghur Human Rights Project states that the organisation has learned that Alim Abdureyim, one of Rebiya Kadeer’s sons arrested by Chinese police, has been tortured in detention. UHRP is not aware of the extent or nature of any injuries Mr Abdureyim may have sustained, but the organization is extremely concerned that he may be in need of urgent medical attention, and is at risk of further abuse. (26-JUNE-06)
 

The International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights (IHF) has been following the human rights situation in Kosovo since the 1980s and has reported on human rights violations there. The IHF has visited Kosovo three times since March 2004. Last mission was organized from 18 to 22 June 2006. The IHF Secretariat based in Vienna and the member Committees from Norway, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Republic of Croatia, Kosovo Serbia took part. (26-JUN-06)
 

Today, on UN’s International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, there will be far too many voices we won’t hear, namely the voices of those who are being tortured and continue to be imprisoned. Amnesty International’s latest annual report teaches us that torture is practiced in more than 100 countries. Nora Sveaass, member of UN´s Committee against Torture, analyses the difficulties in the fight against torture and today´s rays of hope. (26-JUN-06)
 

Today, on UN’s International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, there will be far too many voices we won’t hear, namely the voices of those who are being tortured and continue to be imprisoned. Amnesty International’s latest annual report teaches us that torture is practiced in more than 100 countries. Nora Sveaass, member of UN´s Committee against Torture, analyses the difficulties in the fight against torture and today´s rays of hope. (26-JUN-06)
 

A press release from the Uyghur Human Rights Project states that the organisation has learned that Alim Abdureyim, one of Rebiya Kadeer’s sons arrested by Chinese police, has been tortured in detention. UHRP is not aware of the extent or nature of any injuries Mr Abdureyim may have sustained, but the organization is extremely concerned that he may be in need of urgent medical attention, and is at risk of further abuse. (26-JUNE-06)
 

Nansen Dialogue Network (NDN) is recruiting students for another class of Applied Conflict Transformation Studies (ACTS). The two-year part-time course, which results in a Master´s degree, is a cooperation project between the University of Novi Sad, NDN and Responding to Conflict (UK). Below is further information, also on how to apply. (24-JUNE-06)
  

In spite of mass protests and numerous statements of human rights activists, the Russian State Duma, on June 14, adopted a package of “revolutionary” laws for the Russian army in the last third reading. These laws abolish a few draft deferments and curtail the mandatory military service to 12 months from January 1, 2008. Protest actions against the abolition of draft deferments were held all over the country. (23-JUN-06)
 

EU Council experts’ working group can make a decision about stoppage of General Preferences System concerning Republic of Belarus in September 2006. The reason is not carrying-out of ILO requirements. This can lead Republic of Belarus to not only a waste of millions of dollars but to more dependence from the Russian Federation.  (23-JUN-06)

As African heads of state prepare visit Gambia for the 7th African Union Summit in July, African free expression organizations warn that the state of free expression and press freedom is deteriorating rapidly across the continent. The summit will provide groups with the opportunity to highlight rights abuses in the light of recent claims of an increase in the arrest and harrassment of journalists.  (23-JUNE-06)