Latest
The death penalty in Poland?
The subject of reinstating the death penalty has been discussed recently in the Republic of Poland. Paying no heed to the position of the European Commission and the Council of Europe or to Poland’s international obligations in this matter, governing coalition parties are calling for its reinstatement. (04-AUG-06)
The death penalty in Poland?
The subject of reinstating the death penalty has been discussed recently in the Republic of Poland. Paying no heed to the position of the European Commission and the Council of Europe or to Poland’s international obligations in this matter, governing coalition parties are calling for its reinstatement. (04-AUG-06)
Iran government bans leading human rights organization
Yesterday, Iran’s Interior Ministry banned the Defender of Human Rights Center (DHRC), one of the country’s most prominent minority rights groups. Based in Tehran, the organization has been active in defending rights of women, political prisoners and minorities in Islamic Republic of Iran. The organization was founded by several prominent Iranian lawyers, most notably, 2003 Nobel laureate Shirin Ebadi, right, who is currently president of the Center. (03-AUG-06)
International community is responsible for the mess in Mostar
After their visit to Mostar the representatives of the Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in BiH have concluded that all should tackle more seriously the escalated violence in Mostar, in order to avoid even more dramatic situations. They believe that the international community has supported the division of Mostar over the past years. (03-AUG-06)
Targeting the free press in Russia
Having abolished all independent TV channels and big media outlets, the authorities launched a campaign to liquidate all independent radio stations who openly criticized the government and the President. This year alone two of Russia’s very few objective sources of information “Radio Svoboda’s” and “Voice of America’s” broadcasts were severely curtailed. (30-JUL-06)
Index on Censorship reports about increasingly close ties between Africa and China
On 17 June, Prime Minister Wen Jiabao became the third high-ranking Chinese official to visit Africa in 2006. President Hu Jintao had visited five countries on the continent in late April. Trade between the People´s Republic of China and Africa skyrocketed to over US$40 billion in 2005 and is only gaining steam. Western countries have begun to examine the ties between African countries and the People´s Republic of China to discern the global effects – financial and political – of China’s new relationships. (31-JULY-06)
UK: A no-man’s land of censorship?
Free expression advocates have voiced concern over the dangers of community censorship following a protest against the filming of Brick Lane, and the campaign leading up to it. Organizations, including English PEN and Index on Censorship, worry this will have a direct impact on the arts, and damage efforts towards the building of a truly pluralist society. The protests have been seen by some as a sign that Britain has become ‘a no-man´s land of censorship, where writers´ freedoms are in the hands of unelected and unaccountable´ individuals. (01-AUG-06) Photo of Monica Ali, the author of Brick Lane
UK: A no-man’s land of censorship?
Free expression advocates have voiced concern over the dangers of community censorship following a protest against the filming of Brick Lane, and the campaign leading up to it. Organizations, including English PEN and Index on Censorship, worry this will have a direct impact on the arts, and damage efforts towards the building of a truly pluralist society. The protests have been seen by some as a sign that Britain has become ‘a no-man´s land of censorship, where writers´ freedoms are in the hands of unelected and unaccountable´ individuals. Right: Monica Ali, the author of Brick Lane. (01-AUG-06)
What’s behind China’s increasingly close ties with Africa?
On 17 June, Prime Minister Wen Jiabao became the third high-ranking Chinese official to visit Africa in 2006, signifying the Asian country’s growing interest in the resource-rich continent. President Hu Jintao had visited five countries on the continent in late April. Trade between the People´s Republic of China and Africa skyrocketed to over US$40 billion in 2005 and is only gaining steam. Western countries have begun to examine the ties between African countries and the People´s Republic of China to discern the global effects – financial and political – of China’s new relationships. (31-JULY-06)
Targeting the free press
Having abolished all independent TV channels and big media outlets, the authorities launched a campaign to liquidate all independent radio stations who openly criticized the government and the President. This year alone two of Russia’s very few objective sources of information “Radio Svoboda’s” and “Voice of America’s” broadcasts were severely curtailed. (30-JUL-06)
Abuse and neglect of children is on the rise in Kenya
Many children in the Republic of Kenya are dying everyday as result of violence, abuse and neglect. Many of these violations go unreported which makes it hard to quantify the exact number of children affected. This is according to Millie Odhiambo, right, a lawyer and child’s rights activist in the Republic of Kenya ( 27-JUL-2006)
Publication fined for reporting on Western Sahara
If there is one subject that the Moroccan authorities are partcularly sensitive about, it is the issue of Western Sahara. Independent weekly magazine Le Journal Hebdomadaire (pictured right) is the latest in a string of publications fined under Morocco’s press code. In the last 12 months, four weeklies or their journalists have been condemned to pay heavy fines or to prison sentences. The magazine´s editor says Le Journal Hebdomadaire is being singled out for their lack of patriotism. (24-JULY-06)