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A wave of suicides in Guantanamo Bay illustrates the despair of prisoners who cannot even hope that their governments might one day demand that they either have their charges heard in court, or be freed. For while the camp’s European citizens are now out, citizens of Arab states have been sent to the back of the queue. (16-JUNE-06)
 

Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Amnesty International and the International Committee for Human Rights expressed concern today that the activities of the Bosnia and Herzegovina State Commission for the Revision of Decisions on Naturalization of Foreign Citizens, which began its work in March 2006, may result in the transfer of persons to countries where they would be at risk of grave human rights violations. (15-JUN-06)
 

Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Amnesty International and the International Committee for Human Rights expressed concern today that the activities of the Bosnia and Herzegovina State Commission for the Revision of Decisions on Naturalization of Foreign Citizens, which began its work in March 2006, may result in the transfer of persons to countries where they would be at risk of grave human rights violations. (15-JUN-06)
 

The Equality Parade, i.e. the sexual minorities march organized by the Equality Foundation, passed through the streets of Warsaw on Saturday, June 10. The Parade was held within the confines of the Equality Days, which take place this year on June 8-15 under the banner: Culture of Diversity. For the first time in several years the demonstration was legal (14-JUNE-06).
 

On 8 June, the Minister of Education, Roman Giertych, dismissed the head of the National In-Service Teacher Training Center (CODN), Mr. Miroslaw Sielatycki. The cause for the dismissal was the publication of the book “Compass – A manual on human rights education with young people”, which, according to the Minister, encourages people to meet with homosexual organizations and promotes homosexuality. (14-JUNE-06)

On 8 March, the Minister of Education, Roman Giertych, dismissed the head of the National In-Service Teacher Training Center (CODN), Mr. Miros³aw Sielatycki. The cause for the dismissal was the publication of the book “Compass – A manual on human rights education with young people”, which, according to the Minister, encourages people to meet with homosexual organizations and promotes homosexuality. (14-JUNE-06)
 

A delegation of the Russian civil society, including Stanislav Dmitrievskij, is visiting Norway to raise the Norwegian authorities’ awareness about the human rights situation in the Chechen Republic and to discuss possible strategies with their Norwegian human rights counterparts. Simultaneously Oleg Orlov, right, of the human rights organisation Memorial revealed pictures and footage of a secret prison in the centre of Grozny. (13-JUN-06)
 

The “Memorial” human rights center reports about a secret prison in the Chechen Republic where the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) kept detained people, some of them were tortured and killed. The revealings are based on the center´s own investigation and testimonies by by one of the victims, Alavdi Sadykov. The report states that the secret prison was quickly demolished the day after the MIA’s group left the place. Russian and international human rights activists believe that Chechen authorities halve twice curtailed the number of kidnapped and disappeared people in the Republic. (12-JUN-06)
 

In the Chechen Republic in the center of Grozny human rights activists discovered a secret prison of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA). In a cellar of the building, where a MIA’s operational group was located, detained people were kept in prison, some of them were tortured and killed, – the “Memorial” human rights center reported, on the basis of its own investigation and a proof presented by victim  of that prison Alavdi Sadykov.  The day after the MIA’s group left the place, the secret prison was quickly demolished. Russian and international human rights activists believe that Chechen’s authorities twice curtail the number of kidnapped and disappeared people in the Republic.  (12-JUN-06)
 

From May 9th to May 11th the Rafto Human Rights House in Bergen, Norway and the Seoul based non governmental organization Citizens Alliance for North Korean Human Rights together hosted «North Korea: New Approaches.», the7th International Conference on North Korean Human Rights & Refugees. Close to 200 delegates from over 20 countries attended the event in Bergen. The aim of the conference was to discuss different approaches for real improvement for human rights in North Korea. Dialogue and different views, as opposed to joint resolutions, were emphasized in order to find strategies for the road ahead.  (01-JUNE-2006)
 

The 1 June, on the International Children´s Day many actions for protection children’s rights, life and health were held in the Russian Federation. Children’s theme is utterly important today in the Russian Federation. The regional organization “Right of Child” reports about horrific situation in this sphere, about family crisis and an evident lack of government’s attention to its young citizens. (10-JUN-06)
 

Burma has one of the world´s most brutal regimes. For a decade-and-a-half the military leaders have run the country with an iron grip, prompting economic stagnation and international condemnation.The Rafto Foundation invites you to the seminar: “Burma – a country behind bars”, to be held on Monday, June 19th 16:30-18:30 at the Rafto House, Menneskerettighetenes plass 1. This is the fifth seminar in the The Rafto Prize 20th Anniversary Program. (10-JUNE-2006)