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On 16 February demonstrations of support for democratic transformation in the Republic of Belarus were held once again in most cities throughout Republic of Poland. The campaigns were organized by Polish non-governmental organizations. Their participants called on the president of Republic of Belarus to ensure that the elections scheduled for 19 March are free and democratic. (24-FEB-06)

MOSTAR – The Norwegian Helsinki Committee for Human Rights (NHC) and Nansen Dialogue Centre Mostar organized in February a Human Rights School for high school teachers from Mostar, Konjic and Stolac in Bosnia Hercegovina (BiH). (24-FEB-06)

On the first of March, a criminal case against the chairman of the Belarusian Helsinki Committee (BHC), Tatiana Protko, because of tax evasion, was resumed. During the prosecution the last republican Human Rights association might be liquidated and BHC leaders are threatened with seven years of imprisonment with confiscation of property. (04-MARCH-06)

The Human Rights Center Viasna appeals  on the international community and human rights organizations and lodges its strong protest against the unprecedented tide of pressure and intimidation against civil society activists, which occurred on 21 February 2006 in many cities of Republic of Belarus. (23-FEB-06)

The Belarusian Central Election Committee registered four Presidential Candidates on January 17.  A. Milinkevich, A. Lukashenko, A. Kazulin, and S. Gaidukevich got the certificate as Presidential Candidates. Nevertheless Milinkevich´s regional teams are subjected to sytematic pressure from authorities (21-FEB-06)

On 31 January 2006, Bosnia and Herzegovina received the new, fifth High Representative – Christian Schwarz-Schilling (right). Schwarz-Schilling has been engaged in work with Bosnia and Herzegovina for a long time already, having worked as a mediator during and after the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina. His appointment to the post of the High Representative to Bosnia and Herzegovina was welcomed by many citizens, who recognized him as a true friend of this country. (21-FEB-06)
 

The Central Election Committee of Republic of Belarus  registered 4 Presidential Candidates on January 17.  A. Milinkevich, A. Lukashenko, A. Kazulin, and S. Gaidukevich got the certificates of Presidential Candidates. The agitation stage started on the same day.  The incumbent President declared equal opportunities for all the participants of the election campaign.  (21-FEB-06)

On 31 January 2006, Bosnia and Herzegovina received the new, fifth High Representative – Christian Schwarz-Schilling (right). Schwarz-Schilling has been engaged in work with Bosnia and Herzegovina for a long time already, having worked as a mediator during and after the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina. His appointment to the post of the High Representative to Bosnia and Herzegovina was welcomed by many citizens, who recognized him as a true friend of this country. (21-FEB-05)
 

Is it alright to trample on other people´s beliefs? Should blasphemy be allowed, or should freedom of expression be limited in order to avoid hurting people´s religious feelings and beliefs? By printing the Muhammed-drawings in September 2005, Jyllands-Posten have brought these questions to the top of the international agenda. At the first seminar in 2006 on Freedom of Expression  – to be held in The Rafto House on Feb. 21st – we will deal with the dilemmas regarding where to draw the judicial limits of freedom of expression. (20-FEB-2006)
 

For the last two weeks, the Norwegian Burma Committee and the Nobel Peace Center have held role-plays for high school students at the Human rights House in Oslo. The aim of the play was to agree upon how to end the use of child soldiers in Burma (Republic of the Union of Myanmar). The students truly became their parts: junta generals refusing all allegations; Thailand’s ministers disagreeing among themselves – there were even spies infiltrating the other groups and taping secret negotiations. (20-FEB-06)

Is it alright to trample on other people´s beliefs? Should blasphemy be allowed, or should freedom of expression be limited in order to avoid hurting people´s religious feelings and beliefs? By printing the Muhammed-drawings in September 2005, Jyllands-Posten have brought these questions to the top of the international agenda. At the first seminar in 2006 on Freedom of Expression  – to be held in The Rafto House on Feb. 21st – we will deal with the dilemmas regarding where to draw the judicial limits of freedom of expression. (20-FEB-2006)
 

In January 2006 International Organization Human Rights Watch released its annual world report. In the section about Republic of Azerbaijan, it reads that Republic of Azerbaijan has a history of seriously flawed elections. In 2005, repression and harassment of opposition party members, an overwhelmingly pro-government bias in the electronic media, and government control of election commissions ensured that the parliamentary elections would not be free and fair. (15-FEB-2006)