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On the occasion of 10 December, the International Day of Human Rights, the Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in Bosnia and Herzegovina wishes to draw attention of all levels of government and of the public to the unacceptably poor status of the Roma minority in Bosnia and Herzegovina. (10-DEC-05)
 
 

The Human Rights House Foundation and Norwegian P.E.N. as well as  the Norwegian Helsinki Committee have requested minister of foreign affairs to protest against the bill to tighten control on Russia’s civil society. The law would dramatically restrain Russia’s civil society. They fear the law is aimed at human rights NGOs that are criticizing the government policy in the Chechen Republic.The international support is very important for the civil society, the director of Russian Research Center, Liubov Vinogradova says. (20-DEC-05)

On the occasion of 10 December, the International Day of Human Rights, the Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in Bosnia and Herzegovina wishes to draw attention of all levels of government and of the public to the unacceptably poor status of the Roma minority in Bosnia and Herzegovina. (09-DEC-05)

Human rights activists in Republic of Belarus are against the introduction of political articles in the criminal legislation.  On December 8 the Upper House of Belarusian parliament  unanimously approved  a new law which raises a particular concern, since it provides for criminal liability for submitting to international organizations “false information” on the situation in the country. President Lukashenko (right) has not signed the legislation yet. (09-DEC-05)
 
  
 

The Belarusian Association of Journalists appeals to the Council of Republic to reject the draft of law ‘On additions and corrective changes to several legislative acts of the Republic of Belarus as regards the responsibility for acts against individuals and social security’ under the redaction adopted by the Chamber of Representatives. It also addresses to the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Belarus with appeal to make a lawful assessment of changes to the Criminal Code. (08-DEC-05)
 

The fraudulent elections, followed by the post-election repression of pro-opposition citizens and violence at 26 November demonstration created an open scene for the international community to demonstrate the official standpoint toward the public-political situation in the Republic of Azerbaijan. The official statements of diplomatic corps and respectful international institutions are followed up in the society with the biggest interest and concern. As a matter of fact, US Government has become the special target for criticism from the side of both national and international experts. (08-DEC-2005)

The international institutions continue following the post-election situation in the Republic of Azerbaijan. The special concern is caused by the restricted freedom of speech and freedom of assembly in the Republic of Azerbaijan. The conduct of security forces to break up the opposition demonstration on November 26 was again referred negatively in the press-releases of EU and PACE. (7-DEC-2005)

On the first session of new National Parliament the speaker and his deputies were elected. The president Ilham Aliyev, who spoke at the first session, called the election of the new parliament an important step in the “democratic development of the country” and positively assessed the activities of the previous parliament. (07-DEC-2005)

The Human Rights House Foundation and Norwegian P.E.N. have requested minister of foreign affairs to protest against the bill to tighten control on Russia’s civil society. In another letter the Norwegian Helsinki Committee and Bellona have asked for the same. The law would dramatically restrain Russia’s civil society. They fear the law is aimed at human rights NGOs that are criticizing the government policy in the Chechen Republic. (07-DEC-05)
 

-Why is Republic of Azerbaijan still invited to meetings of the Council of Europe and the UN, while Zimbabwe’s Robert Mugabe is being banned from international podia? This was one of the central questions during the seminar ‘Azerbaijan after November 6th elections: Still in the Aliev regime’s strong grip’ on November 29 in the Human Rights House in Oslo with Natig Alaskarov, Azerbaijani opposition member in exile, right, and Tural Sardar, son of son of opposition leader Sardar Jalaoglu, left. (07-DEC-05)
 

-Why is Republic of Azerbaijan still invited to meetings of the Council of Europe and the UN, while Zimbabwe’s Robert Mugabe is being banned from international podia? This was one of the central questions at a seminar at the Human Rights House in Oslo with Natig Alaskarov, Azerbaijani opposition member in exile (right), and Tural Sardar, son of son of opposition leader Sardar Jalaoglu (left). (07-DEC-05)
 

This year has seen the real breakthrough also in Norway of ‘the human library,’ the Norwegian People’s Aid’s initiative to combat prejudice through making representatives of groups often subjected to this available to the public, for instance in schools. Among those ‘borrowed’ to answer questions so far are homosexuals, moslems, hiv-positive, people with eating disorders, blind, wheelchair users and refugees. (04-DEC-05)