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Marking the 10th anniversary of the work of the Nansen Dialogue project, one of the in-house organisations of the Human Rights House in Oslo, the network that has emerged throughout the last decade hosted a seminar yesterday entitled ‘Dialogue – more than words’. The seminar also saw the official launch of a book, bearing the same title as the seminar, about the network’s history and activities. (14-DEC-05)
 

Since  10 December 1948  the International Day of Human Rights is celebrated around the world.“The situation of human rights in the Republic of Belarus is extremely tense”, — stated a doctor of juridical science,- “it is hard to find any political rights stated in the Declaration that are not violated in the Republic of Belarus.That’s why, pitifully enough, we meet this day with pity instead of joy”, — he concluded.” The pitiful situation of human rights is confirmed with the commentaries of Stsiapan Sukharenka, chair of the Belarusian KGB, concerning the amendments to the Criminal Code that will be enforced on 20 December (the Day KGB worker). (13-DEC-05)

The British government should publish the minutes of a meeting where George Bush said he wanted to bomb the Arab satellite station al-Jazeera, regardless of the consequences, a tabloid journalist at the heart of the story has said. Index on Censorship’s Andrew Walker reports (08-DEC-05).

Marking the December 10 as an International Day of Human Rights the CHC warned public about the increase of human rights violations in Republic of Croatia. For the first time since 1996 the human right situation in the Republic of Croatia deteriorated seriously, said Zarko Puhovski, Chairman of the CHC. (12-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. (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)