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HRHF Annual Report 2023
The human rights situation across the regions where Human Rights House Foundation (HRHF) works was further influenced by military conflict and crackdown against independent civil society. Despite this, we continued to work closely with the Network of Human Rights Houses to protect and advance human rights. Read our 2023 Annual Report.
A Human Rights Tour of the OSCE Region
On 18 March 2024, in Vienna, Human Rights House Foundation and the Netherlands Helsinki Committee co-hosted a civil society Human Dimension event where OSCE State delegations could hear directly from human rights defenders from seven countries, including representatives from several Human Rights Houses in the region.
HRC55: Council should establish an investigative mechanism on Belarus to build on work of OHCHR Examination
On 20 March 2024, Human Rights House Foundation delivered a statement at the 55th session of the UN Human Rights Council highlighting the Belarusian authorities’ ongoing crackdown against civil society and urging Council member states to support the establishment of an investigative mechanism aimed at accountability.
A Human Rights Tour of the OSCE Region
On 18 March 2024, Human Rights House Foundation and the Netherlands Helsinki Committee organised a civil society event where 20 CSO representatives briefed OSCE delegations in Vienna on the human rights situations in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Türkiye and Ukraine.
INGOs urge HRC Member States to support Belarus mechanisms
In a joint letter delivered on 13 March 2024, Human Rights House Foundation and several international and Belarusian civil society organisations urged Human Rights Council Member States to support the renewal of the Special Rapporteur on Belarus, and the establishment of an independent accountability mechanism to build upon and take forward the work of the OHCHR Examination on Belarus.
Belarus: One-year anniversary of unjust verdicts against Viasna members
One year ago, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ales Bialiatski, FIDH Vice-President Valiantsin Stefanovic and Viasna lawyer Uladzimir Labkovich were sentenced to ten, nine and seven years of imprisonment on fabricated charges, respectively. Several organisations, including HRHF, and led by The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders (FIDH-OMCT) demand their immediate and unconditional release, and call on the international community to use all available diplomatic, political and other means at its disposal to urge the Belarusian authorities to respect the rule of law and to free all those convicted under politically motivated charges.
Leanid Sudalenka: “Who will be responsible for the death of Ales Pushkin? What will we do if one morning we find out that Nobel laureate Ales Bialiatski has passed away [in prison]?”
On 21 July 2023, prominent human rights defender Leanid Sudalenka was released following two and a half years behind bars in Belarus. In this interview with Human Rights House Foundation, marking six months since his release, Sudalenka shares his experiences from unjust imprisonment to forced exile and discusses the dependence of Lukashenka’s regime on continuous repressions against Belarusian civil society.
Why we continue to defend human rights
Ahead of International Human Rights Day 2023, HRHF has spoken to several human rights defenders from around the Network of Human Rights Houses to ask them about the state of human rights in their countries and why they find it important to continue their work.
Reunited: Human Rights Houses Network Meeting 2023
After several years of unprecedented global events, the Network of Human Rights Houses convened in Warsaw from 20-24 November for the first in-person Network meeting since 2019. Colleagues from 28 CSOs from 12 countries reconnected to discuss successes, common challenges, and emerging human rights trends. Together, the Network welcomed its newest member, Human Rights House Banja Luka.