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Advocating for increased support for civil society, and marking 30 years of the Network of Human Rights Houses
From October 7-11, 2024, 15 human rights defenders from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Russia, Serbia, and Ukraine gathered for a week of advocacy as a part of the Network of Human Rights Houses’ 30th anniversary celebrations. Human Rights House Foundation (HRHF) and Network partners aimed to deepen engagement with Norwegian policymakers and raise awareness of critical human rights challenges across the region, emphasising the need for increased political and financial support from Norway for civil society.
Human rights violations, reprisals and accountability – Our work at HRC57
At the 57th UN Human Rights Council, Human Rights House Foundation (HRHF) worked alongside civil society partners to highlight the situation for human rights in Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and the Balkans.
Portraits of Strength 3rd Edition: Natia Tavberidze, Georgia
Natia Tavberidze is a human rights defender from Georgia. She has been involved in human rights activities for over 15 years and, currently, as a Coordinator of Human Rights House Tbilisi, Tavberidze focuses on freedom of expression, support and protection of human rights defenders.
STRONG Civil Society
Human Rights House Foundation (HRHF) implemented the 3.5 year STRONG Civil Society (July 2020 – January 2024) working to strengthen the role that civil society plays in the democratisation processes in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine. STRONG Civil Society was co-funded by the European Union and the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Highlighting rising authoritarianism – Our work at HRC56
At the 56th UN Human Rights Council, Human Rights House Foundation (HRHF) worked alongside civil society partners to highlight the situation for human rights in Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and the Balkans.
Georgia’s “foreign influence” law: Implications & recommendations
On 28 May 2024, the Georgian Parliament adopted the Law on Transparency of Foreign Influence, inspired by the Russian authoritarian-style “foreign agent” legislation. HRHF and partners from Human Rights House Tbilisi have developed this briefer underlining the main concerns regarding the practical effect of the foreign influence law on the Georgian civil society organisations and lays out recommendations for Georgia’s human rights and democracy partners internationally.
Georgia: “‘Foreign agent’ legislation has only one aim – to marginalise and shut down all critical voices within the country”.
On 28 May 2024, the Georgian government adopted the so-called “foreign agent” law. Human Rights House Foundation recently spoke to Georgian human rights defender Baia Pataria about these critical developments and what they mean for civil society.
HRC56: “Georgian civil society needs support now.”
On the sidelines of the 56th session of the UN Human Rights Council, Human Rights House Foundation welcomed the appointment of Gina Romero in her role as the new UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights to Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and of Association and asked how the Council can best ensure freedom of peaceful assembly and association is upheld, even in contexts such as Georgia that are witnessing rising authoritarian tendencies.
HRC56: Rising Authoritarianism and its Impact on Civil Society in Eastern Europe
On 1 July 2024, Human Rights House Foundation hosted “Rising Authoritarianism and its Impact on Civil Society in Eastern Europe”, a civil society side event on the sidelines of the 56th session of the UN Human Rights Council.