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The 2008 Professor Thorolf Rafto Memorial Prize is awarded to Pastor Bulambo Lembelembe Josué, right, for his dedication to end the plight of the people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). (25-SEP-08)
 

At the conclusion of the ninth session of the Human Rights Council, the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) remains deeply concerned by the lack of mobilisation of a majority of Member States to protect victims of human rights violations in countries where they are the most vulnerable. (24-SEP-08) 
 

26 September marks the 1st anniversary of the Saffron Revolution in Burma (Republic of the Union of Myanmar). It is one year since we all dressed in red to support the tens of thousands of saffron-robed monks who marched peacefully through the streets of Rangoon. The Burmese people’s frustration with the regime began with the dramatic rise in fuel prices in early August 2007 because it had a direct effect on their everyday lives. The Junta responded with a brutal crackdown on the demonstrators. Many monks and activists are still in prison. (22-SEP-08)
 

Navanethem Pillay, right, the top United Nations human rights official, has called for ensuring the protection of Afghan civilians, as new figures show an almost 40 per cent increase in conflict-related deaths in the first eight months of 2008 compared to the same period last year (22-SEP-08).
 

-We know that human rights are essential to peace, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, right, said in his message to mark the International Day of Peace, which is observed every year on 21 September. This year´s celebrations held special meaning since 2008 also marks the 60th anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. (21-SEP-08)
 

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) calls on the Chinese authorities to release Dhondup Wangchen, who made a documentary about Tibet, and Jigme Gyatso, his friend and camera assistant. They have been unjustly detained since March 2008 for filming interviews with Tibetans, above all in the Amdo region of Tibet. (18-SEP-08)
 

In an attempt to satisfy the People´s Republic of China, Nepal has announced its intentions to deport the 6.000 Tibetan refugees who have entered Nepal illegally or have never been granted a refugee certificate. The figure equals 30% of the 20.000 Tibetan refugees living in four camps in Pokhara, Nepal, right. (17-Sep-08)
 

Amnesty International is concerned about more than 50 imprisoned members of Iran’s Kurdish minority who are currently on hunger strike in prison in protest against continuing torture, executions and other gross abuses of human rights. There are growing concerns for their safety as a result of their hunger strike. (12-SEP-08)
 

Organisations within the Human Rights House Network have signed letters to the Ministries of Justice and the Interior in Kyrgyz Republic expressing concern about the trial today against Ivar Dale, right, the Bishkek based Central Asia representative of the Norwegian Helsinki Committee (NHC). Dale is accused of working for a non-registered organisation, which according to Kyrgyzstani law is illegal. Read the letters to the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of the Interior. (05-SEP-08)