Latest

The Human Rights House Voronezh, one of the members of the Human Rights House Network, may be left without premises, after the actions taken by the Voronezh city district administration. This would not only damage the entire group of organizations sharing the premises, but would also negatively affect the citizens who are in need of assistance.

Fritt Ord’s and Zeit-Stiftung’s Press Prizes for Russia and Easter Europe will be will be bestowed at an award ceremony at The Norwegian Nobel Institute, Henrik Ibsens gate 51, Oslo, on Thursday June 20 at 12.00 h.

The Voronezh city district administration has decided to cease the rental agreement with the Human Rights House Voronezh. This would effectively make the work of independent human rights organisations in Voronezh impossible, or at least extremely difficult.

Following the visit of the United Nations Special Rapporteur on independence of judges and lawyers to Russia, we organise a side-event on the worrying situation in the country.

The right to be a human rights defender has been reinforced by the resolution adopted by consensus at the Human Rights Council. The resolution focuses on legislation affecting, restricting and criminalising the work and activities of human rights defenders.

States advocating traditional values in reality aim at raising their own cultural norms and particularities above international law and standards. Giving legal force to the concept of traditional values opens the door to a dangerous framework, where States and non-State actors can invoke this concept to justify human rights violations.

Once again, Sunday 10 March in Baku, peaceful protestors were met with police violence. Last Sunday, families and relatives of soldiers killed at the army in non-conflict situations were violently dispersed and more than 50 people were detained. Earlier this year, on Saturday 26 January 2013, 47 people were arrested for peacefully protesting in Baku.

When: Friday, 8. March 2013 12:00 To: Friday, 8. March 2013 Where: Geneva, Palais des Nations Host: Coalition of NGOs, including the Human Rights House Foundation Contact: Anna Innocenti (

As underlined by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in 2012, “In just two months we have seen a worrying shift in the legislative environment governing the enjoyment of the freedoms of assembly, association, speech and information in the Russian Federation. At least four new legal provisions have been made which will have a detrimental effect on human rights in the country.”