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English PEN´s Writer in Prison Committee supports writers persecuted for exercising their right to freedom of expression.  The PEN prisoner of the month for April is film-maker and democracy campaigner Jennifer Latheef. Latheef was charged with terrorism and with inciting a riot by the Maldives government and was subsequently jailed for 10 years on 12 September 2005. (26-APR-06)
 

The Czech Republic recently passed a law granting watered-down civil unions for same-sex couples, while officials in the Russian Federation and Republic of Poland banned gay pride festivals.  The state of rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in Eastern Europe is changing – and not always for the better. (10-APR-06)
 

In response to continued violations of press freedom and freedom of expression in Nepal, twelve international organisations, including ARTICLE 19, conducted a joint mission to Nepal from 20 to 25 March 2006. Journalists, human rights activists and lawyers, including Asma Jahangir, right, and media organisations around the world have expressed their support for the project, and voiced solidarity with media workers and campaigners in the region. Supporters of the mission called for the restoration of democracy demanding for the immediate lift of all curbs and restrictions on the media. (31-MAR-06)
 

Beatrice Mtetwa (pictured right), a prominent media and human rights lawyer working to defend and protect journalists in Zimbabwe, was presented with the Index Law Award on 22 March. Index on Censorship´s annual Freedom of Expression Awards honours journalists, writers, lawyers, campaigners, filmmakers and whistleblowers who have made a significant contribution to free expression over the past year. (24-MAR-06)
 

Russian PEN has become the latest victim of Putin´s campaign against free speech. Free speech defenders at Russian PEN Centre have been hit with an order freezing their organisation´s assets and threatening the group´s future ¨C a step widely seen as both unjust and probably politically motivated. The order came after allegations that the organization has failed to pay land tax. The charges come at the height of an apparent crackdown on Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in the Russian Federation, particularly those with an international dimension. (17-MAR-06)
 

Index on Censorship has announced the shortlists for its annual Freedom of Expression Awards in London on 22 March 2006, honouring journalists, writers, lawyers, campaigners, filmmakers and whistleblowers who have made a significant contribution to free expression over the past year The awards, in their sixth year, will be presented at a special reception hosted by Anna Ford and sponsored by Bloomberg LP. (16-MAR-06)
 

An estimated three million women and girls undergo female genital mutilation each year, according to a 2005 Unicef report. For many Europeans and Americans, these are three million female victims we should feel sorry for or donate to, or perhaps read a book about a girl who survived this practice thousands of miles away from the FGM-free shores of Europe – but not an issue that seems to effect our neighbors down the street, our fellow citizens across town, or even ourselves. But the reality is closer to home than we think. (08-MAR-06)
 

Journalists working in Serbia & Montenegro continue to have their right to free expression violated. Following a United Nations Human Rights Committee ruling on 23 January, ARTICLE 19 has called for the removal of defamation from the criminal law books. The Committee ruled that use of criminal law in the case of Bodrozic versus Serbia & Montenegro supressed valid criticism of public officials and violated the journalist’s right to freedom of expression. The Committee was particularly critical of the use of the criminal ‘insult’ provisions. (07-MAR-06)

English PEN´s Writers in Prison Committee supports more than 700 writers persecuted worldwide for exercising their right to freedom of expression. As part of their campaigning work, PEN has been highlighting an individual case each month since 2003, initiating appeals to heads of state and relevant government departments and providing vital background information about the country and writers concerned. (03-FEB-05)