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Torturers and their handlers are being awarded and rewarded by the Georgian authorities – Interview with Lela Tsiskarishvili
Unprecedented peaceful protests in Georgia are being met with unprecedented levels of violence and brutality according to Georgian human rights defender and psychologist Lela Tsiskarishvili. In this interview with Human Rights House Foundation, Tsiskarishvili outlines the use of torture and ill-treatment against peaceful protesters in the context of the current situation in Georgia as well as reflecting on her work rehabilitating survivors and the resilience of those she helps. Estimated reading time: 7-12mins.
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.
HRC57: Reprisals against human rights defenders
On 27 September 2024, Human Rights House Foundation (HRHF) addressed the 57th session of the UN Human Rights Council, calling for the release of political prisoners in Azerbaijan and Belarus, detained in retaliation for their human rights work. HRHF also highlighted its designation as an “undesirable organisation” by the Russian Federation as a reprisal for its UN-focused advocacy.
HRC57: Human Rights Situation in the Russian Federation
On 25 September 2024, Human Rights House Foundation hosted “Human Rights Situation in the Russian Federation”, a civil society side event at the 57th session of the UN Human Rights Council.
HRC57: INGOs urge states to support renewal of UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Russia
On 9 September 2024, HRHF and several INGOs wrote to member and observer states of the UN Human Rights Council urging their support for the renewal of the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Russian Federation during HRC57.
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.