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HRC59: Human rights in Russian-occupied Crimea
At the 59th session of the UN Human Rights Council, Human Rights House Foundation condemned Russia’s systematic human rights abuses in occupied Crimea, citing documentation from Human Rights House Crimea member organisations including repression of journalists, lawyers, and civic freedoms; forced conscription and indoctrination of children; and property confiscation. HRHF reiterated calls for the release of political prisoners held by the Russian Federation.
HRC59: Bosnia and Herzegovina should protect human rights defenders and guarantee freedoms
At the 59th session of the UN Human Rights Council, HRHF and Human Rights House Banja Luka echoed UPR recommendations to Bosnia and Herzegovina to guarantee a safe and enabling environment for human rights defenders, align all legislation on free association, expression and assembly with international standards, and to resource and strengthen national human-rights institutions.
HRC59: Belarus must release all political prisoners and end crackdown on civil society
At the 59th session of the UN Human Rights Council, HRHF called on the Belarusian authorities to end incommunicado detentions and ill treatement, reinstate banned NGOs, repeal repressive laws and to engage with the Council’s Belarus mechanisms.
“Hope is a Strategy”: Human Rights Houses Network Meeting 2025
From 9 to 13 June, human rights defenders and civil society actors from across the Network of Human Rights Houses and beyond gathered in Oslo for the 2025 Network meeting. Amidst increasing global challenges faced by civil society, participants came together not only to share but also to build new strategies and forge solidarity.
HRC59: Rising repression of election monitors and journalists in the wider European region
At the 59th session of the UN Human Rights Council, Human Rights House Foundation condemned state-backed disinformation, legal harassment, and physical attacks targeting journalists and election observers in countries like Belarus, Russia, Azerbaijan, and Serbia. Citing the imprisonment of Anar Mammadli and widespread abuse of “national security” laws, HRHF called for clear benchmarks to hold states accountable during election cycles.
Freedom For Political Prisoners in Eastern Europe & the Caucasus
We members of the Network of Human Rights Houses stand in solidarity with our imprisoned colleagues in Eastern Europe and the Caucasus, as well as all political prisoners in the region.
SHDMIII: Deteriorating situations for human rights in Azerbaijan and Georgia
On 2 June 2025 at SHDMIII, HRHF highlighted the systematic steps taken by authorities in Georgia to close civic space, criminalise legitimate human rights work, and to silence civil society and opposition voices. HRHF also highlighted the deteriorating situation in neighbouring Azerbaijan citing the cases of Anar Mammadli and Ulviyya Ali as examples of hundreds of political prisoners in the country.
“mama, all my friends are criminals”
On 21 May, HRHF, alongside PEN Belarus, published a poem by Tacniana Niadbaj, poet, writer & human rights defender. The publication of the poem marked the Day of Political Prisoners in Belarus.
“The Face of a Defender” – Honouring Women Human Rights Defenders Across Bosnia and Herzegovina
Women human rights defenders (WHRDs) play a vital role in protecting and promoting human rights—often in the face of discrimination, threats, and violence. A powerful new exhibition by Human Rights House Banja Luka sheds light on the work of 12 such defenders, sharing their stories of resilience, solidarity, and impact.