Latest
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.
HRC56: Concerns related to freedom of expression in Serbia
On the sidelines of the 56th session of the UN Human Rights Council, Human Rights House Foundation underlined several concerns related to freedom of expression in Serbia including Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs), the misuse of the Law on the Prevention of Money-Laundering and the Financing of Terrorism to target civil society organisations, and inadequate protection mechanisms for journalists and the persistent impunity for crimes against them.
HRC56: HRHF calls for the release of Anar Mammadli and all political prisoners in Azerbaijan
On the sidelines of the 56th session of the UN Human Rights Council, Human Rights House Foundation argued that Anar Mammadli’s detention should be understood as a direct reprisal for his legitimate election observation efforts and human rights work, and comes in the context of a dramatic deterioration in the human rights situation in Azerbaijan.
HRC56: Human rights in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine
On 10 July 2024, Human Rights House Foundation delivered a statement at the 56th session of the UN Human Rights Council, welcoming the release of Nariman Dzhelal, repeating calls for the release of Server Mustafayev, and raising concerns about the situation for forced transfers of Ukrainian civilians within the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine and to the Russian Federation.
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.
HRC56: Belarus attacks on human rights and civil society in exile
On 3 July 2024, Human Rights House Foundation delivered a statement at the 56th session of the UN Human Rights Council, raising the situation for continued attacks on freedom of association, as well as attacks on Belarusians forced into exile.
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.
HRC56: “Georgian civil society needs support now.”
On the sidelines of the 56th session of the UN Human Rights Council, Human Rights House Foundation welcomed the appointment of Gina Romero in her role as the new UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights to Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and of Association and asked how the Council can best ensure freedom of peaceful assembly and association is upheld, even in contexts such as Georgia that are witnessing rising authoritarian tendencies.
Serbia: Stop the extradition of Andrey Gnyot to Belarus
Human Rights House Foundation joins Belarusian and international organisations in calling on the Serbian authorities to stop the extradition of Belarusian filmmaker and co-founder of the “Free Association of Athletes SOS-BY”, Andrey Gnyot, from Serbia to Belarus.