Loreen Foto Annika Aaschberg

On her initiative, Loreen and Civil Rights Defenders will meet some of the brave people fighting for human rights in Azerbaijan on Monday, May 21. A reality differing substantially from the image the authorities wants to show of the country.

”The Azerbaijani regime uses the Eurovision to display the country’s best sides. We are proud that Loreen has chosen to highlight the human rights situation in the country during the day assigned for meetings with Swedish media in Baku”, says Robert Hårdh, Civil Rights Defenders Executive Director.

See pictures from Loreen’s meetings with human rights defenders in Azerbaijan. Visit our page on facebook!

In Azerbaijan violations of the right to freedom of association, freedom of expression and the principle of non-discrimination regurlarly take place. Civil Rights Defenders has arranged for Loreen, who sings Sweden’s contribution Euphoria in the ESC, to meet some of the people who are working with strengthening respect for human rights.

One of them is Emin Huseynov. He is chair of the Institute for Reporters’ Freedom and Safety (IRFS), an organisation monitoring and reporting on violence against journalists and violations of press freedom in the country. Investigative journalists deal with threats and violence on an almost daily basis. Two prominent journalists have been murdered during the past two years. The perpetrators have still not been brought to justice.

In 2011, the IRFS reported that more than 50 journalists, national as well as foreign, had been harassed. Among these are the Swedish journalists Charlie Laprevote and Charlotta Wijkström, who were in Azerbaijan to make a movie about human rights. They were arrested in April 2011 and forced to leave the country despite having entered the country legally.

“I think it is very positive that Loreen shows such a strong commitment to human rights. She is a role model for her fans and I hope that her commitment will inspire young people in Sweden and Europe to take an interest in the work of brave human rights defenders all around the world”, says Robert Hårdh.

For more information, please contact Robert Hårdh (in Baku) by calling: 0709-14 63 14

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Brief background Azerbaijan

The South Caucasus consists of three countries: Azerbaijan (capital: Baku), Armenia (Yerevan) and Georgia (Tbilisi). Azerbaijan declared their independence from the Soviet Union in 1991 but so far no democratic elections have been held. The country’s president, Mr. Ilham Alijev, inherited the post from his father when the latter passed away in 2003.

The country has a vast oil- and gas supply in which, among others, the Norwegian company Statoil has interests in. Azerbaijan joined the UN in 1992 and is also a member of the Council of Europe, since January 2001.

In the preparations before Eurovision more than 20,000 people have been illegally evicted from their homes or had their houses demolished. Several human rights organisations joined forces in the campaign Sing for Democracy to put pressure on the regime. The organisations call on the regime to strengthen the protection of property rights, to release political prisoners and to investigate cases of torture in prisons. Loreen will meet Rasul Jafarov, Sing for Democracy’s leader.

Since President Alexander Lukashenka tog office in Belarus 1994 the country has gone from constitutional democracy to authorian state. Lukashenka has continuously suppressed the political opposition and the civil society, and put pressure on the independent media in order to take the wind out of the democratic forces in the country.

“The situation in Belarus is characterised by the lack of respect for human rights and the silencing of critical voices. The International Ice Hockey Federation has an opportunity to stand up for human rights by not letting Belarus arrange the World Championships in 2014. We urge the Federation to act”, says Robert Hårdh, Civil Rights Defenders Executive Director.

The Presidential election in December 2010 and the authorities respons to the protests came as an unpleasant surprise for the European Union. More than 600 people were arrested in connection to the election, among them several Presidential candidates and journalists. Their sentences vary from administrative penalties to several years’ imprisonment. President Lukashenka won, not surprisingly, the fixed election.

“It is often argued that sport and politics should not be mixed. Nothing could be more wrong in this context. President Lukashenka will use the Championship for propaganda purposes, to calm the critique from the Belarusian citizens and the International community. The Championship will be used to legitimatize the regime”, says Robert Hårdh.

After years of cautious approachment between Belarus and the EU, the dictatorship showed its true colours in December 2010 and the EU had reason to re-evaluate the thawed relationship. Shortly after the election, the EU introduced travel sanctions for people within, or connected, the regime. This list has been expanded to include more people responsible for the oppression of the country’s citizens, opposition, independent media and the civil society. In April 2012 more than 200 Belarusians were banned from travelling within the EU-zone. In order to start a new dialogue the EU demands that Belarus releases political prisoners and takes other steps in the right direction.

Article 193
Civil society and organisations are a fundamental part of democracy. The right to organise yourself without interference from the state is a fundamental right, regardless of kind of organisation it is: athletic club, union, religious community, political party or human rights organisation. In Belarus organisations that pose a threat toward the regime are denied registration. According to Article 193 in the Belarusian criminal code it is also illegal to work in an organisation that is not registered. Such activities can lead to two years imprisonment. In combination with the categorical denial of registration of unwanted organisations, Article 193 poses a threat against the Freedom of Association.

In August 2011 one of Belarus most prominent human rights defenders, Ales Bialiatski, was arrested. The organisation he represents, Viasna, is denied registration and can therefore not work legally. Today Ales Bialiatski is serving a prison sentence of four and a half years. Viasnas Vice Chair, Valiantsin Stefanovich confirms that the human rights situation in Belarus is alarming:

“The situation in Belarus has gone from bad to worse. 2011 was the worst year so far. Never before has the country had so many political prisoners”, says Valiantsin Stefanovitj.

For more information, read the fact sheet (in Swedish) Democracy Misconduct: Belarus does not play by the rules, which we have handed over to the Swedish Ice Hockey Federation at a meeting earlier.

In a letter to the Prime Minister of Moldova we urge the government to adopt an anti-discrimination law in compliance with obligations under international human rights law.

The law in its current state does not meet European or international human rights standards. As a country aspiring to become a member of the European Union the proposed law stands in contradiction to this process.

Furthermore, Civil Rights Defenders support all the changes required by the Civic Group for Equality in their Public Appeal sent on May 15.

Letter to Mr Vladimir Filat May 16, 2012

PUBLIC APPEAL

Roundtable discussion of the Anti-discrimination law in Moldova

According to our partners in the country, Moldova will adopt an anti-discrimination law in a few weeks time, as an important step towards EU integration. Last week the bill was changed and sexual orientation was removed from the list of grounds protected from discrimination in the first article of the draft law. The only field where discrimination on the ground of sexual orientation is prohibited is employment. In addition, the title of the law has been changed to “The law on equality of chances”.

”Together with our partners we have been working for the adoption of an all inclusive law against discrimination for many years. The latest draft in which sexual orientation has been excluded from all areas but employment is disappointing to say the least. Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered people are today facing widespread discrimination in Moldova and these violations must be outlawed,” says Miroslav Durdevic, Programme Officer for Eastern Europe and Central Asia at Civil Rights Defenders.

International law, e.g. the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights and the European Convention for the protection of Human Rights, to which Moldova is state party to, explicitly state that sexual orientation and gender identity are part of the foundation of human rights protection and anti-discrimination principles.

Two staff members of Civil Rights Defenders have been in Moldova during the weekend taking part in Moldovan Pride events. They also participated in a roundtable on Sunday dedicated to the adoption of the Anti-discrimination law were representatives of the Government, local human rights NGOs and international guests of the Pride Festivals participated.

The families who are living along the Drino River are facing a difficult and problematic situation. Even though they have lived there for the past 12 years, they still lack running water, electricity and proper housing.

We are requesting from the local authorities to ensure that the families get access to running water, electricity and proper housing. We also emphasize that all decisions should be in consultation with the families.

Read the statment here

Between 8 and 11 May the observation group will visit different parts of the North Caucasus region. We have arranged for Marietta de Pourbaix-Lundin and Björn von Sydow, Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson for the Swedish delegation of PACE (Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly) to meet with some of the leading human rights defenders in the region, as well some civilians whose rights have been violated. Also, meetings with representatives from authorities will take place.

Ms de Pourbaix-Lundin and Mr von Sydow will accompany three representatives from Civil Rights Defenders: Robert Hårdh, Executive Director, Joanna Kurosz, Programme Director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia, and Benedicte Berner, Vice Chair of the Board.

Robert Hårdh can be reached during the trip on: +46 709 14 63 14

The human rights situation in the North Caucasus – in brief

On a yearly basis the Russian government invests enormous sums of money to dampen the conflicts throughout the North Caucasus. Despite this, the conflict in Dagestan has transgressed into what can be equalled with civil war and the violence in Chechnya, Ingushetia, North Ossetia and Kabardino-Balkaria is still ongoing. Instead of dampening the conflicts Russian military and security forces are seemingly worsening it. Disappearances and extrajudicial executions occur daily.

One example of our work in the region is our cooperation with the human rights organisation Russian Justice Initiative. Together we have brought more than one hundred cases against Russia before the European Court. In all these cases Russia was found responsible for torture, disappearances and extrajudicial executions committed in the North Caucasus and was ordered to pay damages.

Human rights defenders in the region work under very difficult circumstances, putting their lives at stake to help victims obtain justice and to highlight the human rights violations in the North Caucasus. Since 2009 an increasing number of human rights defenders from the North Caucasus were harassed, beaten, kidnapped and murdered. Among others, Natalia Estemirova, human rights lawyer from Memorial Chechnya, who was abducted in Grozny on July 15, 2009 and later that day found shot dead in neighbouring lngushetia. The perpetrators have still not been brought to justice.

The murder of Estemirova was followed by several other murders of human rights defenders, journalists and political opponents, such as Chechen activist Zarema Sadulayeva and her husband Alik Dzhabrailov, who were illegally detained and later found killed, and activist Maksharip Aushev, who was shot dead while travelling in Kabardino-Balkaria on October 25, 2009.

A decade of failure to stabilize the region and deal with the rampant impunity has widened the gap between the public and the government. Nonetheless, Russian law enforcement appears unwilling to investigate these crimes or prevent violations and as a consequence, more human rights abuses are taking place.

Civil Rights Defenders has recently initiate a new programme to further empower and urgently support human rights defenders at risk in the North Caucasus. For more information please contact Marie Månson, Programme Director for Support to Human Rights Defenders at Risk, on +46 8 545 277 33 or by e-mail: marie.manson@civilrightsdefenders.org

We urge AICHR to immediately publicize the draft declaration so the public can meaningfully participate in the drafting process.

The drafting of the declaration is a litmus test of AICHR’s willingness to constitute a credible, respected, and effective regional human rights body.

Read the statement here Joint Statement on AHRD May 2 2012

Civil Rights Defenders calls on the S:t Petersburg and Russian federal authorities to respect LGBT activists’ right to peaceful protest.

Read the press release of our partner Coming Out in St Petersburg

The increase in use of the European Court of Human Rights among new legal practitioners is instrumental in improving the overall human rights situation in the region. Civil Rights Defenders hopes not only to increase knowledge about the European Court of Human Rights and human rights of future legal practitioners but also to strengthen the cooperation among educational and judicial institutions in the region.

It is an appreciated complement to the formal law studies curricula in the region. Most of the law schools in the region do not have any courses in the European Convention of Human Rights, or in the procedures of the European Court of Human Rights.

- With an increased use of the European Convention for Human Rights, we believe that people’s rights will be better respected and the risk of new conflicts will decrease, says Goran Miletic, Programme Director for the Western Balkans at Civil Rights Defenders.

The Moot Court Competition is part of Civil Rights Defenders educational work and is increasingly popular and we had the highest number of judges so far. This years competition was held in Sarajevo, between 20-22 April.

Article 37 of the criminal code includes criminal liability for editors, publishers and producers, which could have a negative effect on media freedom and open up for self-censorship and dis-encouragement.

We are also worried that Article 37 will leave room for interpretation by judges and prosecutors and create possibilities for misuse of the law. It also breaches European standards regulating freedom of speech and the media, as well as Kosovo’s existing media legislation. If the law enters into force, it means a huge setback in implementation of human rights standards.

Read the letter to the President of Kosovo here