Events

2012-01-25: Belarus – one year after the election

(Swedish) Människorättssituationen i Vitryssland ett år efter valet

2011-12-08: Killing the Chickens to Scare the Monkeys – an evening about opportunities and pitfalls of digital technology

Welcome to a crash course in digital self-defense and a conversation about the cat and mouse game going on in many countries, between authorities and advocates for free speech. Civil Rights Defenders, in collaboration with the Museum of Modern Art in Stockholm, invite you to an evening about the opportunities and pitfalls of digital technology. [...]

2011-11-22: The role of civil society, citizens and media in the Western Balkans: Challenges as an opportunity

Civil Rights Defenders is organising a two-day regional conference in cooperation with Transparency International Bosnia and Herzegovina (TI BiH) on the theme “The role of civil society, citizens and media in the Western Balkans: Challenges as an opportunity“. The conference will be held in Sarajevo, November 22-23. Journalists, activists and civil society organisations from the [...]

2011-09-28: Dealing with past atrocities – The Kosovo Memory Book

On September 7 the Kosovo Memory book (Volume 1) was launched by our partner Humanitarian Law Center. The book , when fully completed, will document individual victims killed or disappeared in the armed conflict in Kosovo during 1998 – 2000.  Hopefully the book with contribute o preventing political manipulation of the numbers of victims from [...]

2011-08-03: Leaving the closet

Leaving the closet – Civil Rights Defenders bjuder in till ett samtal om hur det är att arbeta för hbt-personers rättigheter i olika delar av världen. Tio aktivister från Östeuropa, Sydostasien och Centralasien delar med sig av sina erfarenheter och diskuterar hur vi tillsammans kan stärka kampen för öppenhet och tolerans.

2011-06-18: (Swedish) Ninke Liebert i SRs Konflikt om situationen i Norra Kaukasus

Ninke Liebert, handläggare på Civil Rights Defenders, deltar i Sveriges Radios Konflikt lördagen den 18 juni klockan 09.00-10.00. I programmet diskuteras situationen i Norra Kaukasus.

2011-05-25: The new state of Southern Sudan – success or failure?

A new African state will see dawn this summer. Exiled Zambian journalist Mr. Lloyd Himaambo, who covered the referendum on Southern Sudanese independence, visits us for a conversation about the challenges and opportunities that faces the Republic of South Sudan.

2011-05-10: Burma – status report six months after the election

More than six months have passed since Burma elected a civilian government. In practice, the referendum yielded no support for democratic reforms. Rather the military’s grip on power was strengthened. Just days after the referendum Aung San Suu Kyi was released, but around 2,200 political prisoners remain imprisoned. What has happened to the respect and [...]

2011-05-04: Film ”Tomorrow Will Come: Getting Justice in Kenya”

More than three years have passed since the violence that followed the election in Kenya in 2007 took place, when more than 1,300 people were killed and several hundred thousand people were displaced from their homes. Still the authorities have not investigated the crimes. In 2010 the International Criminal Court (the ICC) brought charges against [...]

2011-04-27: Extra seminar in connection to Putin’s visit to Sweden

Russia’s Prime Minister Vladimir Putin will visit Stockholm on April 27. In connection to his visit we urge Sweden’s Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt to discuss with him the difficult situation that human rights defenders in Russia are facing. During the 2009 EU summit Reinfeldt raised this issue with President Medvedev and there is cause for [...]

2011-03-23: The situation of Human Rights and Rule of Law in Albania

On the 21st of January a demonstration organized by the opposition and held in Tirana ended in violent clashes between police forces and demonstrators. As a result, four persons were killed and large numbers were injured both among the protesters and the police. Many demonstrators were detained. It is not clear when they will be [...]

2011-02-23: Russia – 100 convictions in the European Court

Our cooperation with the Russian Justice Initiative has so far resulted in 100 convictions against Russia in the European Court of Human Rights. Overall, Russia has been convicted 160 times for gross human rights violations in the North Caucasus. Most cases that we have conducted in the European Court date from 2002. But the brutality [...]

2011-02-14: Balkan tour of Our Rights

Our photo exhibition “Our Rights” is touring the Western Balkans. The exhibition is made in collaboration with the photographer Elisabeth Ohlson Wallin and the aim is to increase the awareness of the importance of Human Rights. With this exhibition we want to show what might be the consequences of human rights violations but also how [...]

2011-01-12: LGBT rights in Russia

Civil Rights Defenders and RFSL invite you to a seminar on  LGBT rights in Russia In 2010, LGBT organisations (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered) were denied registration. Organisations and activists have been assaulted, which the police ignores. At the same time, a Queer Culture Festival in St. Petersburg was a great success and the visibility [...]

2010-11-30: (Swedish) Robert Hårdh deltar i panelsamtal

2010-11-24: Dagestan – Russia’s New Hot Spot

In recent years, Islamist insurgents have been particularly active in Dagestan. On March 29 two suicide attacks were carried out in the Moscow metro in the middle of morning rush hour, killing 40 people and wounding dozens; the suicide bombers were from Dagestan. In response, the authorities have continued to commit serious violations of basic [...]

2010-11-16: Our Rights at Human Rights Forum in Örebro

Our photo exhibition “Our Rights” will be shown during the Human Rights Forum in Örebro. The exhibition is made in collaboration with the photographer Elisabeth Ohlson Wallin and the aim is to increase the awareness of the importance of Human Rights. -In Sweden, we are good at talking about human rights and to promote them [...]

2010-11-12: Breakfast seminar with the honoree of the Per Anger prize

Amnesty International and Civil Rights Defenders invite you to a breakfast seminar on the 12th of November. Every year, the Living History Forum, on behalf of the Government, award a person who made great humanist and democracy efforts in the world with the Per Anger Prize. 2010 the human rights defender Elena Urlaeva is awarded [...]

2010-11-07: Civil Rights Defenders at Uppsala Pride

Civil Rights Defenders will participate in Uppsala Pride; with an info table and arranging a seminar. Information about the seminar: Pride and Prejudice – why is Pride needed? Sara Laginder, intern at Civil Rights Defenders, invites participants to a discussion; What can we do and how can we work for equal rights of all citizens? [...]

2010-10-27: A Truth Commission for Roma in Sweden

Roma in Sweden have been subjected to gross violations of human rights, as in many other parts of the world. The group has been persecuted and discriminated. Not long ago Roma women were subjected to forced sterilizations. In February 2007 the Delegation for Roma Issues was established by the government in order to promote the [...]

2010-10-10: Pride Week in Belgrade

On Sunday, the 10th of October, there will be a Pride Parade in Belgrade, Serbia. All through out this week there are ongoing activities in Belgrade, like movie screenings, seminars and exhibitions. To read more about Belgrade Pride and to check out the schedule. Civil Rights Defenders is arranging “Day Before Pride” together with the [...]

”Our Rights” at film festival in Albania

Civil Rights Defenders exhibition ”Our Rights” will be shown at the fifth edition of the International Human Rights Film Festival in Albania. Our Programme Officer Peter Mossop will be participating at the festival. The organizers themselves present the ideas and aims of the festival in the following way: Human Rights in Albania have been an [...]

2010-09-29: Two years after independence Kosovo is still a “State of constriction”

In May 2010 Youth Initiative for Human Rights in Kosovo and Civil Rights Defenders published a report which scrutinized different parts of Kosovo governance structures. The report titled “State of Costriction” questions whether the citizens of Kosovo feel free to follow their conscience and judgment. The report concludes that the answer to this question is [...]

2010-09-24: Conference on Human Rights Defenders

Joanna Kurosz, programme director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia at Civil Rights Defenders, will participate as moderator in the Conference of Human Rights Defenders in Belarus and the Baltic States. Around 70 Belarusian Human Rights Defenders will attend the conference together with 80 other participants from the Baltic countries, Western Balkans, Caucasus, Eastern Europe, [...]

2010-09-09: Internal investigations within the Swedish Police

Robert Hårdh, Executive Director of Civil Rights Defenders, has been invited to comment on the report made by Professor Dennis Töllborg on how the Swedish police conduct internal investigations. The seminar is open to the public; please notify Dennis Töllborg (dennis.toellborg@gri.gu.se) or Anders Månsson (anders.mansson@polisen.se) if you are coming. Date: Thursday 9th of September Time: [...]

2010-05-26: Human rights in Vietnam

Our guest speaker in this spring’s last seminar in the series “One hour of human rights,” talks about the human rights situation in Vietnam. What issues are most important? How is the civil society organized in the country and how much do ordinary people know about human rights? Giang Nguyen was born in Vietnam and [...]

2010-05-12: The future role and survival of the Press Ombudsman

The Swedish Press Ombudsman, Yrsa Stenius, has been criticized and questioned during the last couple of months, among other for recommending the Swedish Press Council to criticize the daily Expressen for an article about Jan Guillou being in contact with KGB in the -60:s and -70:s. Expressen responded by boycotting the Press Ombudsman, and several [...]

2010-04-25: Unique opportunity for education in human rights

In April 23-25 Civil Rights Defenders will arrange the fourth moot court competition in Rijeka, Croatia. The involvement of Law schools from five countries, professors, highly experienced judges from the region, makes the Moot Court competition a unique opportunity for education. Ten clubs from Macedonia, Bosnia, Montenegro, Serbia and Croatia will participate. Two judges from [...]

2010-03-30: Harder times for human rights defenders in Kyrgyzstan

Kyrgyzstan has for long been considered the least repressive country in Central Asia. A civil society has developed and been able to work relatively freely. But lately the situation has changed to the worse. Peaceful demonstrations are stopped by the military and journalists critical of the regime are persecuted, threatened and killed. Gennady Pavlyuk is [...]

2010-02-24: Belarus under the microscope in the UN

In May 2010 Belarus will be inquired by the UN Human Rights Council under the Universal Periodic Review, UPR. Belarus has for a long time been criticized by both the UN and other international bodies for violations of fundamental human rights. The Belarusian authorities’ reaction to the criticism has been weak. Meanwhile, the country wants [...]

2010-01-27: Impunity leads to new violence

Internationally-supported transitional justice projects have come to play a central role in broader efforts to build peace, democracy and the rule of law in troubled states, based on the belief that impunity for war crimes tends to lead to new cycles of violence. But the record shows that their most prominent mechanisms – truth commissions [...]

2009-12-03: Ten Conditions of Love – the story about Rebiya Kadeer

Rebiya Kadeer, Uighur human rights defender, visits Civil Rights Defenders on Thursday December 3rd. We will show the documentary “Ten Conditions of Love” and talk about the Uighur’s struggle for human rights in China. See a film clip here. Date: Thursday December 3rd Time: 18.00-20.00 Place: Stora Nygatan 26, 1st floor Ten Conditions of Love [...]

2009-11-25: Human Rights Defenders – Iran

Thirty years ago the Iranian Revolution brought Ayatolla Khomeini to power in Iran. Since then human rights defenders have been fighting for equality and respect for human rights, often with their own lives at stake. Parvin Ardalan, journalist and human rights defender from Iran, visits Civil Rights Defenders to talk about human rights in Iran. [...]

2009-11-18: Civil Society Wants a Truth Commission in the Western Balkans

The civil society in the Western Balkans has initiated a process to establish a Regional Commission for Truth-seeking and Truth-telling About War Crimes. A very large number of NGOs in all the countries involved support and promote the initiative. The focus ahead will be to get the duty holders committed to the process. Will that [...]

2009-11-17: Human Rights Forum

Civil Rights Defenders is one of the organisers of the Human Rights Forum, Scandinavia’s largest forum for human rights. During this years event we will participate with the exhibition Our Rights and arrange several seminars on differnet topics. Civil Rights Defenders program for Human Rights Forum: Monday November 16 11.00-11.30: Film “Missing Lives: Disappearance and [...]

2009-11-13: Discussion about Sweden’s and the EU’s politics regarding Russia

Oksana Tjelysjeva är verksam inom Rysk-tjetjenska vänskapsförbundet och kolumnist för den oberoende tidningen Novaja Gazeta. Usam Bajsajev arbetar för den ryska människorättsorganisationen Memorial, som i år tilldelats det prestigefulla Sacharovpriset. Ingmar Oldberg är Rysslandsexpert och associerad forskare vid Utrikespolitiska institutet. Robert Hårdh är chef för Civil Rights Defenders. Martin Uggla är ordförande i Östgruppen för [...]

2009-11-12: “Getting Justice: Kenya’s Deadly Game of Wait and See”

In the beginning of 2008 a wave of violence was spread across Kenya. The election results from December 2007 were questioned and lead to massive riots. More than 1 000 people lost their lives and close to 600 000 were displaced. “Getting Justice: Kenya’s deadly game of wait and see” is a documentary about the [...]

2009-11-11: EU can improve human rights situation in Belarus

One year ago the European Union temporarily lifted the travelban on Belarusian politicians and civil servants, hoping that this would lead to an improved human rights situation in the country. In November the future of the sanctions will be decided. Fifty international and Belarusian organisations recommend, in a new report, that EU keeps the travelban [...]

2009-11-09: November 9: The Day that Changed Europe

Crystal Night and the fall of the Berlin Wall. November 9 has been a turning point in European history. Civil Rights Defenders participate in an event on the twentieth anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, organised by Stockholms Stadsteater, in collaboration with the Swedish EU Presidency and the Foundation Natur & Kultur.

2009-11-07: Terrorist fear and Rule of law – the Guantanamo system after Bush

Public meeting with a panel discussion on terrorism legislation and human rights. Participants: Thomas Olsson, Lawyer, has represented members of al-Barakaat among other Laue Traberg Smidt, Danish Lawyer, has represented members of al-Aqsa among other Anna Wigenmark, Lawyer, Civil Rights Defenders Madelaine Seidlitz, Lawyer, Amnesty Abdirisak Aden, Gösta Hultén, Journalist, Charta 2008 Date: Saturday November [...]

2009-11-04: Future challenges for Swedish development aid

The need for urgent aid in connection with natural disasters or armed conflicts will most probably increase in times of climate change and financial crises. At the same, the Swedish government has expressed a wish to prioritize long-term support for democratization and human rights. How will these two needs be combined and what are the [...]

2009-10-28: Human Rights Defenders are Silenced in North Caucasus

This month’s seminar is temporarily moved to the afternoon and The Royal Coin Cabinett (Myntkabinettet)! Since this summer the human rights situation in North Caucasus has deteriorated dramatically. After the murder of the prominent human rights defender Natalja Estemirova in July, harrasments of human rights defenders have increased and several people have been murdered. Who [...]

2009-09-30: Has Serbia capitulated to the perpetrators and hooligans?

The Pride Parade that would have been held in Belgrade, September 20, was stopped in the last minute. The Interior Ministry and the police suddenly announced that if the parade would be held in central Belgrade the  participants’ safety could not be guaranteed. This means in fact that the parade was banned, and shows that [...]

2009-09-27: Book and Library Fair

Civil Rights Defenders participate, for the third time, at the International Square of the Book and Library Fair in Gothenburg. We will show the photo exhibition Our Rights, which was produced in cooperation with Elisabeth Ohlson Wallin, and arrange a breakfast seminar on Friday morning. With Life at stake All over the world people are [...]

2009-09-13: Photo exhibition: “Our Rights”

Together with the Swedish photographer Elisabeth Ohlson Wallin we have made a photo exhibition to show our work for human rights in a contemporary context. The exhibition opens September 11 at 13.00 on the Central Station in Stockholm and will be shown September 11-13. Place: Entrance Hall at Stockholm Central Station

2009-05-27: Right wing extremists in Swedish politics

Daniel Poohl, editor in chief at the magazine Expo, talks about the growth of right wing extremist party Sverigedemokraterna. During the last couple of years the right wing groups have worked on transforming on the surface, adapting their message in order to become more accepted among the general public. Step by step they have become [...]

2009-05-19: “Shadow of the Holy Book” – bizarre story about odd country

Turkmenistan has one of the most authoritarian regimes in the world. The country is also rich in fossil gas, and multinational companies will do almost anything in the competition for a contract. With a lot of humor and skilled story telling the director Arto Halonen questions the morale of some of the world’s largest companies [...]

2009-05-06: Women invisible as political refugees

Minoo Jalali, a lawyer born in Iran and living in Great Britain, claims that female and male political refugees are not treated the same in Great Britain. Maria Bexelius teaches in the right of asylum on Teologiska högskolan in Stockholm and has written the books “Right of Asylum, gender and politics” (2008) and “Women on [...]

2009-04-29: UN criticism against situation in Swedish custody

Sofia Lindow, Master of Laws, talks about the conditions in Swedish custody, which has been criticized by the UN Committee against torture and the Committee against Torture of the European Council, among other. Lindow presents the criticizm of the committees and discusses what effect a deprivation of liberty can have on the mental health of [...]

2009-03-25: Belarus – squeezed between Russia and EU

Jekaterina Glod, analyst at the Belarusian Institute for Strategic Studies (BISS), talks about the latest developments in Belarus and the country’s relationships with Russia and the EU. On March 17 EU decided to give the Belarusian regime a new opportunity to come closer to the European Union. EU temporarily revoked a travel ban for a [...]

2009-02-25: New tests for Macedonian democracy

Zarko Hadzi-Zafirov, Macedonian Young Lawyers Association, talks about the road towards EU for Macedonia. The presidential and local elections in March 2009 will affect the start of the negotiation talks about EU membership to a large extent. Last year the Macedonian government was heavily criticized for the riots and violence that followed the parliamentary elections, [...]