Civil Rights Defenders » Events http://www.civilrightsdefenders.org A non-governmental expert organisation that protects people's civil and political rights and defends vulnerable human rights defenders globally. Fri, 03 Feb 2012 14:59:12 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 Belarus – one year after the election http://www.civilrightsdefenders.org/en/events/13920/ http://www.civilrightsdefenders.org/en/events/13920/#comments Wed, 25 Jan 2012 09:34:08 +0000 Anja Steiber http://www.civilrightsdefenders.org/?p=13920 Anna Gerasimova A year has passed since the Presidental election in Belarus and a wave of persecutions of human rights defenders, independent media actors and political opponents, has followed in its tracks.

In November 2011, Belarus most prominent human rights defender, was sentenced to four and a half year in prison. The sentence can be interpreted as a warning to the civil society.

Anna Gerasimova, Director of the Belarusian Human Rights House in Vilnius, will tell us about the developments post-election and about the current human rights situation in Belarus. The conversation is led by Joanna Kurosz, Programme Director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia.

Date: 25 January
Time: 9.00-10.00 (coffee/tea and sandwich servec from 8.30)
Location: Stora Nygatan 26, Stockholm

The seminar will be held in English.

Sign up, no later than January 23, via anmalan@civilrightsdefenders.org

Welcome!

The discussion will be broadcast live on Bambuser. You can ask questions via the chat.

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]]> http://www.civilrightsdefenders.org/en/events/13920/feed/ 0 Killing the Chickens to Scare the Monkeys – an evening about opportunities and pitfalls of digital technology http://www.civilrightsdefenders.org/en/events/13851/ http://www.civilrightsdefenders.org/en/events/13851/#comments Thu, 08 Dec 2011 19:00:34 +0000 Natasha Jevtic Esbjörnson http://www.civilrightsdefenders.org/?p=13851

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.

Date: 8 December, 2011
Time: 6 – 7.30 pm
Location: Museum of Modern Art, Stockholm

The evening starts with the screening of Jens Assur’s latest film Killing the Chickens to Scare the Monkeys (25 min), a strong narrative that alludes to a Chinese proverb about how individuals are killed in order to intimidate others.

The film is followed by a conversation between Jens Assur and Brittis Edman, Programme Director of Southeast Asia at Civil Rights Defenders. They will talk about the role of pictures and movies in human rights work, and about the trend of increased restrictions on the Internet as a response to the transparency that the web has to offer.

The evening ends with a crash course in digital self-defense for activists, journalists and ordinary citizens. We show practically how you can surf anonymously with Tor, chat encrypted with your friends, and avoid other hazards on the web.

The event is free. It will be held in Swedish. Register at anmalan@civilrightsdefenders.org

Welcome!

*****************

Jens Assur is an internationally known photographer and filmmaker and one of the leading contemporary writers. Jens debut film The Last Dog in Rwanda won several awards at festivals around the world. His latest film Killing the Chickens to Scare the Monkeys, premiered in Cannes 2011 and won first prize in the Nordic Panorama, Århus.

Anders Sundman is a hacker from Stockholm hacker space “Sparvnästet”. He works as a programmer, contributing to several open source projects and is a strong advocate of individual freedom and right to anonymity. He is lead developer for The Haven Project. (www.haven-project.org)

Brittis Edman has documented and analyzed the human rights situation in Southeast Asia since the mid-1990s, especially in Cambodia, where she lived for seven years. Brittis started working for the Civil Rights Defenders in September 2010. Before that she worked among others as Southeast Asia-investigator at Amnesty International for five years.

The evening is moderated by Karin Malmquist, Museum of Modern Art, and Natasha Jevtic Esbjörnson, Civil Rights Defenders.

About Killing the Chickens to Scare the Monkeys:
Jens Assur second short film is a unique story set in China. The film consists of nine scenes that are rolled up in the grey area between black and white, where the national policy and strategy have unforeseen consequences for a young teacher’s life. The film’s design language and provocative storytelling is intended to open the viewer’s inner eye of reflection and contemplation. The film’s title alludes to the Chinese Central Government’s previous policy to allow the execution of dissidents to punish opponents tendencies.

Killing The Chicken to Scare the Monkeys premiered at this year’s film festival in Cannes, in the prestigious section Quinzaine des Réalisateurs. In September, the film won first prize at the Nordic Panorama in Århus. The film was also selected to compete in the Sundance Film Festival and Rotterdam International Film Festival next year.

Civil Rights Defenders supports the film through funds from Sida (Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency). Our cooperation with Jens Assur aims to initiate and promote discussion on human rights, rule of law, freedom of expression and not least the right to a fair trial, using the film as a catalyst for reflection.

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]]> http://www.civilrightsdefenders.org/en/events/13851/feed/ 0 The role of civil society, citizens and media in the Western Balkans: Challenges as an opportunity http://www.civilrightsdefenders.org/en/events/13689/ http://www.civilrightsdefenders.org/en/events/13689/#comments Tue, 22 Nov 2011 22:50:47 +0000 Anja Steiber http://www.civilrightsdefenders.org/?p=13689 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 region are invited to talk about how to esure independence of civil society organisations and create a safe environment for their actions. They will also discuss how they can influence decision-makers by using the capacities that new technologies provide.

Conference schedule:Agenda Nov 22 and 23

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]]> http://www.civilrightsdefenders.org/en/events/13689/feed/ 0 Dealing with past atrocities – The Kosovo Memory Book http://www.civilrightsdefenders.org/en/events/13377/ http://www.civilrightsdefenders.org/en/events/13377/#comments Wed, 28 Sep 2011 08:30:06 +0000 Anja Steiber http://www.civilrightsdefenders.org/?p=13377 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 the armed conflict, help Kosovo society to face and deal with the atrocities committed and contribute to the building of a collective memory.

The Kosovo Memory Book represents a unique database of documentation and the Director for the Humanitarian Law Centre Kosovo, Bekim Blakaj, will during his visit describe the immense work that has taken place in collecting and researching documents whiles conducting more than 8,400 interviews with the victim’s family members. He will also present his views on why this is all so important for the Kosovo society.

Guest speaker: Bekim Blakaj, director of the Humanitarian Law Center
Moderating: Peter Mossop, Programme Officer for the Western Balkans at Civil Rights Defenders

Time: September 28, 9.00-10.00, coffee / tea and sandwiches served from 8.30
Location: Civil Rights Defenders premises, Stora Nygatan 26, Stockholm

The seminar will be held in English. Subscribe at info@civilrightsdefenders.org before September 26.

Welcome!

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]]> http://www.civilrightsdefenders.org/en/events/13377/feed/ 0 Leaving the closet http://www.civilrightsdefenders.org/en/events/13218/ http://www.civilrightsdefenders.org/en/events/13218/#comments Wed, 03 Aug 2011 21:00:39 +0000 Anja Steiber http://www.civilrightsdefenders.org/?p=13218

Openness is a prerequisite to dispel prejudices and taboos about lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered (LGBT) persons. Prominent figures can contribute to transforming communities and making people understand that LGBT people are not mentally ill but live and love in the same manner as all other. But in many countries where we work LGBT people can not live openly without fear of persecution and harassment.

Civil Rights Defenders invites you to a conversation about what it’s like to work for LGBT rights in different parts of the world. Ten activists from Eastern Europe, Southeast and Central Asia will share their experiences and discuss how we can strengthen the struggle for openness and tolerance together.

Participants: LGBT activists from Eastern Europe, Southeast and Central Asia
Moderator: Goran Miletic, program director for the Western Balkans at Civil Rights Defenders

Time: 3 August at 18:00 to 18:45
Location: Pride Sergel (Aquarium), Kulturhuset, Sergel Square 3

The seminar will be held in English. No registration.

Welcome!

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]]> http://www.civilrightsdefenders.org/en/events/13218/feed/ 0 (Swedish) Ninke Liebert i SRs Konflikt om situationen i Norra Kaukasus http://www.civilrightsdefenders.org/en/events/13090/ http://www.civilrightsdefenders.org/en/events/13090/#comments Sat, 18 Jun 2011 08:30:06 +0000 Anja Steiber http://www.civilrightsdefenders.org/?p=13090 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.

Lyssna här

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]]> http://www.civilrightsdefenders.org/en/events/13090/feed/ 0 The new state of Southern Sudan – success or failure? http://www.civilrightsdefenders.org/en/events/11562/ http://www.civilrightsdefenders.org/en/events/11562/#comments Wed, 25 May 2011 08:30:17 +0000 Emilie http://www.civilrightsdefenders.org/?p=11562 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. He will talk about oil, minority populations, and the International Criminal Court (ICC) in relation to Khartoum.

Mr. Lloyd Himaambo will also talk about the new nation’s relationship with regional blocs like the East Africa Community, Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). Will South Sudan, which has just ended decades of a bloody war leaving thousands of people dead and many more maimed, respect human rights?

The conversation is led by Mr. Erik Esbjörnson, Programme Developer for new regions at Civil Rights Defenders

Date: Wednesday May 25, 2011
Time: 18:00 – 19:00, coffee/tea and sandwich served from 17:30
Location: Stora Nygatan 26, Stockholm

Sign up no later than Monday May 23 via info@civilrightsdefenders.org

The seminar will be held in English.

The event will be broadcast live via Bambuser. Ask questions to the speaker directly via the chat.

Welcome!

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]]> http://www.civilrightsdefenders.org/en/events/11562/feed/ 0 Burma – status report six months after the election http://www.civilrightsdefenders.org/en/events/11452/ http://www.civilrightsdefenders.org/en/events/11452/#comments Tue, 10 May 2011 08:30:09 +0000 Emilie http://www.civilrightsdefenders.org/?p=11452 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 protection of human rights in Burma during the past six months? What are the conditions for journalists like, and what about the freedom of expression? Democratic Voice of Burma’s chief editor, Mr. Aye Chan Naing, will answer the questions.

The conversation is led by Ms. Brittis Edman, Program Director for Southeast Asia at Civil Rights Defenders

Date: Tuesday May 10, 2011
Time: 9:00 – 10:00, coffee/tea and sandwiches served from 8:30
Location: Stora Nygatan 26, Stockholm

Sign up no later than Monday May 9 via info@civilrightsdefenders.org

The seminar will be held in English.

Welcome!

If you cannot attend, you can follow the seminar live via Bambuser and ask questions to the speaker directly via the chat.

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]]> http://www.civilrightsdefenders.org/en/events/11452/feed/ 0 Film ”Tomorrow Will Come: Getting Justice in Kenya” http://www.civilrightsdefenders.org/en/events/11549/ http://www.civilrightsdefenders.org/en/events/11549/#comments Wed, 04 May 2011 18:30:40 +0000 Emilie http://www.civilrightsdefenders.org/?p=11549 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 six high-ranking officials and politicians, suspected of crimes against humanity.

The film Tomorrow Will Come: Getting Justice in Kenya is about civil society’s struggle against impunity and the International Criminal Court’s work in Kenya.

Participating in both the film and in the subsequent discussion is Mr. Maina Kiai, a Kenyan human rights defender and newly appointed Special Rapporteur on freedom of assembly and association by the United Nations.

Discussion led by Mr. Robert Hårdh, Executive Director at Civil Rights Defenders

Date: Wednesday May 4, 2011
Time: 18:30 – 20:00. Coffee/tea and sandwich served from 18:00
Location: Stora Nygatan 26, Stockholm

Sign up no later than Monday May 2 via info@civilrightsdefenders.org

The seminar will be held in English.

In order to see film please check out InformAction homepage. The discussion will be broadcasted live online via Bambuser. You can ask questions to the speaker directly via the chat.

Welcome!

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    Poverty and oppression in combination with unresolved tensions and widespread impunity contributes to an unstable situation in many African states. The question is how long it takes before the open st...
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    (Swedish) Den 27 juni inleds rättegången mot Röda Khmerernas nu levande högsta ledare. Hör intervjun med Brittis Edman, programansvarig för Sydostasien på Civil Rights Defenders....
]]> http://www.civilrightsdefenders.org/en/events/11549/feed/ 0 Extra seminar in connection to Putin’s visit to Sweden http://www.civilrightsdefenders.org/en/events/11546/ http://www.civilrightsdefenders.org/en/events/11546/#comments Wed, 27 Apr 2011 08:30:31 +0000 Natasha Jevtic Esbjörnson http://www.civilrightsdefenders.org/?p=11546 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 a follow-up.

Olga Sadovskaya, from the organisation Committee Against Torture in Nizhny Novgorod, will participate in a seminar, arranged extra because of Putin’s visit, to discuss the continuously serious human rights situation in Northern Caucasus. Olga Sadovskaya will talk about the human rights violations to which people in Chechnya are subjected to in their daily life.

Committee Against Torture works with separate cases of torture and investigates human rights violations in Chechnya. In April the organisation recieved the human rights award from the Council of Europe because of the important work with supporting victims of serious human rights crimes.

Date: Wednesday April 27, 2011
Time: 9.00 – 10:00. Coffee/tea and sandwich served from 8.30
Location: Stora Nygatan 26, Stockholm

Sign up no later than Tuesday April 26 via info@civilrightsdefenders.org

The seminar will be held in English.

The discussion will be broadcast live on Bambuser. You can ask questions to Ms. Olga Sadovskaya via the chat.

Welcome!

Documents for download, from Olga Sadovskaya (in English):
Letter to Medvedev
Prosecutor’s response
JMG challenges Feb 2011

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