Latest news on achievements, collaborations, events and activities.
After two and a half years in prison, the Kazakhstani human rights defender, Yevgeniy Zhovtis, was released on February 17. “The release of Yevgeniy Zhovtis is very positive and welcome. However, the authorities of Kazakhstan have still not recognized the human rights violations he was subjected to”, said Joanna Kurosz, Programme Director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia.
We welcome our new colleague Cecilia Tengroth, specialist in international law. With Cecilia on board, we will enhance our monitoring of human rights in Sweden. “Human rights can be violated, even in Sweden, and that is why it is so important to keep an eye on our decision-makers and increase people’s awareness about their rights.”
The quality of new laws in Moldova is unsatisfying and at the same time the legislative inflation is rising. Lack of transparency in the legislative process is another great problem, according to the corruption risk analysis by Civil Rights Defenders and Centre for Analysis and Prevention of Corruption.
We urge the Thai Government to drop charges against Chiranuch Premchaiporn. Chiranuch faces trial this month following charges of the lèse majesté law, a law that seriously infringes on fundamental freedoms and is used in dubious ways against human rights defenders.
Civil Rights Defenders is concerned about the recent threats and attacks against the Helsinki Committee in Bosnia-Herzegovina. We call upon the authorities to condemn the attacks and ensure the protection of human rights defenders.
On 8 February, the regional parliament in St. Petersburg voted for a law banning “homosexual propaganda” in a second round. Civil Rights Defenders protests against the discriminatory law, which is one step from being introduced.
Issues related to the rights of LGBT people are rarely a research subject in Bosnia-Herzegovina. The LGBT community seems to have ‘disappeared’ from the public discourse since the violent attacks against the organisers of the Queer festival in 2008.
“Ales just did his job, and when human right activists in Belarus today do their job they will end up in prison” said Joanna Kurosz from Civil Rights Defenders when speaking during a manifestation in support of Ales Bialiatski, in Stockholm on January 31 2011.
On January 24, the Minsk city court upheld the 4.5-year verdict against Ales Bialiatski, Chair of Human Rights Centre Viasna. ”The Belarusian regime is using the process against Ales Bialiatski to silence human rights defenders in the country, said Joanna Kurosz at Civil Rights Defenders.
On January 20, the criminal proceeding for libel against Oleg Orlov, Chairman of our partner Memorial, was discontinued. “We welcome the fact that libel has been decriminalised in Russia, which prevents similar proceedings against human rights defenders in the future”, said Joanna Kurosz, Programme Director at Civil Rights Defenders.
Igor Kalyapin, chairman of our Russian partner Committee against Torture, has been accused of disclosing state secrets and risks several years in prison if he will be trialed. “Igor Kalyapin is among the most courageous human rights defenders in Russia today, said Joanna Kurosz at Civil Rights Defenders.
Prison for Belarusian human rights defender – A heavy blow was dealt to the Belarusian civil society on 24 November 2011 when Ales Bialiatski, chairman of the human rights organisation Viasna, was sentenced to four and a half years in prison for tax evasion and had his property confiscated.
According to a new amendment Belarusians can be fined EUR 100 for visiting a banned website, among them the site of Viasna. -This is another step taken by Alexander Lukashenka’s regime to suppress freedom of speech on the internet, said Joanna Kurosz, at Civil Rights Defenders.
The Cambodian government should abandon the fourth draft law on NGOs. Read the statement we signed together with a group of international human rights organisations.
On December 20, Cambodians from the country’s 24 provinces carried a 230 meter long “kramar”, a traditional scarf, with over 10,000 signatures requesting the Parliament to stop the bill that restricts civil rights and freedoms.
Civil Rights Defenders condemns the conviction of the Swedish journalist Martin Schibbye and Johan Persson. The terrorist legislation that was used during the trial was turned into a tool to prevent free speech in Ethiopia.
In December, we organised a workshop on the new freedom of expression law for judges in Moldova. Percy Bratt, chairman of our Board, was one of the trainers. “Strengthening the legal system is central, because that’s where the rights are protected”, he commented afterwards.
On December 15th the founder of the Dagestani independent newspaper Chernovik, Gadzhimurad Kamalov, was shot to death by a masked gunman. The murder represents yet another serious blow to independent journalism and freedom of speech in the violent republic of Dagestan.
On November 29 Ales Bialiatski, Chair of Viasna, appealed the verdict of the Pershamaiski District Court in Minsk, sentencing him to four and a half years in prison and confiscation of property for tax evasion. Civil Rights Defenders believes that the decision is a pretext for the regime to silence human rights defenders.
The legislative assembly of St. Petersburg has decided to postpone the hearing of the anti-gay bill for the second time. “Protesters all over the world have shown that this is not a bill that belongs in a European country in 2011″, said Ninke Liebert, at Civil Rights Defenders.
Civil Rights Defenders condemn the hate speech and threats which were caused by a videoclip about rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons. We urge the Montenegrin authorities to properly investigate these crimes.
A court in Chisinau has convicted a website for hate speech against LGBT people. The case is an important step forward in the work for equal rights in Moldova, and demonstrates that incitement to discrimination and violence will not be tolerated.
Civil Rights Defenders and Östgruppen condemn the verdict against Ales Bialiatski, Chairperson of Human Rights Centre Viasna. A protest letter was submitted to the Belarusian Embassy in Stockholm on November 25.
The right to a fair hearing and access to court are the most frequent problems regarding the right to fair trial in Serbia, according to a report published by Civil Rights Defenders in collaboration with Youth Initiative for Human Rights.
Ales Bialiatski, Chariman of the human rights organisation Viasna, was sentenced for tax evasion to four and a half years in prison and confiscation of property. An unacceptable verdict according to Civil Rights Defenders.
We urge the Cambodian authorities to immediately withdraw the drafted NGO law. The law violates the rights to freedom of association and expression, Civil Rights Defenders and several other human rights organsiations say in a joint statement.
We are looking for someone who will work operationally with human rights issues in Russia and the North Caucasus. You will be responsible for managing and developing our long-term collaborations with human rights organisations in Russia.
A new anti-gay bill was accepted at a first reading in the regional parliament of Saint Petersburg. We protest against the bill since it severely limits the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. You can do that too, by signing a petition.
In the North Caucasus impunity for grave human rights violations, committed by law enforcement agents on the pretext of combating terrorism, is widespread and requires prompt and independent investigations. Together with the Interregional Committee Against Torture we support the Joint Mobile Group, whose members travel to Chechnya to monitor and investigate the most serious human rights violations.
Dragan Markovic Palma, Mayor of Jagodina and President of the parlamentary party United Serbia has been convicted of hate speech. Civil Rights Defenders welcomes the verdict but worries about the fact that the Mayor’s reaction to is was new hate speech.
The North Caucasus has remained the most troubled region in Russia in regard to human rights. Human rights defenders in the region are working under very difficult circumstances and are endangering their lives to help victims obtain justice and to highlight the human rights violations in the North Caucasus.
At the first day of the trial against human rights defender Ales Bialiatski, the Belarusian authorities used extraordinary precautions to prevent people from attending the hearing at the Maskouski district court. Journalists without ID’s were not allowed entrance to the court hall. Two persons, wearing T-shirts with the inscription “Freedom to Ales Bialiatski!”, were removed [...]
Representatives from human rights organisations, including Civil Rights Defenders, have been denied visa for travel to Belarus and cannot attend the trial of Ales Bialiatski. The fact that Belarus is closing the borders for international observers reinforces our concern that Ales Bialiatski will not get a fair and just trial.
The investigation of Natalia Estemirova’s murder continues along a false path, according to an independent report by the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), Memorial and Novaya Gazeta.
Gerald Nagler, founder of the Swedish Helsinki Committee for Human Rights, was presented the Austrian Cross of Honour for Science and Art by the Republic of Austria on October 18.
Our colleagues in the North Caucasus risk their lives to defend the rights of others. One of our most important tasks is to improve their security situation, as well as the security of other human rights defenders around the world.
This year, the Swedish Government and the Living History Forum have awarded their prize in memory of Per Anger to Iranian human rights campaigner Narges Mohammadi. This is in recognition of her fight for human rights and women’s freedom, with personal courage and despite repeated serious infringements of her freedom.
The Executive Committee of Minsk City banned the Pride parade, despite the fact that President Alexander Lukashenko had said that he is not against a parade, if it is organised in the outskirts of the city.
In a joint statement, we urge the upper chamber of the Belarusian Parliament to quash the recent legislative amendments that impose limitations on freedom of assembly and association and severely restrict the work of Belarusian civil society groups.
The EU has demanded from the Cambodian Government to ensure that a law on NGOs encourages, rather than restricts, the growth of civil society, says Catherine Ashton, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy
In 2009-2010 Moldova saw improvements in terms of human rights. However, several grave problems remain. Moldova has no law against discrimination and persons with disabilities, sexual minorities, elderly, women and ethnic and religious minorities often face discrimination.
Civil Rights Defenders strongly condemns the attack on the Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in Bosnia and Herzegovina and its staff. We urge the presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina to take immediate action to ensure the safety and well being of those threatened.
On October 11, the International Day of Coming Out, Pride was opening in Minsk. “A provocation for those who do not want to recognize the political rights of LGBT people”, said Siarhei Androsenka, from Minsk Gay Pride.
In this issue: Successful networking during Pride – During Stockholm Pride in August we were visited by a group of LGBT activists from Eastern Europe, Southeast Asia and Central Asia.
Despite months of planning and intense dialogue with state authorities the Belgrade Pride parade 2011 was banned. The ban, however, may bring some positive effects. Listen to an interview with Boban Stojanovic and Goran Miletic, two of the organisers.
On October 7 it has been five years since the murder of Anna Politkovskaja and no one has been convicted. “The Russian authorities send very clear signals that you should not dig into irregularities if you don’t want to get in trouble”, said Robert Hårdh, in an interview with Göteborgsposten.
Personal characteristics such as national or ethnic origin, religious or political beliefs, medical condition, sexual orientation, sex and age are bases for daily discrimination in Serbia. Together with Centre for Advanced Legal Studies we address these issues in a systematic way.
The European Court of Human Rights has found Russia responsible for the enforced disappearance of a Chechen man in October 2004. The judgment is an important result of our cooperation with Russian Justice Initiative.
On September 30 the Serbian authorities decided to cancel the Belgrade Pride parade, due to threats from extremist right-wing groups. “There was no political will to support Pride”, said Goran Miletic, Civil Rights Defenders.
The National Security Council of the Serbian Parliament (Savet za nacionalnu bezbednost) has banned all public manifestations during the weekend, including Pride, on the grounds of national security. The Pride organisers have gathered to discuss what should be the next step.
September 15, the Third International Queer Culture Festival opened in St. Petersburg. The ceremony attracted many visitors, despite protests from religious youth groups.
Uladzimir Labkovich, legal adviser at Human Rights Center Viasna, was detained in Minsk in connection to a manifestation in support of Ales Bialiatski, on September 25. The arrest is yet another example of the harassment of Viasna employees.
The Arkhangelsk Oblast Council of Deputies has passed amendments and additions to the regional law, stating that public actions aimed at promotion of homosexuality among minors are not allowed. We consider the law to be discriminatory and violating the fundamental principle of equality of rights of all people.
The case against Ales Bialiatski is directly connected to the human rights work of Viasna, the most prominent human rights organisation in Belarus. Viasna has been denied registration by the authorities on several occasions but continues to work for the rights of the people. According to Belarusian legislation it is illegal to work for an [...]
On September 23 it was ten years since the Swedish-Eritrean journalist Dawit Isaak was arrested in Eritrea. Today we don’t even know if he is alive. -We have to intensify the diplomatic efforts, , said Percy Bratt during a manifestation.
We are deeply concerned about the widespread human rights violations in the aftermath of the presidential elections, said Civil Rights Defenders and several other human rights organisations in a statement to the Human Rights Council today.
Together with our partner, Coming Out, we arrange the third international Queer Culture Festival, September 15-25. The festival takes place in St Petersburg with the goal to support the right to self-expression, regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity.
On September 13 Moldovan Prime Minister Vlad Filat is visiting Sweden. Civil Rights Defenders urges the Swedish Government to bring up the proposed Law against discrimination to discussion.
The Serbian media sector is characterized by political and economic influence on media and controversial regulatory practices. Together with our long-term partner ANEM, we strive to respond to existing challenges facing the media sector and to contribute to its development.
We urge the Serbian president to fully support the Belgrade Pride on October 2. A vulnerable group such as the LGBT population in Serbia cannot exercise their freedom of assembly without public support and recognition, Civil Rights Defenders said in a letter to the serbian President Tadic, the Prime Minister Cvetkovic and the Mayor of Belgrade, Djilas.
A month has passed since the arrest of Ales Bialiatski, president of the Human Rights Centre Viasna. Bialiatski was arrested in Minsk on August 4, and remains in detention on charges of tax evasion.
The fact that Sweden has so far refused to support a UN-led Commission of Inquiry on human rights violations in Burma is absolutely staggering for a country that claims to stand up for human rights worldwide, said Civil Rights Defenders and several other human rights organisations in SvD.
In an open letter we urge Minister for Foreign Affairs Carl Bildt to increase the pressure on the Cambodian government to abandon plans for a repressive law on NGO:s. We have previously warned that the law’s real purpose is to give the government a tool to silence inconvenient voices.
In collaboration with Memorial Human Rights Center, we monitor human rights violations and provide legal aid to victims and their family members in order to end impunity and strengthen the rule of law in the North Caucasus.
On August 2 the authorities closed down Sahmakum Teang Tnaut that works on land and housing rights. About a hundred protesting farmers were interrogated by the police, and on TV a smearing campaign was launched against NGO:s. Simultaneously a new law is prepared that will give the government a tool to silence inconvenient voices.
On the 12th of August Ales Bialiatski, chair of the Human Rights Center Viasna, was officially charged with “Concealment of profits on an especially large scale” (Paragraph 2, Article 243 of the Belarusian Criminal Code) and his detention has been prolonged by two months.
Civil Rights Defenders in a coalition of international human rights organisations, are deeply concerned about the arrest of Ales Bialiatski on allegations of large-scale tax evasion. We sent a petition to the Belarusian prosecutor’s office asking to release Ales pending the investigation against him.
We welcome the news that Ahmed Agiza has been released from Egyptian prison after 10 years, and hope that Sweden will take its responsibility and offer both Agiza and Mohammed Alzery full redress for the violations that the two men have suffered.
Albania aims at joining the EU, but much remains to be done before that can happen. In cooperation with the Albanian Helsinki Committee for Human Rights (AHC) we monitor and assess dismissals of public employees in local and central administration.
On 4 August 2011, Ales Bialiatski, Chair of the Human Rights Center Viasna in Belarus, was detained in Minsk. We call upon the Belarusian authorities to immediately and unconditionally release Ales Bialiatski and to stop the criminal persecution of human rights defenders, journalists, lawyers and activists in Belarus.
Ales Bialiatski, chair of the human rights organisation Viasna, was arrested on August 4th by the Belarus Department of Financial Investigations, suspected of gross tax evasion. According to Belarusian law he risks up to seven years imprisonment.
Ales Bialiatski, chair of the human rights organisation Viasna, was arrested today. Very little is known at the moment about where he is held and the reasons for his arrest.
On July 31, sixteen peaceful protesters were arrested at a rally for freedom of assembly in Nizhny Novgorod. The same day several dozen people were also arrested in Moscow and Saint Petersburg. We call for the immediate release of all peaceful protesters.
Serbian authorities are urged to react against the assault on the Islamic Center in Novi Sad, and to find those responsible and prosecute them.
The number of threats and attacks on journalists have increased in Bosnia and Herzegovina in the past years. In 2009 we established a Free Media Help Line, which provides legal aid and counselling to people working in media organisations.
In Russia, LGBT persons are being discriminated in daily life and in law. Together with the russian organisation Coming Out we are organising an annual Queer Culture Festival in St. Petersburg. The festival gives us an opportunity to mobilize and empower the LGBT community.
Civil Rights Defenders and several other human rights organizations call for a thorough, impartial and transparent investigation into the murder of Natalia Estemirova. July 15 is the second anniversary of her death and Russian authorities have not brought anyone to justice for the murder.
Several human rights organizations including Civil Rights Defenders condemn the recent arrests of peaceful demonstrators in Belarus. We call upon the Belarusian authorities to immediately release all detained protesters and respect the right to freedom of assembly to all its citizens.
In 2009 Bosnia and Herzegovina adopted an anti-discrimination law. We cooperate with the Association for Democratic Initiatives in Sarajevo to facilitate better enforcement of the law, and to improve the understanding about discrimination among students.
Widespread lack of respect for human rights, in particular discrimination against vulnerable groups, remains of great concern in Albania. We believe that the media can play an important role in raising awareness about human rights and mobilizing civic engagement.
Kosovo media landscape comprises diverse media outlets. However, the media mainly focuses on political and economic developments and issues, covering very little about social issues and human rights. Also, very few media outlets do investigative journalism. Our collaboration with Kosovo Glocal aims at building up Kosovo 2.0, a comprehensive and vibrant media platform, offering interesting [...]
Homosexuals harassed and blackmailed – More than half of Moldova’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals do not tell their family about their sexual orientation, according to a study conducted by our partner GenderDoc-M.
For the third time Civil Rights Defenders will, at the end of 2011, organise a conference for human rights defenders in the North Caucasus in Stockholm. With the purpose of organising the conference we will employ a Project Coordinator for a period of 5 – 6 months, starting from the end of August 2011.
In Albania a Law on Legal Aid was adopted in December 2008 and entered into force in April 2009. At the moment, however, access to justice is not equal for all citizens. The lack of access to justice is affecting the Roma population and other minorities more negatively than other groups. Together with Tirana Legal [...]
Our cooperation with Press Council Kosovo (PCK) concerns the quality of the media. By promoting a Code of Conduct for the press, and making sure that it is applied, we strive to improve the professionalism in media.
The overall objective of our cooperation with Mediacentar in Sarajevo is to support the development of efficient mechanisms against discrimination. This will be done through education and information to raise public awareness of discrimination issues. We also train journalists to report on discrimination in society and follow the implementation of the Law against discrimination. The [...]
Together with Humanitarian Law Center (HLC) in Serbia we provide legal representation to victims of the wars in former Yugoslavia in the 1990s. This includes submitting appeals to the Constitutional Court of Serbia and initiating procedures before the European Court of Human Rights. We also work to raise public awareness on the importance of confronting [...]
Weak professional standards in journalism and increased pressure on the media are two core issues in regard to freedom of expression in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Our cooperation with the Press Council aims at empowering people to claim their rights and to improve ethical standards in journalism.
LGBT issues are generally silenced in Albania, and the lives of LGBT persons are marked by isolation and lack of support. In order to terminate their isolation we work actively to promote and empower the LGBT community in cooperation with the organisation Aleanca.
Due to widespread impunity in Kosovo, people often do not report violence in prison. Our collaboration with Kosovo Rehabilitation Centre for Torture Victims (KRCT) refers to prevent torture or any other form of ill-treatment in places of detention and contribute to the respect of human rights in Kosovo. The target group consists of persons deprived [...]
In Bosnia and Herzegovina LGBT people are often attacked. The aim of our collaboration with Sarajevo Open Society is to break the silence around LGBT issues, in order to reduce prejudices and discrimination against LGBT community. By providing activists with theoretical and practical skills and networking opportunities, we aim to educate and strengthen the LGBT [...]
We believe that strengthening investigative journalism in Kosovo will contribute to greater respect for human rights. Our collaboration with Kosovo Center for Investigative Journalism (KCIJ) aims to develop, improve and support investigative journalism in Kosovo.
Civil Rights Defenders is concerned about the threats against Olga Sadovskaja at the Committee Against Torture in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia. In a letter sent to Swedish and European policymakers we ask them to raise the threats against human rights defenders in all discussions with Russia.
A major problem in Kosovo today is the lack of lawyers who can represent victims of human rights violations in court. In collaboration with our partner we are establishing a pool of lawyers and preparing them for the task.
Together with Humanitarian Law Centre in Kosovo, we are compiling the Kosovo Memory Book, a comprehensive record of killed and missing persons during the armed conflict 1998-2000. The aim is to build a historical memory that will assist the Kosovar society to deal with the recent past.
Civil Rights Defenders and Human Rights Watch call on Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt to investigate the deportation of Keymir Berdiyev to Turkmenistan. In a joint letter they urge Sweden to allow him return for his asylum application to be reconsidered.
Civil Rights Defenders and Nondiscrimination Coalition urge the Government and the Parliament of Moldova to adopt an anti-discrimination law. In a joint letter, we require the Moldovan Prime Minister to put an end to homophobic statements in public debate.
On June 14 a Russian court acquitted Oleg Orlov, Chairperson of Memorial Human Rights Centre, on charges of libel against Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov.
Four new rulings by the European Court of Human Rights confirm Russia’s reluctance to effectively investigate serious human rights violations in Chechnya. The cases have been brought before the court by Civil Rights Defenders together with Russian Justice Initiative.
Civil Rights Defenders calls on the senior EU officials participating at the EU-Russia summit in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia, to address the pressing situation for human rights defenders working in Russia.
We are concerned about the police interrogation of the Executive Director of MANS after a video of national security agents mingling with criminals was published on the organization’s web. This puts pressure on human rights defenders and is directly assisting criminals in silencing those who dare to speak about corruption.
Civil Rights Defenders and several other human rights organizations condemn the prosecution of Belgzim Kamberi, Chairman of the Human Rights Board in Bujanovac in Serbia, and urge the prosecutor to shut down the case.
Civil Rights Defenders is deeply concerned about the recent attack on the human rights defender Bakhrom Khamroev, staff member of the well known human rights organisation Memorial in Russia. Bakhrom Khamroev was seriously beaten by unidentified men outside his apartment in Moscow on June 6th.
The radio show Pescanik (the Hourglass) is one of very few independent voices in the public domain in Serbia. Our collaboration aims to increase the public’s access to diverse and balanced information and to offer a platform for news and analysis that differs from the mainstream.
On June 1 the Criminal Court in Vienna sentenced three men for murder of the Chechen refugee Umar Israilov who was assassinated in Vienna on January 13 in 2009.The trial highlights the prevalence of violence and the arbitrariness in the Chechen judiciary.
Within our cooperation with Local Press Association we work to raise the level of professionalism among journalists and media in Serbia. We help hard pressed local media during a challenging period, when the media landscape is characterised by unfinished legal reforms, chaotic market conditions and weak professional ethics.
In collaboration with the organisation LABRIS we address discrimination of LGBT people in institutional settings through education. In a long term perspective we hope to contribute to a better environment for the LGBT community.
Together with Veliki Mali we empower parents to take an active role in defending their children’s rights, and to improve the legislative framework for the protection of rights of children with disabilities.
In order to improve professional standards in the media and promote ethically responsible journalism, we assist in building a Code of Conduct for journalists and media outlets. We organise seminars about ethics and the Public Information Act, provide free legal aid, and initiate powerful and proactive public actions. Our partner is the independent journalist association [...]
A coalition of human rights organisations, among them Civil Rights Defenders, regrets Russia’s lack of cooperation with the Austrian judiciary, in the case against the alleged murderers of Chechen refugee Umar Israilov. A verdict is expected June 1st.
The number of Roma persons in Moldova ranges from 20 000 to 250 000 depending on who you ask. Hence, it is difficult to get a good estimation of the actual needs. Roma suffer from discrimination within the judicial system. Violations committed against them are seldom properly investigated nor are the persons responsible prosecuted. Another [...]
Former presidential candidates Mikalai Statkevich and Dmitzry Us have been sentenced to six and five and a half years of imprisonment respectively for organising mass riots. The political opposition is being effectively dismantled by the Belarusian regime.
The European Convention on Human Rights entered into force in 1997 in Moldova. Yet, the knowledge about the Convention is still rather low among Moldovan legal professionals. Until January 2011 more than 6.245 cases had been submitted to the European Court of Human Rights. So far, the Court has delivered 196 judgments against Moldova and [...]
On May 18, 2011, we held a conference in Skopje together with Macedonian Young Lawyers Association and the Kvinna till Kvinna Foundation. The main purpose of the event was to instigate a discussion among civil society actors about the recently passed Law against discrimination. The law does not meet European or general human rights standards [...]
Colorful balloons rose to the sky during the flashmob, held at the same spot where a bus with Pride participants was attacked three years ago.
On World Press Freedom Day we want to draw attention to Dieu Cay, who was Vietnam’s most influential bloggers when he was arrested in April 2008. His voice for democracy in Vietnam and against widespread corruption was silenced. Today, nobody knows where he is being held.
In 2009 Civil Rights Defenders and Regional Centre for Minorities arranged the first LGBT conference “Justice in Balkans: Equality for sexual minorities” in Podgorica, Montenegro. It provoked a fierce discussion and for the first time brought the LGBT matter into the public debate. Our collaboration continues with further strengthening the position of the LGBT communities [...]
To combat corruption, we provide a tool for preventing cases that contain features of corruption or organized crime from being closed.
In 2010 Macedonia passed the long expected law on prevention and protection against discrimination. However, to this date there is not a single decision reached by the domestic courts related to discrimination. Together with our partner Macedonian Young Lawyers Association’s we work to improve anti-discrimination policies, practices and standards in the judicial system in Macedonia. [...]
Disadvantaged citizens in Albania are often facing different forms of discrimination by duty holders. They are also subjected to violence, inhuman and degrading treatment and offered poor legal representation in courts. To improve the rule of law in Albania we provide a legal clinic, in collaboration with the Albanian Helsinki Committee, where we offer free [...]
Our collaboration with Youth Initiative for Human Rights in Serbia aims to improve the extent to which human rights are respected and known about in Serbia. The short term objectives are to strengthen the mechanisms for protecting human rights and to inform the public about the implementation of transitional laws. The major issue with these [...]
Russia’s Prime Minister Vladimir Putin will visit Stockholm on April 27. 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.
On April 15th to 17th, we are organising the fifth Moot court competition for law students from the Western Balkans. The students are trained in the procedures of the European Court. Five judges from the European Court will sit on the jury.
Civil Rights Defenders is concerned about the continued harrassment and intimidation of human rights defenders in Russia. Igor Kalyapin, head of our Russian partner organisation Committee Against Torture, along with nearly forty others, were arbitrarily arrested on March 31, 2011.
Every year we organise trainings for our partners. This year our partners in Albania and Kosovo received training in public speech. The aim was to improve their presentation skills, when advocating and presenting findings and problems, and to inspire them to find new ways of communicating. The training consisted of many practical exercises, among other [...]
Civil Rights Defenders is deeply concerned over the latest developments connected to the proposed anti-discrimination law in Moldova. The Moldovan government has now withdrawn the bill from the parliament.
In this issue: Violence and oppression after Belarusian election, One hundred cases against Russia settled in court, Chiranuch Premchaiporn faces 50 years in prison, and much more.
The Russian Constitutional Court has ruled that the State cannot institutionalise a person with disabilities if there is no one who can become their guardian in the community. The two cases behind this decision were lodged in cooperation between MDAC, IPAR and Civil Rights Defenders.
Civil Rights Defenders is positive toward the idea of establishing a National Human Rights Commission. But the way the Commission is modelled, in the current proposal, it will not contribute to a more effective protection of human rights.
In an open letter to Moldovan MP’s we call for a swift adoption of the anti-discrimination law.
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 struggle for democracy and human rights we now are witnessing in North Africa and the Middle East spreads to sub-Saharan countries. Blog post by Robert Hårdh from March 14th, 2011.
Civil Rights Defenders has signed a petition together with other NGOs to urge the UN Human Rights Council to adopt a resolution on Belarus. We think it is of outmost importance that the Council unequivocally condemns the human rights violations that took place after the Belarusian Presidential election in December 2010.
The world must pay attention to the brave Burmese women whose struggle for human rights places their lives and health at risk. On the International women’s day we urge the international community not to reconsider its stance against the Burmese government too soon.
Russian authorities need to investigate a case of disappearance and torture in Chechnya and punish those responsible, Human Rights Watch, Front Line, the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), and Civil Rights Defenders said today.
Through information campaigns and legal assistance related to discrimination cases we strive to combat the widespread intolerance that exists in regard to specific groups. Recent studies show that groups such as LGBT and ethnic minorities are widely discriminated against in Moldova. Our cooperation with National Youth Council of Moldova on behalf of the Anti-Discrimination Coalition [...]
In an open letter to the President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko we urge the authorities to repeal the warning against Ales Bialiatski and to refrain from further pressure on human rights defenders.
Ales Bialiatski, President of the human rights organisation “Viasna”, was officially warned by the General Prosecutor’s Office for alleged violation of Article 193.1. The General Prosecutor’s Office also made clear that continued activities could lead to prosecution.
The European Court has found Russia responsible for the deaths of two Chechen men and the disappearance of one. These two latest verdicts mean that Russia has been convicted of serious human rights violations in 100 cases, as a result of our cooperation with Russian Justice Initiative.
If the Belarusian dictator regime is going to land in democratic reforms, Sweden and the EU must keep the pressure on Lukashenka and not bargain with him with something that does not belong to him – the rights of his citizens, writes Robert Hårdh, executive director at Civil Rights Defenders, in a op-ed on Dagens Arena.
The mental health facilities in Kosovo are an area of great concern. They suffer from lack of funding, inadequate infrastructure, lack of medicine and unprofessional staff. Moreover, patients in mental health facilities are victims of the lack of a human rights culture in Kosovo, especially in relation to persons deprived of their liberty. We aim [...]
On Monday the 17th of January the Committee for State Security, KGB, searched the Human Rights Centre Viasna for the third time in just one month. Events related to the Belarusian election on the 19th of December 2010 were stated as reasons in the search warrant. Ales Bialiatski, President of Human Rights Centre Viasna, was taken by the KGB but released the same day.
Together with a group of leading human rights organisations we urged the President of the European Commission José Manuel Barroso and the European Commissioner for Energy Günther Oettinger to include a discussion on respect for human rights in their meeting with President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow of Turkmenistan.
The trial against the Roma minor in the village Jabuka in Serbia has started, We were again denied access to the court. We request that the boy is held in detention with other minors, and not with adults
We appeal to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe Participating States to condemn the human rights violations in Belarus that have followed the presidential elections of December 19, 2010. Read more and sign the appeal.
Together with our partners we urge the Serbian authorities to make sure that the trial against the Roma boy B.J. be concluded as soon as possible, as the legal maximum of detention of minors has already been exceeded. We also insist to be allowed presence at the hearing.
Our Human Rights Lawyer Goran Miletic calls for Serbian authorities to react upon the violations of basic human rights in Belarus, in a blog published in Pescanik on 23 December 2010.
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The harassment of human rights organisations, independent media and political opposition continued during the Christmas holidays. Several raids were conducted by KGB of both offices and apartments belonging to civil and political activists.
Civil Rights Defenders is deeply concerned about the recent attacks on Branko Zivkovic, human rights defender and journalist in Serbia. We urge the responsible authorities in Serbia to use all mechanisms available to adequately protect human rights defenders.
Together with a number of organisations, we strongly condemn the crackdown on demonstrators, arrests and beatings of journalists, human rights defenders and opposition candidates, which happened in the aftermath of the Presidential elections on 19 December 2010 in Belarus.
Vladimir Nyaklyaeu, Lukashenko’s biggest challenger, was severely beaten, and taken to hospital with a concussion on Sunday night. Later that night, a group of men stormed into his hospital room, wrapped him in a blanket and abducted him. We follow the developments in Belarus with great concern.
On Sunday December 19, a presidential election is held in Belarus, Europe’s last dictatorship. On the surface this election is more democratic than the previous ones. But appearances are deceptive – the improvements achieved are only cosmetic. Read our op-ed article in Svenska Dagbladet on 19 December.
Four Roma families were left without a roof over their heads at temperatures below zero when their barracks were demolished.Together with our partners in the coalition against discrimination we condemn in the strongest terms the authorities´ treatment of these people.
Between 2001 and 2007 Zivota Milanovic from Jagodina, Seriba, member of Hindu Vaishnava religious community, was attacked five times because of his religious beliefs. We have been working actively on the case together with our partner.
Support our petition to the President of Belarus. We urge the President to fulfil the country’s obligations i regard to the respect of human rights.
Together with a group of human rights organisations we urge the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe to follow-up on the human rights situation in the North Caucasus.
On the occasion of the Human Rights Day on December 10, and in view of the upcoming Kosovo parliamentary elections on December 12, Youth Initiative for Human Rights and Civil Rights Defenders call upon all political parties in Kosovo to increase their efforts in promoting the respect for human rights.
Civil Rights Defenders and its partners Lawyers Committee for Human Rights and Regional Center for Minorities were yesterday denied access to a court session in Pancevo, when demanding to monitor a case of principal importance. The case involves a Roma juvenile boy who is accused of having killed his Serbian friend.
In the 2009 municipal elections Kosovo Serbs surprised everybody with their high turnout, and won in three municipalities where they were in majority. In the wake of the elections on December 12, we have initiated a cooperation with Kosovo Media Association aimed at trying to repeat this positive trend.
On December 12, 2010, parliamentary elections will take place in Kosovo, after a turbulent autumn. We have intensified our efforts to increase the participation of three specific groups that previously had a very low election turnout; the youth, the Serbian community and the Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian communities.
On 25th of November the TV station A1 in Skopje was raided by the police. We urge the authorities to conduct a thorough investigation into the matter, and the political parties to stop abusing their position for their own political promotion.
The purpose of this project is to offer minority media outlets objective, timely and quality information from Serbia and the region in their own languages. The project provides high-quality news programs in 3 minority languages (Albanian, Roma and Hungarian) and represents minority media in itself.
This year’s main objective of this project will be publishing five multimedia educational texts, which will treat different aspects of hate speech in Bosnia-Herzegovina media and its consequences.
In order to strengthen Belarusian citizens access to justice we want to raise awareness of Belarusian Lawyers and activists on human rights and International Standards. To do this, a series of seminars on various rights is conducted within the framework of the project.
The project aims to contribute the promotion of the BIH Law against Discrimination, through specialized trainings for law students as well as through street actions and public advocacy.
KJIC used to be an integrated part of ÇOHU! but will from now on be an independent organization. Its main objective is to boost investigative journalism in Kosovo.
Baring in mind that freedom of expression and information in the media is an essential requirement of democracy, we will cooperate with our partners from UNEM to produce a report on limitations of freedom of expression in Montenegro based on the “Indicators for media in a democracy” developed by Council of Europe and presented in the Resolution 1636 (2008).
This project has two major goals: to provide legal protection to independent media, thereby diminishing the power of groups which try to misuse the media to achieve their political ends or advance other interests; and to promote ethical and professional standards in journalism.
Efforts are made for the Belgrade Pride Parade to be carried out as planned, whereas it was banned last year.
Our cooperation with the Albanian Helsinki Committee for Human Rights (AHC) in this specific project aims at improving the situation regarding protection against discrimination in Albania. We do this by raising capacities of our legal aid partners and the Institution of the Commissioner against Discrimination in handling cases of discrimination as well as increase the capacities of lawyers, people from public structures and civil society to understand and follow cases of discrimination.
Albania has adopted an all-inclusive anti-discrimination law and we raise need to awareness on the new law particularily among faculty students and professors as well as teachers and pupils from high schools for it to be effective in protecting against discrimination.
The conflict in Chechnya and other North Caucasus republics has led to massive human rights abuses, that have never been investigated. The objective within this project is to document human rights abuses as well as providing free legal aid and launching legal proceedings before Russian institutions and the European Court of Human Rights, among other things.
Civil Rights Defenders welcomes the release of the Burmese Nobel Peace laureate and opposition’s leader Aung San Suu Kyi on Saturday. She was released when her house arrest expired, just days after Burma’s first election in over 20 years, a process that lacked a democratic foundation.
The right to liberty and security was violated when 72 persons were unlawfully held in detention, says the European Court for Human Rights (ECHR) in a case submitted by our partner, the Macedonian Helsinki Committee in co-operation with Civil Rights Defenders.
Jelena Urlajeva (Elena Urlaeva) from Uzbekistan is awarded the Per Anger Price of 2010, for her peaceful and unselfish struggle for Human Rights in Uzbekistan. Risking her life for human rights. The ceremony will take place at Human Rights Forum (MR-dagarna) in Örebro the 15th of November.
Human Rights Watch appeals to European states to stop sending Roma back to Kosovo. In a report they point out that Roma who left for Western Europe but were sent back face serious human rights problems. We recently wrote an Op-Ed with the exact same message.
On Thursday the 21st of October, EU diplomats agreed on a continuation of EU sanctions against Belarusian authorities. The sanctions were introduced in 2006, after violence and election-rigging in relation to the presidential elections, and included a travel ban to the EU for leading Belarusian officials.
Human rights defenders in the North Caucasus live under constant threat. They fear for their lives and the lives and health of their families. To support them, so that they can continue their important work, Civil Rights Defenders has initiated the Stockholm Process.
Civil Rights Defenders has adopted a resolution on the establishment of the Natalia Estemirova Documentation Center together with a group of nine leading Russian and international human rights organizations.
Our responsibility to tackle Roma exclusion – In a debate article published in a Swedish newspaper, Svenska Dagbladet, on September 27th we demand that Sweden stops deporting Roma to Kosovo and that the Swedish government tries to make other countries in the EU follow this as well.
The 19th of December the presidential elections will take place in Belarus. Together with our Belarusian colleagues we will monitor the situation extra carefully during the remaining two months.
The life of Turkmen human rights defender Farid Tukhbatullin is in danger. Farid Tukhbatullin has received threats from the Turkmen authorities at several occasions during the previous years, and his relatives in Turkmenistan have been harassed.
A Pride parade was held today, for the first time ever in Serbia. Great efforts where required from the police in order to guarantee security for the participants. The Serbian authorities have sent a clear signal that the rights of LGBT persons are taken seriously.
In an Op-Ed article in the daily Svenska Dagbladet we urge the Swedish government to take action to protect human rights defenders at risk – both directly and through the agency of international bodies such as the EU and the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe.
On Sunday October 10th a new attempt will be made to carry out a Pride parade in Belgrade. Robert Hårdh, Executive Director of Civil Rights Defenders, will be in the Serbian capital to participate in the parade.
Civil Rights Defenders, together with other NGOs, demand that the situation of the human rights defenders in Central Asia becomes a priority issue at the upcoming OSCE Summit in Astana.
A series of coordinated inspections of around 40 NGOs, unprecedented in its scale and intensity, were carried out in Russia between the 13th and 16th of September.
Sweden and other EU countries are deporting Roma to Kosovo in full knowledge that these people face abject poverty and systematic discrimination. We are calling for an immediate halt to the deportation and we urge the government to make every effort to get other EU Member States to follow suit.
In September our colleagues at the Belarusian Association of Journalists (BAJ) are celebrating their 15th anniversary. The organisation is open not only for journalist but also for other people who contribute to journalistic activity and free distribution of information.
Our partner the Network of Committees for Human Rights in Serbia (CHRIS) was founded in 2000 in order to provide free legal aid to citizens whose human rights had been violated.
The trial against Oleg Orlov, chairperson of our partner organization Memorial in Russia, started with serious violations. Civil Rights Defenders considers this to be another sign that the courts in Russia are politically controlled.
Despite all the obstacles, the International Festival of Queer Culture opened successfully on September 16. In the last minute, the organisers had been forced to find a new location for the opening ceremony and the photo exhibition.
On October the 10th there will be a new attempt to organize a Pride Parade in Belgrade, Serbia.
On September 3rd Aleh Byabenin was found dead in his country house. The first investigation considers suicide even though Aleh’s family and friends suggest that there was nothing in his behavior or in his life that points towards a suicide.
A law on the prohibition on discrimination has adopted in Montenegro, much because of the work of Civil Rights Defenders and our partners Youth Initiative for Human Rights and Center for Democracy and Human Rights.
LGBT persons face daily discrimination in Russia, both in daily life as well as by legislation. We cooperate with the St Petersburg based organisation Coming Out to increase the understanding for LGBT persons. One activity this year is to organise an an international Queer Culture Festival in St Petersburg in September.
In mid September the second international queer culture festival takes place in St Petersburg. The aim is to put focus on the right to be who you are, and to encourage people to think outside the box. Our support to the LGBT movement in Russia is showing results.
Civil Rights Defenders cooperation with Veliki Mali aims at making education more accessible to children with disabilities, by enhancing parents’ participation in the decision-making processes concerning their children and the quality of education that they receive.
Through our cooperation we aim to assist ANEM, Association of Independent Electronic Media, and its stations to increase their capacities and influence. Our work also contributes to helping the entire media sector to improve media regulations.
Through our cooperation with Macedonian Young Lawyers’ Association, we want contribute to the adoption of the best anti-discrimination policies, practices and standards possible within the judicial system in Macedonia. This will be done through strategic litigation.
The European Court of Human Rights has found Russia responsible for the disappearance and torture of a Chechen man detained at his home by Russian federal troops in year 2000. The victims family was awarded 106,000 EUR in respect of material and moral damages.
Together with Youth Initiative for Human Rights we attempt to increase the awareness about the crime of genocide among the general public of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia and also to foster conditions for further dealing with the recent past in the region of the former Yugoslavia. We do so by making “Srebrenica – Map of Genocide”.
On Sunday July 11th it is the 15th anniversary of the genocide in Srebrenica. Together with our partners we have created an educational material that describes the crime.
A free media help line is envisaged to provide legal aid and counsel to media practitioners whose rights are violated or endangered. In addition, our cooperation with BH Journalist Association aims to improve the knowledge on skilful and ethical reporting of journalists in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and thereby promote the highest professional standards in journalism.
On June 25 two human rights defenders in Montenegro where brought in for interrogation by the Police without legal basis for the action. Civil Rights Defenders believe that the action represents pressure against those who express critical opinions about the fight against corruption and organised crime in Montenegro. Read our letter to the Prime Minister [...]
Our cooperation with Press Council of Bosnia and Herzegovina is all about a continuous improvement of self regulation in print media. Our efforts are aimed at enhancing the ethical standards and the usage of the two defamation laws, in order to reduce the number of media outlets and journalists charged for compensation damages in defamation trials.
In cooperation with more than 50 Belarusian and international organisations we regularly compile reports regarding the human rights situation in Belarus. The reports are sent to EU parliamentarians and other decision makers in the wake of their discussions about the relations between EU and Belarus.
During 2009 the human rights situation in North Caucasus worsened significantly and in order to maintain presence on the ground, a group of human rights NGOs decided to organize mobile visits to the region, especially Chechnya, monitoring and reporting on human rights violations. Human rights defenders will be offered training in security awareness when going on missions to North Caucasus.
Blogs break through information blockade in Vietnam – Free discussions on Vietnam take place in blogs and in other social media. With 22 million internet users (out of the country’s total 86 million inhabitants) and an extensive dialogue with the surrounding world, in particular with fellow-countrymen, the Vietnamese have found a way to bypass the information blockade at home.
Our partner Youth Initiative for Human Rights received a threatening letter, calling them pro-fascist and saying that everyone who took part in a march marking the 15th anniversary of murdered youth in Tuzla, should move to Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Within the Russian society people with mental disabilities are marginalised and excluded from almost every aspect of life. In cooperation with Mental Disability Advocacy Centre we lobby towards the Russian authorities to prompt them to comply with national and international legislation.
The daily Express tries to blot our report on freedom of expression by drawing parallels between the life of the author of the report and the report itself. Together with a number of organisations we demand an end to the attempts to silence free speech in Kosovo.
Seven Belarusian LGBT-activists were recently fined for participating in a demonstration for the rights of sexual minorities. It is unacceptable that these people’s basic rights are not respected, says Robert Hårdh, Executive Director of Civil Rights Defenders.
Bosnia and Herzegovina is ranked among the most underdeveloped and corrupt countries in the world where reforms are slowly implemented (the same level with Zambia, Jamaica, Senegal and Dominican Republic). Citizens’ participation is a crucial component to a culture of tackling corruption, since integrity, accountability and transparency must take hold societal and systemically if it is to uproot corruption practices.
In the near future a trial will be held in Vienna against two of the Chechen President’s employees, suspected of the murder of refugee Umar Israilov. Civil Rights Defenders and several other human rights organisations call on the Russian authorities to closely follow the trial.
On April 20 the European Court of Human Rights condemned Albania for having violated the right to a fair trial and the prohibition against torture in the case Lika and Laska vs Albania.
We continue our cooperation with the radio show Pescanik (hourglass) in order to help stimulate the public debate on vital issues in the Serbian society. The show attracts 400.000 listeners every week and covers issues such as; transitional justice, corruption, and many more topics related to civil and political rights.
Together with CHRIS we provide free legal assistance to citizens, as well as free legal aid before the courts to victims of serious human rights violations. Every year we agree on a number of strategic cases for litigation before the courts.
The aim of our co-operation with MANS in 2010 is to monitor and report on trials regarding corruption and organized crime. We do this to investigate how effective the proclaimed fight against corruption is.
For the past three years we have assisted the Macedonian Institute for Media, MIM, a training centre for journalists and media professionals, in educating a considerable number of journalists through their One Year Diploma Program in Journalism. In addition to supporting the education of a new generation of journalists in Macedonia, our purpose of cooperating with MIM has been to try to establish a professional self sustainable school of journalism.
Together with Regional Centre for Minorities, RCM, we are strengthening the capacities of minority and human rights NGOs, local authorities, the judiciary and members of central and regional authorities that are dealing with different minority groups.
On May 4, in a joint statement, a number of human rights and media organisations – among these, Civil Rights Defenders – urge the provisional government in Kyrgyzstan to implement several measures to strengthen freedom of press and speech in Kyrgyzstan.
From April 29th until May 2nd Gay Pride is arranged in Moldova. A demonstration on Sunday May 2nd has been forbidden with reference to protests from religious and other groups. The event will be an important test for the new coalition government Alliance for European Integration.
Team Prima Iustiniana from the law faculty at the University of Skopje in Macedonia was the winning team of this year’s moot court competition. Team Radomir Lukic from Novi Sad in Serbia was ranked second in the competition.
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 [...]
In March, two prisoners were executed in Belarus, despite ongoing negotiations with the Council of Europe on the introduction of a moratorium. According to the United Nations Human Rights Committee Belarus is acting in breach of its international obligations, Viasna says.
On March 23, 2010 the Albanian Constitutional Court decided to abolish the controversial Lustration Law (targeting former officials of the communist regime) as incompatible with the Albanian constitution. The abolition is a success for our partner Albanian Helsinki Committee (AHC).
Civil Rights Defenders, together with over 50 other human rights organisations, condemn the Belarus execution of Andrei Zhuk and Vasily Yuzepchuk.
The court in Podgorica has sentenced the Montenegrin government to pay 20 000 Euros in damages to Saban and Arif Rizvanović, who were tortured by Yugoslav soldiers in 1993. The case is a great success for our partner HLC.
Nine people from our partner organisation, Youth Initiative for Human Rights, were arrested by the police while protesting against the content of the Srebrenica Declaration. They were detained for several hours without getting information of what they were suspected of.
Documentation of human rights violations is crucial in the struggle to put an end to impunity and to strengthen the rule of law. In cooperation with Memorial we now seeks to establish an archive of human rights violations, consisting of all of their collected materials in North Caucasus.
Our cooperation with COHU!, the Organisation for Democracy, Anticorruption and Dignity, aims at influencing the law-making process in the field of anti-corruption. The fight against political corruption is carried out by identifying structures that make mismanagement and abuse of public office and funds possible.
The main objective of our cooperation with the organisation ARKA is to register, and provide identification documents, to around 300 Roma individuals in Skopje, Kumanovo, Kratovo, and Kriva Palanka regions. The registration will give them access to basic human rights; such as the right to education, health care, social allowances, as well as the possibility to get a legal employment and the right to vote in general elections.
Our cooperation with the Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in Serbia aims to bring to the public eye violations of human and minority rights. The Annual Report on human rights in Serbia presents the most pressing needs, constraints and priorities regarding the human rights situation in Serbia.
Our cooperation with Centre for Legal and Civil Initiatives, CLCI, aims at increasing women’s access to justice. This is done by providing free legal assistance, monitoring the implementation of the Law on domestic violence, and organising awareness raising activities in regard to women’s rights among the general population.
Together with Youth Initiative for Human Rights we have organised trainings on the burning issue of dealing with the past for Bosnian youth activists and high school students for the past three years.
2009 was an important year for the LGBT movement in Serbia. For the first time cooperation between LGBT organisations and other human rights organisations was established to integrate LGBT issues in all human rights work, Civil Rights Defenders partner, Gay Straight Alliance, says in its Annual Report.
Civil Rights Defenders and three other human rights organisations urge Belarus dictator Alexander Lukashenka to stop harassment of those defending human rights in Belarus.
Challenges for Moldovan media in 2010 – In the end of 2009 the negative trend on the Moldovan media market was halted and a slow democratization process was initiated. Important reforms were adopted and a healthy competition is now developing. Doina Costin from the Independent Journalism Centre is cautiously positive to the development.
Four leading human rights defenders in Belarus were arrested on Tuesday afternoon following a demonstration against the death penalty. The protest was a response to the unexpected execution of two men on death row last week.
The European Court of Human Rights has ruled that Russia must pay a record compensation to a man with mental disabilities who has been illegally detained. This is a great victory for us and our partner Mental Disability Advocacy Center.
Together with Labris we struggle to decrease the level of homophobia and ignorance about the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) persons. Our main activities are lobbying, advocacy, education and networking, but we are also providing legal counseling for LGBT people.
The purpose of our cooperation with Civil Rights Program/Kosovo is to provide free legal aid to vulnerable residents either from the majority community or one of the minorities, either living in Kosovo or as refugees in one of the neighbouring countries. The main target group however is individuals that lack personal identification documents.
Civil Rights Defenders cooperates with European Radio for Belarus to support access to information for the Belarusian people. Our cooperation also aims at assisting a new generation of journalists, who will be able to work professionally in Belarus in the future.
In January 2010 the human rights organization Viasna and the Belarusian Helsinki Committee launched the campaign “Human rights defenders against death penalty.” The campaign aims to disseminate objective information and in the long term work for abolition of the death penalty.
In a letter to the Prime Minister of Macedonia Civil Rights Defenders call on the Macedonian government to withdraw the current Anti-discrimination bill, which does not include protection against discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
Together with Humanitarian Law Centre, HLC, we identify victims of human rights violations and secure relevant evidence. We are also providing legal support and representing the victims of war crimes and serious human rights violations in civil proceedings for reparation.
With the aim to improve Albanian media’s ethical conduct, and contribute to an increased self-regulation of media, we organise in-house training courses on ethics and self-regulation for media outlets together with our partner Albanian Media Institute. These trainings are a supplement to the efforts of establishing and implementing a formalised self-regulation mechanism in the country.
Public administration has the power to deprive people of their liberty following procedures clearly established by the law. But when detention takes place outside the public scrutiny it opens the door to violations of rights of the inmates, as well as to torture and ill-treatment. We initiated cooperation with Kosova Rehabilitation Centre for Torture Victims in 2007, with the aim to monitor detention facilities and prisons.
We cooperate with the Kosovo office of Humanitarian Law Centre in documenting facts about the conflicts in the recent past. Our aim is to build a comprehensive record of the killed and missing during the 1998-1999 armed conflict and the period of revenge killings against non-Albanians and suspected collaborators with the Serbian authorities in Kosovo between June 1999 and the end of 2000.
We have cooperated with the Macedonian Helsinki Committee for more than a decade, with the main focus to enhance awareness and respect for human rights and the rule of law in Macedonia. By providing free legal aid we not only improve people’s access to justice but also monitor the respect of human rights by authorities, and put pressure on authorities to comply with international and national human rights standards.
Since 2006 Civil Rights Defenders has cooperated with Tirana Legal Aid Society, TLAS, in assisting Roma families to register their children, but also other members of the families, in order to help them get access to some of the most fundamental human rights; such as the right to education, health care, social allowances, as well as the possibility to get a legal employment and the right to vote in general elections. Hundreds of families have been assisted through our joint efforts so far.
The situation in Chechnya has been characterised by grave human rights abuses, including forced disappearances, extra judicial killings and torture. Together with RJI we launch legal proceedings before Russian institutions and the European Court of Human Rights and provide direct legal consultations for victims and their relatives on ways of defending their rights.
Albanias new all-inclusive anti-discrimination law bans discrimination on the grounds of various characteristics, such as political, religious or philosophical beliefs, disability, ethnicity, sexual orientation and gender identity.
Our partner Youth Initiative for Human Rights in Montenegro is demanding an independent investigation of alleged ill-treatment of prisoners in the Institution for Enforcement of Criminal Sanctions (ZIKS). Civil Rights Defenders previously sent a letter on this subject to the Prime Minister of Montenegro.
In the end of 2009 there was a break in the trend as the authorities initiated a reform process of Moldovan media. 2010 is however predicted to be a year of trials, according to a report that we have published in cooperation with Independent Journalism Centre.
The European Court of Human Rights has ruled against Russia to pay EUR 120,000 in damages to the families of two Chechen men, Zurab Iriskhanov and Abu Aliyev, who were arrested in their homes in Samashki and Grozny in 2002 and have not returned since.
By supporting the Press Council we contribute to ensuring the quality of media and to strengthening freedom of expression in Kosovo. Furthermore, our focus is to make the Kosovo public better aware of the Press Council’s existence and role, and to ensure the future sustainability of the Press Council.
In cooperation with Centre for Advanced Legal Studies we established the Coalition Against Discrimination to lobby for an inclusive Law against discrimination. In 2009 it was finally adopted by the Serbian government. We now continue lobbying for other laws in the human rights field.
The overall aim of our cooperation with the Coalition for All Fair Trials is to strengthen the independency, efficiency and impartiality of the judiciary in Macedonia. The Coalition will measure whether there is an improvement in the implementation of the existing laws and how efficient the legal procedure in the judiciary is.
In cooperation with Albanian Disability Rights Foundation we provide legal aid to persons with disabilities, and to their families. Our efforts include raising awareness and recognition of human rights by spreading information to stakeholders that are one way or the other involved in disability issues, but also to the general public.
In Kosovo the situation for media and individual journalists has worsened. In cooperation with YIHR we decided to produce a comprehensive report on Freedom of Expression, with a particular focus on media freedom and on documented statements from journalists who have been subjected to threats and pressure.
The address to a shelter for victims of domestic violence was revealed on TV, endangering the safety of the victims as well as the staff of the shelter. In a letter we urge the Minister of Justice to protect victims of domestic violence as well as human rights defenders in Albania.
We cooperate with Kosovo Media Association to provide professional, balanced and unbiased news primarily to the Serbian population in Kosovo. The network reaches almost the entire Serbian community, as well as the Albanian population, in Kosovo.
Together with our partner we have monitored and reported about torture and degrading treatment, in Montenegrin prisons among other. Read our letter to the Montenegrin Prime Minister.
The Russian authorities should investigate the arbitrary detention of three human rights advocates in Chechnya and hold those responsible accountable, Amnesty International, Civil Rights Defenders, Front Line, and Human Rights Watch said today.
On January 7, 2010, a new law on legal aid came into force in Macedonia. The adopted law represents a major step forward in improving access to justice for vulnerable social groups.
The purpose of our support to the Human Rights House in Vilnius is to provide Belarusian human rights defenders a safe place to plan and carry out activities. In the house in exile they can have seminars, meetings and other activities that cannot be conducted inside Belarus due to the difficult political situation.
Civil Rights Defenders partner Albanian Disability Rights Foundation (ADRF), has received the “Albanian Leadership Award 2009″ for its efforts within civil society. The prize is awarded to highlight positive role models and innovations that strengthen ethical standards in Albanian society.
In cooperation with our partner Young Lawyers of Serbia we are organising the fourth regional Moot Court competition for law students from the Western Balkans, with the aim to increase practical knowledge on cases, rules and procedures of the European Court on Human Rights, both among students at Law faculties and among existing legal professionals.
In cooperation with the Russian LGBT Network we support LGBT groups and organisations all over Russia with capacity building, legal counselling and organisational development. Although Russia has taken some very important steps in the right direction, discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity is widely spread in the society.
Together with Youth Initiative for Human Rights, we work to increase awareness on human rights concerns in Montenegro. We do so by monitoring crucial human rights issues and reacting on serious human rights violations.
Through our partnership with the Helsinki Committee we monitor and report on fair trial standards in Bosnia and Herzegovina. In the last couple of years we have also worked intensively on lobbying for an all inclusive Law against discrimination, in addition to the regular long-term activities of providing free legal aid to victims of human rights violations.
The Belarusian Association of Journalists (BAJ) expresses concern over the media situation in Belarus before the local elections in April. It will be very difficult for the few independent media that exists in the country to provide objective information after threats to close down media from the Media Ministry.
Russia has ratified protocol 14 of the European Convention, which aims at making the work of the court more effective. This is an important step which, in the long run, will shorten processing times for the hundreds of thousands that have turned to the court asking for justice.
Belarusian Ministry of Justice accuses the independent Association of Journalists, BAJ, of breaking the laws. One can only speculate if this is a consequence of BAJ’s increasingly successful lobbying, says Erik Esbjörnson at Civil Rights Defenders.
The European Court for Human Rights has ruled that Bosnia and Herzegovina discriminated against Jews and Roma by forbidding them to stand for key elected posts, including parliament and the presidency.
One of the most significant achievements for Civil Rights Defenders in 2009 is our contribution to resolving the housing situation for one of the Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian communities in the region of Gjakova, Kosovo.
The Moldovan newspaper Ziarul de Garda (ZdG) and its employees have been subjected to several threats after publishing reports on corruption. We, and several media and human rights organisations, call on the Moldovan authorities to investigate the alleged threats.
People in Chechnya must not be left without access to justice. In a joint statement with several other human rights organisations we underline our obligation to continue to act against human rights violations in the North Caucasus and to ensure that perpetrators are brought to justice.
A truth commission in the Western Balkans would contribute to the democratisation process and to strengthening of the rule of law. This was the expressed opinion of the participants at a recently arranged conference in Brussels by, among others, the Humanitarian Law Centre, our cooperation partner.
Civil Rights Defenders strongly condemns the attacks on authors of the TV show ‘Insider’ and requests immediate action in bringing those responsible to justice.
Ryssland måste agera i Norra Kaukasus Våren 2009 deklarerade Ryssland att den 10 år långa ”anti-terroroperationen” mot separatister i Tjetjenien var avslutad och att situationen i den nordkaukasiska delrepubliken var stabil. Men de senaste månadernas utveckling vittnar om att situationen i Norra Kaukasus är allt annat än normal. Sedan juli har ett antal framstående människorättsförsvarare [...]
According to the European Court of Human Rights Russia bears responsibility for six forced disappearances in Chechnya in 2003. All six men were detained illegally and must be presumed dead.
A new law on free legal aid is in process in the Macedonian parliament. But the law lacks crucial components that would guarantee access to justice for all groups in the society. Together with our partner we are now working on having some amendments adopted to the law.
The first conference on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered person’s rights in Montenegro resulted in the Minister for Human Rights saying in a tv-interview that the existence of homosexuals in Montenegro is “not good news”.
The journalist Bakir Hadziomerovic has received a death threat for his reporting on corruption and organised crime. We urge the authorities to investigate the case and bring those responsible to justice
-We welcome the accreditation of European Radio for Belarus. We hope this will mark a breach in the Belarusian authorities policy of clamping down on independent media and that they will take further steps towards ensuring freedom of expression in Belarus, said Robert Hårdh, executive director at Civil Rights Defenders.
The Moldovan Supreme Court has decided that the Main Tax Inspectorate has to disclose information to the media organisation Association of Independent Press. It is a positive trend that Moldovan courts to a greater extent defend the right to information.
The two bloggers Adnan Hajizada and Emin Millis were sentenced to four and a half years in prison, in total, for huliganism at a court in Baku, capital of Azerbaijan.
During the last few years a number of new laws have been adopted in Sweden that are troublesome from a Human Rights perspective. Read Civil Rights Defenders’ UPR-submission here.
A well known albanian journalist was brutally attacked following a series of reports about tax evasion, unlawful privatisation and oil smuggling. We demand from the authorities to investigate the case and bring those responsible before justice.
Russia is urged by the UN Human Rights Committee to strengthen the protection for persons with disabilities. An important source of information was the shadow report that our partner Mental Disability Rights Foundation presented in October.
Human rights activist Brahim Dahane from Western Sahara is the winner of the Per Anger Prize 2009, in recognition of having demonstrated unwavering personal courage, and risked his life in the struggle for human rights. Brahim Dahane is currently incarcerated.
Some of Russia’s leading human rights defenders gathered in Stockholm to discuss the situation in North Caucasus. Read their recommendations to the EU and the Swedish Presidency.
Maksharip Aushev, former opposition leader and former owner of dissident website Ingushetia.ru, was killed today in Kabardino-Balkaria.
The Swedish Parliament has adopted the much discussed and generally criticised FRA Act. However, the question is whether there is anyone who entirely understands what it is they have decided. The proposal, which first saw the light of day in 2006 has been revised several times, postponed, investigated further, adopted and revised again. Today’s decision [...]
The pressure on russian human rights activists are increasing. On Tuesday a court in Moscow sentenced the human rights organization Memorial and it’s Director Oleg Orlov for defamation of Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov. Memorial and Oleg Orlov will have to pay 70 000 rubles, about 18 000 SEK. – The sentence against Orlov and Memorial [...]
Today a “Citizens Response to Violence” is organized in Belgrade by several NGOs, including Civil Rights Defenders. The manifestation is a response to the severe violent attacks by extremist groups which have taken place in Belgrade the last two weeks. It is also a support action for the organizers of the planned Belgrade Pride which [...]
International Media and Press Freedom Organisations jointly call for reforms and the removal of restrictions on the media in the Republic of Belarus.
In Moscow, the first court hearing is held today against Oleg Orlov, chairman of the Russian human rights organisation Memorial. The trial against Orlov is brought by the Chechen president Ramzan Kadyrov, who is suing Orlov for 10 million rubles (approximately 2,5 million SEK) for the statements Orlov made following the murder of Natalia Estemirova. [...]
On this day, a year ago, the first attempt to organise a Queer festival in Sarajevo ended in violence. The festival had to go underground since the security of the participants could not be guaranteed by the authorities in Bosnia-Herzegovina. To remind about everyone’s equal rights and everyone’s right to freedom of peaceful assembly and [...]
In the last minute the Ministry of Interior in Serbia stopped the Belgrade Pride planned for Sunday Sep 20. On Saturday morning the police suddenly stated that it would not be abel to guarantee security for the participants in the parade if the parade as planned was to be held in the center of Belgrade. [...]
On Sunday, September 20th, a Pride parade will be arranged in Belgrad. During the last attempt in 2001, peaceful demonstrators were attacked and beaten by nationalist groups and football hooligans. The police stood on the sidelines and watched. This time the Ministry of Interior and the police have promised to guarantee security for the participants, [...]
The Serbian ministry of Interior has promised to protect the participants of the Pride parade, which takes place on September 20th in Belgrade. We will be there to see how much force the authorities put behind their promises. In a letter to Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic and to Minister of Interior Ivica Dacic, Civil Rights [...]
One of Swedish Helsinki Committee’s partners in Serbia, the Gay Straight Alliance, report a rise in LGBT-related violence in recent weeks.
Belarus continues to punish the country’s human rights defenders. On July 16, the Belarusian human rights defender and lawyer Leanid Svetsik was sentenced to a huge fine. Svetsik has for several years been working with legal aid to human rights activists in the city of Vitebsk, who had received letters with threats from members of the Nazi-organization Russian National Unity.
The famous award-winning human rights defender Natalia Estemirova was kidnapped this morning in the vicinity of her residence in Chechnya’s capital Grozny. She was forced into a white car and driven away by unknown persons. Natalia Estemirova is a leading activist in the Russian human rights organization Memorial, which is a partner of the Swedish [...]
The Russian government must follow the principles of rule of law even when combating serious crimes, seven human rights organisations, including the Swedish Helsinki Committee, says in a joint statement. The organisations urge the authorities to take effective measures to prevent human rights violations after the recent unrest in the Caucasus. In June, the Interior [...]
Representatives of three independent media and the organisation MANS pleaded in an open letter to the European Commission and the Governments of the EU countries to react on the public statements against media and NGOs made by Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic.
Independent journalists are exposed to increased threats and pressure since Kosovo declared itself independent in February 2008, according to partner organisations to the Swedish Helsinki Committee in the country. The latest in a series of examples is the assault on well known journalist Jeta Xharra. It is with concern that the Swedish Helsinki Committee notices [...]
The Belarusian human rights organisation Viasna has been working in secret since 2003. After three attempts to register the activists are fed up and are now publicly announcing their activities, which are classified as illegal in Belarus. Three representatives of Viasna; Ales Bialiatski, Valiantsin Stefanovitj and Uladzimir Labkovitj made the risky statement on a press [...]
The Belarusian human rights organisation Nasja Viasna was on Thursday once again denied registration by the authorities. It is the third time in slightly less than two years that the foremost human rights defenders in Belarus are denied the right to work legally. The reasons for the denial are as absurd as previously. One example [...]
Biljana Srbljanovic, renowned Serbian writer and human rights defender, has been accused of disorderly conduct for her participation at the promotion of Pescanik radio show in Pancevo, Serbia. However, the members of the right-wing and nationalistic organizations who tried to disrupt the meeting were free to go. On March 1st, 2009, Biljana Srbljanovic attended the [...]
Today the EU launches its Eastern partnership aiming at creating closer bonds between the EU and six countries in east, among these the dictatorship Belarus. The project is launched at the EU summit in Prague where representatives of the Belarusian president Aljaksandr Lukasjenka will participate. At the same time it is exactly ten years since [...]
The team from University of Rijeka, Croatia, has won this year’s edition of the Moot Court competition in the Western Balkans. The competition was held April 24-26 in Kotor, Montenegro and ten teams participated. This was the third time a team from Croatia won the competition. We are very satisfied and surprised to win. There [...]
Russia has been convicted for the hundredth time for human rights crimes committed in Chechnya. Four of five cases, decided on April 23, have been run by the Swedish Helsinki Committee in collaboration with Russian Justice Initiative or Memorial and concern disappearances or murder. On April 23 the European court for human rights announced verdicts [...]
On April 24-26 the Swedish Helsinki Committee and the organization Young Lawyers of Serbia arrange a trial game in the Western Balkans. Judges from high courts in the region and from the European Court in Strasbourg will participate in the panel of judges. The third edition of the Moot Court will be held in Kotor, [...]
In the aftermath of the violence that followed the elections in Moldova on the 5th of April, the Moldovan authorities have harassed and arrested a great number of journalists from Moldovan as well as foreign media. The journalists are often and with little substance accused of having instigated and participated in the violence. In several [...]
After the forced eviction of 47 Roma families in one part of Belgrade, Serbia, the Swedish Helsinki Committee along with 42 NGOs demand urgent action from the authorities to solve the desperate situation of these 128 individuals in total. The authorities are urged to find appropriate alternative accommodation and to restrain from statements denying basic [...]
An all inclusive law against discrimination was finally adopted by the Serbian Parliament on Thursday March 26. It is a great result for the Swedish Helsinki Committee and for all the local NGOs that have been pushing for the adoption of this law for years. The whole process of adopting the law is a symbolic [...]
Voters in Azerbaijan have voted in favor of strengthening the powers of president Ilham Aliyev by approving the lift of the two term limit for the president. In a referendum that was held on March 18 almost 90 percent of the turn-out voted for the amendments of the constitution. The opposition, who had called for [...]
The organization for Democracy Anti-corruption and Dignity (COHU) in Kosovo has the past time been exposed to harassment by the Kosovo authorities, amongst others, Post Telecom Kosovo (PTK). The Swedish Helsinki Committee urges that the authorities of Kosovo investigate the intimidations. The Swedish Helsinki Committee encourages Kosovo authorities to carry out a full investigation related [...]
The Swedish Helsinki Committee is strongly critical to the decision of the Serbian government to withdraw the proposal for a law against discrimination. In this way they are giving in to pressure from among others the Serbian Orthodox Church. It is completely unacceptable that the religious communities are allowed to affect the legislation process in [...]
The LGBT organisation Coming Out, partner of the Swedish Helsinki Committee, has been officially registered by the government. This is the first case in Russian history when an organisation openly announcing as its goal advocacy for the interests of the LGBT community is registered by the government on the first try without any court intervention. [...]
The Belarusian authorities refuse to register the human rights organisation Nasja Viasna. This shows clearly that the Belarusian regime has failed an important test of their will to democratize the country, says Robert Hårdh, Secretary General of the Swedish Helsinki Committee. We believe that this is a matter of discrimination for political reasons. We are [...]
Two days before the planned press conference, the Director of Sava Centar notified the organisers that the report about the situation for LGBT persons in Serbia could not be presented in the Centre. “That kind of organisations are not welcome”, he announced. Gay-Straight Alliance, partner of the Swedish Helsinki Committee, has conducted a wide survey [...]
A group of NGOs, including four of the Swedish Helsinki Committee’s long-standing partners in Serbia, are starting a campaign for a day of remembrance for the genocide in Srebrenica. In an open letter to Serbian President Boris Tadic the organisations urge the president to support the demand for an official day of remembrance. The requirement [...]
Kosovo’s parliament has failed to appoint an Ombudsperson. This has negative consequences for citizens claiming their rights against the authorities in Kosovo, says the Swedish and Norwegian Helsinki Committees in a letter to Kosovo’s parliament. Mr Kole Berisha President of the Assembly of Kosovo Stockholm and Oslo, February 16, 2009 The Swedish and Norwegian Helsinki [...]
In an article in the evening newspaper, Aftonbladet, Swedish Helsinki Committee urges Sweden to offer asylum to Guantanamo prisoners. On the 11th December, Portugal’s foreign minister said that his country was ready to receive Guantanamo prisoners who cannot return to their own countries, and urged other countries to do likewise. Aftonbladet debatt 17 december 2008: [...]
Of the 163 cases reported up until now by The Swedish Helsinki Committee and The Russian Justice Initiative (RJI) to The European Court of Justice , 36 have been resolved, 25 of them in 2008. In all the cases, the judgement has been that Russia is guilty of gross violation of human rights in northern [...]
Belarusian human rights activists were arrested by the police while distributing flyers on the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The police confiscated the flyers and registered the details of the activists’ passports before releasing them an hour later. All previous talk of the country’s democratisation seems hollow in the light of [...]
On November 27th Sweden’s chairmanship of the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers comes to an end. On the same day, the Council is expected to approve a convention concerning access to public documents.
On November 7th the popular film festival “Frizon” opens in Belgrade for the fourth year running. The Swedish Helsinki Committee, together with REX, has helped promote the festival and over the years it has become a significant part of Serbian culture. The films shown during the festival concern current social and political issues and they [...]
Chancellor of Justice Göran Lambertz has ruled that Sweden must pay SEK 3 million in compensation to Ahmed Agiza who was expelled from Sweden on 18 December 2001. The decision follows conciliation talks between the Chancellor and the Swedish Helsinki Committee, which was representing Agiza.
If the so called FRA-law passes, it will result in the introduction of extensive surveillance which will not be in reasonable proportion to its purpose and the privacy protection that, according to international law, everyone is entitled to.
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