human-rights

News

Uzbekistan - Supreme Court in autonomous republic upholds journalist's ten year sentence - 19.11.2008

Source : Reporters Without Borders | 20-Nov-2008 01:01

Russia - In ?disgraceful? move, judge reverses decision to let press and public attend Politkovskaya murder trial - 19.11.2008
Reporters Without Borders is baffled and disappointed to learn that the presiding judge has reversed his decision to let the press and public attend the trial of Anna Politkovskaya's accused murderers. The press freedom organisation asked her family and fellow-journalist to comment.
Source : Reporters Without Borders | 19-Nov-2008 19:16

Armenia - Call for thorough investigation into assault on investigative journalist - 18.11.2008

Source : Reporters Without Borders | 19-Nov-2008 01:06

France - Concern about journalist's indictment for ?violating confidentiality of judicial investigation? - 18.11.2008

Source : Reporters Without Borders | 18-Nov-2008 19:22

Uzbekistan - Fear that appeal court will allow imprisonment to silence Karakalpakstan's last independent voice - 18.11.2008

Source : Reporters Without Borders | 18-Nov-2008 19:07

Russia - Shock and anger about violent attack on newspaper editor - 17.11.2008

Source : Reporters Without Borders | 17-Nov-2008 19:08

Russia - Public admitted to Politkovskaya murder trial with no mastermind or hit-man among the defendants - 17.11.2008
The trial of four alleged participants in the October 2006 fatal shooting of Novaya Gazeta reporter Anna Politkovskaya began today before a military court in Moscow with the public and press being allowed to attend. However, the defendants are all ?minor figures? and the case is therefore is far from over.
Source : Reporters Without Borders | 17-Nov-2008 18:53

Italy: Genoa court convicts 13 police and acquits 16 high-ranking officials over violence at 2001 G8
Amnesty International welcomes the fact that a judicial decision has been reached establishing human rights violations committed by law enforcement officials, including ill-treatment, occurred at the Armando Díaz School during the G8 summit during the night of 21 July 2001, in Genoa, Italy
Source : Amnesty International | 17-Nov-2008 06:00

Russia - Ingush news website owner's arrest declared ?illegal? - 14.11.2008

Source : Reporters Without Borders | 14-Nov-2008 19:22

Romania - NGO coalition criticises government decision to use decree to introduce digital broadcasting - 14.11.2008

Source : Reporters Without Borders | 14-Nov-2008 13:05

Bulgaria - Former interior minister says ?spineless? journalist should be ?hit? - 13.11.2008

Source : Reporters Without Borders | 13-Nov-2008 19:09

Turkey - Journalists expected to remain silent on subject of torture - 13.11.2008
The author of a book about torture and the producer of a TV programme about the book are to be tried on 18 November for ?inciting hatred and hostility,? which carries a maximum sentence of four and a half years in prison. Torture is nonetheless a major issue in Turkey.
Source : Reporters Without Borders | 13-Nov-2008 13:04

EU: Set Human Rights Benchmarks for Russia
Summit in Nice a Chance to Put Human Rights High on the Agenda The European Union should establish human rights criteria for moving forward with a new strategic partnership with Russia, Human Rights Watch said today. The EU and Russia are to resume negotiations on renewing their partnership agreement at a summit meeting on November 14, 2008, in Nice.
Source : Human Rights Watch | 13-Nov-2008 06:00

Germany and Austria: Press Turkmenistan on Rights
President?s Visit a Chance to Seek Release of Political Prisoners, Access for Rights Monitors Germany and Austria should use meetings with the president of Turkmenistan to press for human rights reforms, Human Rights Watch said today in letters to the German and Austrian leaders. President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov began his first official visit to Germany on November 13, 2008, and is scheduled to meet Chancellor Angela Merkel on November 14. His state visit to Austria, which includes a meeting with President Heinz Fischer, will be November 17-18.
Source : Human Rights Watch | 13-Nov-2008 06:00

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights visits Amnesty International
The recently appointed UN High Commissioner for Human Rights met representatives of NGOs at a meeting hosted by Amnesty International in London on Tuesday.
Source : Amnesty International | 12-Nov-2008 06:00

There's no pride in silence: domestic and sexual violence against women in Armenia
National surveys suggest that more than a quarter of women in Armenia have faced physical violence at the hands of husbands or other family members.
Source : Amnesty International | 12-Nov-2008 06:00

Europe urged to protect Guantanamo detainees who cannot be returned home
Five human rights groups have called on European governments to provide humanitarian protection to Guantánamo detainees who will not be charged with any crime but who cannot be returned to their country of origin for fear of torture or other human rights violations.
Source : Amnesty International | 11-Nov-2008 06:00

Serbia - Regional newspaper and its editor given police protection - 10.11.2008

Source : Reporters Without Borders | 10-Nov-2008 19:23

Spain - Prosecutor requests five-month jail terms for journalists who covered radical Basque demo - 10.11.2008

Source : Reporters Without Borders | 10-Nov-2008 19:08

European Governments Should Resettle Guantanamo Detainees
European governments should provide humanitarian protection to those Guantanamo detainees who will not be charged with a crime but cannot be returned to their countries of origin for fear of torture or other serious human rights violations, five leading human rights organizations said today. European governments should agree to accept them into their countries and ensure they are provided with adequate support.
Source : Human Rights Watch | 10-Nov-2008 06:00

Belgium - Weekly censored, ordered to withdraw all copies from sale - 9.11.2008

Source : Reporters Without Borders | 09-Nov-2008 19:12

Europe: Human Rights groups to call on European governments to offer humanitarian protection to Guantánamo detainees
On Monday 10 November, following the election of a new US administration, five leading international human rights organizations will present a joint call to European Governments to provide humanitarian protection to Guantánamo detainees who cannot be returned to their countries of origin for fear of torture or other serious human rights violations
Source : Amnesty International | 05-Nov-2008 06:00

Spain: Amnesty International Urges the Spanish Government to Implement Recommendations of the UN Human Rights Committee
Amnesty International calls on the Spanish government to take prompt action to implement the recommendations of the UN Human Rights Committee, which issued its concluding observations following examination of Spain's fifth periodic report under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights on 27 October
Source : Amnesty International | 05-Nov-2008 06:00

Georgia: More Cluster Bomb Damage Than Reported
Georgian Clusters Landed in Villages; Russian and Georgian Duds Still a Threat Georgian cluster munitions fired in the conflict with Russia in August 2008 caused more damage and hit more locations than previously commonly reported, Human Rights Watch said today in a presentation to the Convention on Conventional Weapons in Geneva. Explosive remnants from the weapons, fired by both Russia and Georgia, continue to threaten people and their livelihoods.
Source : Human Rights Watch | 04-Nov-2008 06:00

Azerbaijan - Reporters Without Borders appeals to president over threat to take foreign radios off air - 3.11.2008

Source : Reporters Without Borders | 03-Nov-2008 19:24

Serbia Failed to Protect Minorities from Attack
EU Should Press Belgrade to Bring Perpetrators to Justice Serbian authorities failed to prevent attacks against businesses and homes owned by ethnic Albanians in the wake of Kosovo?s declaration of independence (by the majority ethnic Albanian government) in February 2008 or to bring to justice those responsible, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today. Serbia?s treatment of ethnic minorities is likely to be critically assessed in the European Commission?s annual progress report on Serbia, to be published on November 5.
Source : Human Rights Watch | 03-Nov-2008 06:00

EU: Integration Policies Should Respect Rights
EU Ministerial in Vichy Should Reject Discriminatory Rules and Confirm Right to Family Life The European Union must ensure that measures aimed at integrating migrants also respect their human rights, Human Rights Watch said today. EU integration ministers will meet in Vichy, France, on November 3 and 4, 2008, to discuss common approaches to integration in Europe.
Source : Human Rights Watch | 31-Oct-2008 06:00

Human Rights Watch Recommendations in Advance of EU-Russia Human Rights Consultations
Human Rights Watch welcomes the opportunity to contribute to the ongoing preparations for the forthcoming EU-Russia human rights consultations. The consultations come at a difficult point in EURussia relations. Thus, it is all the more important for the EU to press forward with important human rights concerns, sending a signal that it will maintain its commitment to the promotion and protection of human rights, notwithstanding other competing interests. We also consider it of paramount importance that human rights concerns continue to be an integral part of the EU-Russia relationship at all levels.
Source : Human Rights Watch | 31-Oct-2008 06:00

Turkey - Call for Law 5651 to be amended after latest case of online censorship - 28.10.2008

Source : Reporters Without Borders | 28-Oct-2008 19:00

Germany: Uzbek Security Chief Visit a ?Disgrace?
Visit Coincides With 10-Year Sentence for Dissident The German government should not have permitted the head of Uzbekistan?s secret police to visit Germany immediately after the European Union lifted sanctions stemming from a 2005 massacre in Uzbekistan, Human Rights Watch said today.
Source : Human Rights Watch | 28-Oct-2008 06:00

UK: Terror Suspect Should Not Be Deported to Jordan
Risk of Torture Too Serious to Permit Abu Qatada?s Return The British government should drop its efforts to deport a Jordanian terrorism suspect who risks torture and an unfair trial if returned to Jordan, Human Rights Watch said today. The Jordanian government?s promises of humane treatment and a fair trial on return cannot be trusted, Human Rights Watch said.
Source : Human Rights Watch | 27-Oct-2008 06:00

Croatia - Car bomb kills owner and an executive of weekly Nacional - 24.10.2008

Source : Reporters Without Borders | 24-Oct-2008 19:10

Kyrgyzstan - ?Disgraceful? lack of progress in Sayipov murder investigation, one year later - 24.10.2008
?The lack of any substantial progress is disgraceful,? Reporters Without Borders said. ?So far neither perpetrators nor masterminds have been identified. Such a degree of impunity is an outrage. The investigators should seriously consider the possibility that the murder was linked to Sayipov's journalistic work instead of trying to explain it away in terms of his support for the Uzbek exile opposition party Erk or the contacts he may have had with banned religious groups.?
Source : Reporters Without Borders | 24-Oct-2008 13:01

Kyrgyzstan: A year after the murder of Alisher Saipov - no closer to the truth
A year ago on 24 October 2007 a young independent journalist and editor, Alisher Saipov, was killed in his home town of Osh in southern Kyrgyzstan as he was walking down a street with an acquaintance
Source : Amnesty International | 24-Oct-2008 07:00

Uzbekistan: Activist Sentenced to 10 Years
EU Wrong to Cite ?Progress? in Human Rights Uzbek authorities should immediately and unconditionally release Akzam Turgunov, a human rights defender and opposition activist who was sentenced on October 23 to 10 years in prison on politically motivated charges, Human Rights Watch said.
Source : Human Rights Watch | 23-Oct-2008 07:00

UK's highest court to hear key test cases on deportations with assurances
The UK?s highest court will begin hearing two important test cases related to human rights and the UK government's counter-terrorism policies on Thursday.
Source : Amnesty International | 22-Oct-2008 07:00

EU: Stand Firm Against Diplomatic Assurances
UK Promotion of Assurances Undermines EU Torture Guidelines The European Union should resist British government efforts to gain acceptance for the use of diplomatic assurances against torture in national security deportations and extraditions, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today.
Source : Human Rights Watch | 22-Oct-2008 07:00

United Kingdom: Stop Deportations to Risk of Torture
Promises From Algeria and Jordan Unreliable in Preventing Abuse The British government should immediately halt plans to deport foreign terrorism suspects to countries that offer unreliable promises not to torture them, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today.
Source : Human Rights Watch | 22-Oct-2008 07:00

Poland - President Kaczynski threatens Polish TV reporter during EU summit - 21.10.2008

Source : Reporters Without Borders | 21-Oct-2008 19:15

Turkish government in landmark apology over death after custody
The Turkish Minister of Justice has accepted the responsibility of the state in the case of Engin Çeber who died after being held at the Metris Prison in Istanbul.
Source : Amnesty International | 20-Oct-2008 07:00

Ukraine: Respect Independent Judiciary
Political Leaders Should Stop Using Court as Political Tool Ukrainian leaders should respect the independence of the judiciary, Human Rights Watch said today. Human Rights Watch said that President Viktor Yushchenko has improperly interfered with the judiciary as his political rivalry with Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko has grown increasingly acute. Members of Tymoshenko?s political party have also taken steps that seem designed to intimidate the judiciary.
Source : Human Rights Watch | 20-Oct-2008 07:00

Turkey - Hrant Dink murder trial resumes, two police witnesses refuse to answer questions - 17.10.2008

Source : Reporters Without Borders | 17-Oct-2008 13:23

France: Concern over possible poisoning of Russian human rights lawyer
Amnesty International expressed concern today that Karinna Moskalenko and her family may have been the victims of mercury poisoning
Source : Amnesty International | 17-Oct-2008 07:00

Bosnia and Herzegovina: Halt Effort to Deport Syrian at Risk of Torture
Abide by European and Bosnian Court Warnings Against Expulsion Amnesty International, the Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Human Rights Watch called upon authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina today not to deport Imad Al Husein (also known as Abu Hamza al-Suri, his nom de guerre) to Syria.
Source : Human Rights Watch | 17-Oct-2008 07:00

Turkey: Conspiracy Trial Should Probe Military?s Role
Historic Opportunity to Tackle Violence by Security Forces The prosecution of an alleged ultranationalist conspiracy aimed at the overthrow of Turkey?s democratic government should investigate whether current members of the military, intelligence services and state bureaucracy were involved, Human Rights Watch said today. The trial of 86 people accused of being members of the so-called Ergenekon gang, some of them senior retired military officers, begins on October 20, 2008.
Source : Human Rights Watch | 17-Oct-2008 07:00

Italy - Supporting Roberto Saviano - 16.10.2008
Reporters Without Borders voices its full support for Italian writer Roberto Saviano, who has had to live under police protection for the past two years and who announced yesterday that he now intends to go into exile in order to elude the Neopolitan Camorra's hit-men.
Source : Reporters Without Borders | 16-Oct-2008 19:01