September 2007 Newsletter from the Human Rights House Network
Dear HumanDHS network friends
Please find below a September 2007 Newsletter from the Human Rights House Network.
Kind regards
Brian Ward
NEWSLETTER FROM THE HUMAN RIGHTS HOUSE NETWORK
1) UNHCHR issues update report on Karamoja, Uganda
The human rights situation in Uganda’s Karamoja region has witnessed significant improvements over the last four months, the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights says in its latest report covering the period 1 April to 12 August 2007. Go straight to UNHCHR’s report here , or HRH F’s Karamoja report here.
See also Save the Children asks OPM to release Karamoja report
2) UN Human Rights Committee declares liquidation of Viasna illegal Print
Following Belarusian authorities’ liquidation of the Human Rights Center Viasna in October 2003, members of the organisation appealed sent an appeal to the UN Human Rights Committee in April 2004, suggesting that the liquidation was illegal and asking the UN committee for its opinion. After careful consideration, the UN responded earlier this month with unconditional support. Belarusian authorities have violated the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
See also The five reasons for - and the one against - registering Viasna
3) Authorities us new restrictive practice against NGO and media
29-30 August the Foundation to Support Tolerance and Novaya Gazeta office in Nizhny Novgorod were taken under illegal check by the local lawmen. As a result, they seized computers from the mentioned organizations on the pretext of using unlicensed software. The human rights defenders strongly protest against these actions and think that authorities are trying to use any method to paralyze the work of non-governmental organizations and media.
See also Putin passes new controversial law on extremism
4) Justice for Anna Politkovskaya?
Ten people have been arrested in connection with the murder of journalist Anna Politkovskaya. Following te arrests, Politkovskaya’s newspaper Novaya Gazeta responds to the news, and outlines how it sees the investigation into the killing of its reporter continuing.
See also: Chechnya’s last witness
5) Croatia Helsinki Committee: Refugee return process still flawed
The processes in which refugees are returned to Croatia improved during the past five years, but there are still serious shortcomings in need of government attention. This article summarizes the findings of the draft ECRE (European Council for Refugees and Exiles) National Report for Croatia, compiled by the Croatian Helsinki Committee for Human Rights.
6) Release Aung San Suu Kyi and all political prisoners in Burma
This was the demand when the Campaign Committee for Burma (Norway) and the Norwegian Burma Committee demonstrated in front of the Norwegian parliament today. The request to Norwegian authorities was to put pressure on the Burmese junta to release all the more than 100 human rights and democracy activists that have been arrested over the last month.
See also: Burmese student leaders arrested. Norway must react