The Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in Bangladesh, a member of the Law Commission, and several rights activists and academics said on Saturday 28 september that the state should not treat human rights defenders as its enemy. They also expressed concern over the use of several laws against human rights defenders Read the rest of this entry »
Author Archive
Human rights defenders are not enemies of the state, says national conference in Dhaka
October 3, 2013Russia: Unprecedented level of harassment against Memorial as “foreign agent”
October 3, 2013The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a joint programme of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), reports on 2 October 2013 on the ongoing judicial proceedings against the Anti-Discrimination Centre “Memorial” (ADC Memorial), which has now become the first NGO in Russia facing both administrative and civil proceedings for the same “offence” on the basis of the law on so-called “foreign agents”. Read the rest of this entry »
In run-up to meeting with OSCE observers authorities of Nakhichevan threaten local human rights defenders with physical reprisal
October 2, 2013In the context of reprisals here is a report from Panorama concerning Azerbaijan, admittedly from an Armenian news source: Read the rest of this entry »
Job opportunity in Beirut for Communication Officer, deadline 7 October
October 2, 2013Justice without Frontiers (JWF) a secular, nonprofit, NGO in Lebanon seeks a (part-time) Communication Officer whose key responsibilities are:
● To develop and implement an integrated media strategy
● To document the process of preparation of JWF activities
● Deliver high quality local, national (and in some instances international) media coverage for JWF projects.
● Responsible for delivering accurate, timely and compelling information and stories that illustrate and raise the profile of projects implemented by JWF.
● Write & produce content – for the website and external media outlets such as Facebook sub-pages, e-actions, emails, and web pages.
● Monitor and evaluate media coverage generated and to draw lessons to improve coverage.
● Build and maintain excellent relationships with key media players, journalists and broadcasters in Lebanon and regionally and internationally.
● Develop and regularly maintain a national database of media contacts.
● Coordinate the production of IEC materials related to the project: billboard-posters-pamphlets-newsletter-song&hellipetc
● Review and assist in the development of proposals, progress reports, and final reports as per donor requirements
Among the Qualifications and Competencies:
● A Bachelor’s degree in journalism or related field.
● Knowledge of local, national and international media (including press, internet, print)
● Native Arabic and excellent English skills (writing, reading, and correspondence).
● IT skills (Word, Excel, power point&hellip)
To Apply: submit a cover letter describing your experience what you would bring to the organization, and your salary requirements; along with a CV and contact information for three professional references; and send to: jwficc@yahoo.com; jwf@jwf.org.lb by October 7, 2013.
Kazakhstan: Court upholds psychiatric confinement of human rights lawyer Zinaida Mukhortova
October 1, 2013On 27 September 2013, Karaganda’s regional court of Karaganda confirmed the decision of the Balkhash Court to approve the forced psychiatric confinement of human rights defender and lawyer Zinaida Mukhortova on which this blog reported earlier. Read the rest of this entry »
Euro MPs of the Green group nominate Snowden for Sakharov Prize 2013
October 1, 2013The Sakharov Prize for freedom of thought is given by the European Parliament annually since 1988. Previous recipients include Nelson Mandela and Aung San Suu Kyi. Among the nominees for this year are Malala Yousufzai, the Pakistani girl shot in the head by the Taliban last year,…and – this was to be expected since the controversy broke – the US whistleblower Edward Snowden. He was nominated on Monday by the Green group in the European Parliament. His nomination is in recognition of his “enormous service” to human rights and to the European citizens, the Green group said. The winner of the 50,000-Euro prize will be announced on October 10 and is awarded in Strasbourg on November 20. [On August 30, Snowden received the biennial Whistle Blower Award 2013 in Germany, in recognition of his “bold efforts” to expose the monitoring of communications data by his former employer.}
Euro MPs nominate Snowden for rights prize – Europe – Al Jazeera English.
Related articles
- Snowden shortlisted for EU prize (bbc.co.uk)
- US whistleblower Edward Snowden nominated for Sakharov Prize (eutimes.net)
UN Human Rights Council should not be a bystander on reprisals, say two Hungarian Ambassadors
October 1, 2013In the Monitor of the ISHR of 30 September 2013, Ambassadors András Dékány and Istvan Lakatos of Hungary expresses an important opinion regarding the issue of reprisals against human rights defenders. As it is short here is the full text:
Malaysian NGO Suaram notes culture of impunity, intolerance, and missing reforms
October 1, 2013On 26 September the NGO Suaram released its “Malaysia Human Rights Report 2012: Civil and Political Rights” in Kuala Lumpur. The report highlights several key trends in human rights in 2012, including:
1 the increasingly serious and repeated cases of abuses of power by the police and law enforcement agencies with impunity;
2 the heightened intolerance towards dissent; and
3 the government’s cosmetic approach to reform and compliance with human rights standards.
Suaram’s 2012 report is launched to honour human rights defenders in Malaysia and the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Assembly and of Association, Maina Kiai in his foreword writes: “This annual report is a critical tool to support civil society actors in their effort to advocate and contribute to strengthened implementation of human rights. Its continued publication is vital to a vibrant democracy in Malaysia”.
A White Elephant or a quintessentially Canadian museum ?
October 1, 2013
(Canadian Museum of Human Rights in Winnipeg, Manitoba)
The new Canadian Museum of Human Rights that is to open in 2014 in Winnipeg Manitobo, Canada, has been in the making for 10 years, but has been plagued by controversy and disagreement, as shown in the exchange of letters in the National Post of 30 September. Read the rest of this entry »
Belarus Ales Byalyatski wins Vaclav Havel Human Rights Prize of Council of Europe
September 30, 2013
Imprisoned Belarus human rights defender Ales Byalyatski has been awarded the Vaclav Havel Human Rights Prize of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly. Read the rest of this entry »
Hans Thoolen on Human Rights Defenders and their awards 