Two of Azerbaijan‘s most prominent human rights defenders have arrived in the Netherlands after the authorities in Baku suddenly granted them permission to leave.
Posts Tagged ‘Dinara Yunus’
Azerbaijani human rights defenders Leyla and Arif Yunus allowed to leave for the Netherlands
April 19, 2016Human Rights Defenders in Azerbaijan: Human Rights Council last hope?
September 15, 2015
In Azerbaijan, space for independent civil society has disappeared, following a crackdown since the presidential election in October 2013. Ahead of the parliamentary elections in November 2015, all leading civil society actors are either in prison or have fled the country. On 8 September 2015, the UN High Commissioner condemned the ongoing crackdown on civil society and independent voices in Azerbaijan. On 20 August 2015, six UN Special Rapporteurs issued a joint statement condemning the conviction of human rights defenders as “manifestly politically motivated” in a trial that “fell short of international norms and standards.” On 11 September 2015, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) cancelled its election monitoring in the country due to restrictions imposed by the Azerbaijani authorities. See also: https://thoolen.wordpress.com/tag/azerbaijan/
Clearly time for the Human Rights Council to step in!
Several NGOs, led by the Human Rights House Foundation, are organizing a side event in Geneva on Wednesday 16 September, from 17:00 – 18:00. Palais des Nations Room XXIV. English / Russian translation is provided.
SPEAKERS
DINARA YUNUS Institute for Peace and Democracy & Daughter of political prisoners Leyla Yunus and Arif Yunus
SERGHEI OSTAF Resource Centre for Human Rights Moldova; Observer of many of the hearings this summer of various human rights defenders imprisoned in Azerbaijan
EMIN HUSEYNOV Institute for Reporter’s Freedom and Safety
Moderation: FLORIAN IRMINGER
Azerbaijan: the repressive side of the Baku Games – side event 16 June in Geneva
June 13, 2015In the context of the 29th session of the UN Human Rights Council a side event – organized by the Human Rights House Network and several other NGOs – will shine light on the severe restrictions on fundamental freedoms and the imprisonment of human rights defenders in Azerbaijan, which risk turning these European Olympics into a sad symbol of repression. Live webcast on: www.peopleinneed.cz and www.azadiq.org
Speakers:
- Dinara Yunus
Daughter of detained human rights defenders Leyla and Arif Yunus - Idrak Abbasov
Institute for Reporters’ Freedom and Safety (IRFS) - Gulnara Akhundova
International Media Support
Moderation by Florian Irminger Human Rights House Foundation
Remarks:
- Michel Forst
Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders - Maina Kiai (TBC)
Special Rapporteur on rights to freedom of assembly and association - David Kaye (TBC)
Special Rapporteur on freedom of opinion and expression
It will taken place on Tuesday, 16 June 2015, 11:00 – 13:00 in Geneva (Switzerland), Palais des Nations, room XVII.
For access and more information contact: Anna Innocenti, International Advocacy Officer, Human Rights House Foundation ( +41 22 332 25 56 )
via: Azerbaijan: the repressive side of the European Olympic Games – Human Rights House Network.
Human Rights Day: exceptional chance to put questions to 3 women human rights defenders
December 9, 2014To mark Human Rights Day tomorrow, Wednesday 10 December, the Guardian organises a live chat with three women human rights defenders who will answer your questions on their campaigning work and the challenges they face in uncovering abuses. The panel looks most promising:
Hans Thoolen on Human Rights Defenders and their awards 