News on the topic: human rights defenders
02.04.2013 Human Rights Center “Viasna” starts working in new office
On 1 April, the opening day of the new office of the HRC “Viasna”, the human rights defenders presented new analytical editions, shared their plans for the future and defined the priorities for their current activities.
01.04.2013 Babruisk: presentation of book about Ales Bialiatski held not far from the penal colony where he is kept
On 30 March the presentation of the books "Bialiatski's Case" and "Enlightened by Belarusian Issue" was held in Babruisk.
28.03.2013 Belarusian NGOs call on Russian authorities to stop harassment of human rights defenders
Representatives of Belarusian NGOs issued a joint statement on the recent facts of persecution of NGOs and human rights defenders in the Russian Federation.
27.03.2013 Chairman of Hrodna Regional Court confirms fines to human rights defenders
Hrodna human rights defenders Viktar Sazonau, Raman Yurhel and Uladzimir Khilmanovich received a response to their complaint, signed by Chairman of Hrodna Regional Court Aliaksandr Hrynkevich. The activists challenged the decision of Leninski District Court of Hrodna, who fined them 1.5 million rubles each for posting a photo on the Internet in solidarity with Ales Bialiatski and the later decision by Hrodna Regional Court on the review of the appeal.
22.03.2013 Adoption of an unprecedented resolution at the UN to end the financial strangulation of human rights NGOs
Today, the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council gave a strong response to the increasing trend of curtailing - when not criminalizing - the activities of human rights defenders by limiting their right to access funding, especially when they come from foreign countries. The Council adopted by consensus an unprecedented resolution, introduced by Norway and co-sponsored by 62 States, affirming that “no law should criminalise or de-legitimise activities in defence of human rights on account of the origin of funding”.
19.03.2013 Salihorsk detention center closed for repairs
As reported by local human rights defenders, the Salihorsk-based temporary detention center is undergoing repair and maintenance work.
15.03.2013 Constitution Day action in Homel held under vigilant supervision of police
On 15 March Homel oppositionists held an action in honor of the Constitution Day. They went to the stops of the public transport with copies of the Constitution of 1994 and the newspaper "Narodnaya Volia" (as a symbol of free press).
15.03.2013 Siarhei Housha managed to get his cassation appeal considered after five months
On 14 March Baranavichy human rights defender Siarhei Housha received by mail a ruling of the head of the Supreme Court of Belarus Valiantsin Sukala abolishing the refusal of a judge of Brest Region Court (dated 4 October 2012) to consider his cassation appeal due to the alleged expiry of the terms of consideration.
06.03.2013 Baranavichy: Siarhei Housha applies to UN Human Rights Committee
On 5 March Mr. Housha applied to the United Nations Human Rights Committee to inform it about the following situation.
05.03.2013 Belarusian human rights defenders: "Freedom to Bahrain!
On 4 March Belarusian human rights defenders expressed their solidarity with President of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights and Deputy Secretary General of FIDH Nabeel Rajab who is serving a two-year prison term for actions in support of the right to peaceful assemblies.
04.03.2013 Amnesty International: Ales Bialiatski supported by about 100,000 people
Amnesty International summed up the results of the world letter marathon in support of Ales Bialiatski. All in all, 104,731 actions were taken to support the Belarusian human rights defender who was declared a prisoner of conscience by this authoritative international organization.
04.03.2013 Case of Shkurko brothers. Police looking for Andrei Bandarenka
The police started paying a special attention to the human rights activist after he distributed information about the alleged torture of the Shkurko brothers at Lida District Police Department.
02.03.2013 Baranavichy: human rights defender applies to Constitutional Court
Human rights defender Siarhei Housha asks the court to initiate amendment of the Process-Executive Code referring to his own experience.
28.02.2013 Stéphane Hessel – human rights champion dies at 95
Stephane Hessel, the best-selling French author, has died aged 95. The writer who had been a member of the French Resistance, escaping from two concentration camps, helped to draw up the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948 and later worked as a diplomat.
21.02.2013 Jailed Bahraini human rights defender Nabeel Rajab needs our solidarity!
The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), which has repeatedly supported Belarusian human rights defenders through the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, is urging us today to support Nabeel Rajab, our colleague from Bahrain, imprisoned for calls in defense of the right to peaceful assembly.
