News on the topic: human rights defenders
24.12.2012 Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, Dear Friends!
We wish you to see the year of 2013 as the time of hopes and expectations come true and all obstacles dispelled by a wind of change, and every step forward being fruitful and joyful! We sincerely thank you for your understanding and support in 2012, a very difficult period for us. Let's stay together in the New Year!
20.12.2012 Valiantsin Stefanovich: "We did not just beat off the attacks in 2012 – we tried to act efficiently"
Valiantsin Stefanovich, Deputy Chairman of the Human Rights Center "Viasna", shares his professional assessment of the year. Noting the problems of the entire civil society, the deterioration of the authorities’ contacts with international organizations in the field of human rights, Valiantsin Stefanovich stresses that the main task of human rights defenders for the next year is the same – the release of political prisoners.
18.12.2012 Hrodna human rights defenders face administrative charges
Hrodna human rights defenders Viktar Sazonau, Uladzimir Khilmanovich and Raman Yurhel have been charged with illegal picketing on the Human Rights Day, 10 December, after they were summoned to Leninski District police department to provide explanations on their involvement in the event.
17.12.2012 Souhayr Belhassen dedicates the 90th anniversary of FIDH to its 26 emprisoned activists
“Ales Bialiatski, Nabeel Rajab, Nasrin Sotoudeh... I dedicate this evening to them” Souhayr Belhassen dedicated the 90th anniversary of FIDH to its 26 activists, now in prison.
17.12.2012 Platforma leader Andrei Bandarenka searched at Minsk airport
Andrei Bandarenka, head of the Platforma human rights group, was detained and searched by the Belarusian customs officials shortly after landing at Minsk international airport on 16 December.
14.12.2012 "The better is possible" – a new human rights video created by Salihorsk activists
Salihorsk "Young Front" activists shot a human rights video with the assistance of the Czech human rights organization "People in Need" and the independent website saligorsk.org .
13.12.2012 Worker justified, but wage bonus not returned
The Maskouski District Court of Brest considered the lawsuit of an operator of the ammonium refrigerating plants of the "Savushkin Product" open corporation Uladzimir Andrashuk, and took a half-hearted decision.
11.12.2012 Human rights defenders marked anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights all over Belarus (photos)
Human rights defenders and representatives of the civil society celebrated this important date in different ways in different parts of the country.
10.12.2012 Human rights defenders: the situation in Belarus remains stably bad
On 10 December the international community celebrates another anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
10.12.2012 Human Rights Day pickets banned in Baranavichy, Navapolatsk and Vitsebsk
On 7 December a civil activist Viktar Syrytsa received one more letter signed by the deputy head of the Baranavichy City Executive Committee Dz. Kastsiukevich concerning the prohibition of a picket on the Human Rights Day.
06.12.2012 European Commissioner Štefan Füle: release of Belarusian political prisoners remains a principal issue
It was once again stated by the European Commissioner during a meeting with the deputy head of the Human Rights Center “Viasna” Valiantsin Stefanovich and the head of the Belarusian Association of Journalists Zhana Litvina on 5 December in Brussels.
06.12.2012 Baranavichy authorities ban Human Rights Day picket
On 5 December the civil activist Viktar Syrytsa and the human rights defender Siarhei Housha received a letter from the Baranavichy City Executive Committee, signed by the deputy head Dz. Kastsiukevich.
06.12.2012 Front Line Defenders: Tax inspection service is being used by the authorities to put additional pressure on members of the Human Rights Center “Viasna”
Taciana has previously submitted a tax declaration covering the period from 2004 to 2010 in which no irregularities were found. Ms Taciana Reviaka is the president of the Belarusian Human Rights House and a council member of the Human Rights Centre Viasna, of which Mr Ales Bialiatski is the chairman.
06.12.2012 Dublin: HR activists remind about Ales Bialiatski
On 6 December activists of the human rights organization Front-Line Defenders held a picket in support of human rights defenders, dated to the opening of a session of the OSCE Council of Ministers.
06.12.2012 Pavel Sapelka: “The award belongs to those, who struggled beside me, upholding the understanding of the freedom and independence of legal profession”
These days, human rights lawyer Pavel Sapelka has been presented the prestigious Human Rights Award 2012, awarded to him by the Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe (CCBE). CCBE unites about 1 million of European lawyers of Bars and Law Societies.
