Europe/Central Asia - Passion of the Present

Archive for the ‘Europe/Central Asia’ Category

Malta: Migrant Detention Violates Rights

July 18th, 2012 | Author: Human Rights Watch

Malta’s automatic, indiscriminate, and blanket detention of migrants – including unaccompanied migrant children – is inhumane and unnecessary. It doesn’t deter migrants from coming to Malta and it violates international law.

(Valletta) – Malta’s policy of mandatory detention for migrants arriving by sea results in prolonged detention of unaccompanied children and other abuses of migrants’ rights, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today. The Maltese government should end the blanket detention policy and ensure that children are not detained pending age determination.

Posted in Children, Children's Rights, Europe/Central Asia, Malta, Migrants, Press release, Refugees and Migrants | Comments Closed

Russia: Stop Extradition to Uzbekistan

July 17th, 2012 | Author: Human Rights Watch

(Moscow) – Russia’s Supreme Court should uphold international law and stop the extradition of an Uzbek national to Uzbekistan, where he would be at serious risk of torture, Human Rights Watch said today.

Posted in Europe/Central Asia, European Court of Human Rights, Extradition, Press release, Russia, Torture, Uzbekistan | Comments Closed

Russia: As Olympics Launch, Sochi Abuses Loom

July 17th, 2012 | Author: Human Rights Watch

Russia’s preparations for the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi should be carried out with full respect for human rights, in particular for those engaged in or affected by Olympic construction.

(Moscow) – Russia’s preparations for the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi should be carried out with full respect for human rights, in particular for those engaged in or affected by Olympic construction, Human Rights Watch said today.

Posted in Europe/Central Asia, evictions, free speech, Labor, Migrants, Forced Labor, Press Freedom, Press release, Russia, Sochi Olympics | Comments Closed

Russia: Criminal Libel Law a Blow to Free Expression

July 16th, 2012 | Author: Human Rights Watch

The re-introduction of criminal libel to Russia’s domestic laws is a yet another serious blow to freedom of expression.

(Moscow) – The re-introduction of criminal libel to Russia’s domestic laws is a yet another serious blow to freedom of expression, Human Rights Watch said today.

Posted in Europe/Central Asia, free speech, libel, Press release, Russia, Vladimir Putin | Comments Closed

Russia: Reject Proposed Changes to Rules on Foreign-Funded NGOs

July 13th, 2012 | Author: Human Rights Watch

(Moscow, July 13, 2012) – This afternoon, the lower chamber of the Russian Parliament adopted in third and final reading the new restrictive NGO law. There is little doubt that the upper chamber of the Parliament, Federation Council, and Russia’s president will endorse it promptly. The law, which was supported by 374 members of the State Duma with only three deputies voting against it and one abstaining, is expected to come into force later this year (120 days after its official publication). The new regulations will not apply to religious organizations, NGOs created with the participation of state agencies, charity groups, scientific, cultural, and health associations. It is evident that advocacy groups, including human rights organizations, are the primary target of this draconian legislation, which will require them to register as “foreign agents.”

July 13, 2012 Update

Posted in Europe/Central Asia, Human Rights Defenders, NGOs in Russia, Press release, Russia, Russia NGO draft law | Comments Closed

Russia: Bring Natalia Estemirova’s Murderers to Justice

July 13th, 2012 | Author: Human Rights Watch

The Russian authorities should finally bring to justice the killers of the leading Chechen right activist Natalia Estemirova, Human Rights Watch said today at a news conference in Moscow.

(Moscow) – The Russian authorities should finally bring to justice the killers of the leading Chechen right activist Natalia Estemirova, Human Rights Watch said today at a news conference in Moscow.

Posted in Chechnya, Europe/Central Asia, Human Rights Defenders, natalia estemirova, Press release, Ramzan Kadyrov, Russia | Comments Closed

Greece: Migrants Describe Fear on the Streets

July 10th, 2012 | Author: Human Rights Watch

The Greek authorities are failing to tackle a rising wave of xenophobic violence that has left migrants afraid to walk the streets.

(Athens) – The Greek authorities are failing to tackle a rising wave of xenophobic violence that has left migrants afraid to walk the streets.

Posted in asylum, Asylum Seekers, Europe/Central Asia, Greece, Human Rights in the European Union, Migrants, Press release, Racism and Discrimination, Refugees, xenophobia in Greece | Comments Closed

UN Human Rights Council: Eritrea, Belarus Told to End Abuses

July 6th, 2012 | Author: Human Rights Watch

The United Nations Human Rights Council took bold action to address the chronically poor human rights situations in Belarus and Eritrea

The United Nations Human Rights Council took bold action to address the chronically poor human rights situations in Belarus and read more

Posted in Africa, Ales Bialitski, Bahrain, Belarus, Commission of Inquiry, Criminal Justice, Death Penalty, detention of journalists, Eritrea, Europe/Central Asia, Forced Conscription, free speech, Geneva, HRC, HRC 20th session, Human Rights Defenders, International Criminal Court, International Justice, Mali, Middle East/N. Africa, Press release, shoot to kill, Syria, Torture, United Nations | Comments Closed

Hungary: Failings on Media Warrant EU Action

July 2nd, 2012 | Author: Human Rights Watch

The Hungarian government’s failure to address concerns about media freedom warrants action by the European Union (EU) under the EU treaty, Human Rights Watch said in a letter sent yesterday to Commissioner Neelie Kroes, who is in charge of media issues.

(Berlin) – The Hungarian government’s failure to address concerns about media freedom warrants action by the European Union (EU) under the EU treaty, Human Rights Watch said in a letter sent yesterday to Commissioner Neelie Kroes, who is in charge of media issues.

Posted in Europe/Central Asia, European Union Foreign Policy, Hungary, Press release | Comments Closed

Kazakhstan: Justify Charges Against Activists, Oil Worker

June 29th, 2012 | Author: Human Rights Watch

The Kazakhstan authorities should immediately publicly disclose the grounds for bringing new criminal charges against opposition activists and an oil worker active in an extended labor strike in western Kazakhstan in 2011.

(Berlin) – The Kazakhstan authorities should immediately publicly disclose the grounds for bringing new criminal charges against opposition activists and an oil worker active in an extended labor strike in western Kazakhstan in 2011, Human Rights Watch said today.

Posted in Europe/Central Asia, Freedom of Association, Kazakhstan, Labor, Press release | Comments Closed

Kosovo: New Law Puts Media Freedom at Risk

June 27th, 2012 | Author: Human Rights Watch

The Kosovo government should take urgent steps to address the threat to media freedom posed by provisions that, despite extensive protest, have survived in the new criminal code.

(Berlin) – The Kosovo government should take urgent steps to address the threat to media freedom posed by provisions that, despite extensive protest, have survived in the new criminal code, Human Rights Watch said today.

Posted in Azerbaijan, Europe/Central Asia, free speech, Press Freedom, Press release | Comments Closed

Bulgaria: Denounce Call to Stone Gays

June 26th, 2012 | Author: Human Rights Watch

The Bulgarian justice minister should publicly denounce a cleric’s calls for violence against people who participate in the LGBT Pride Parade in Sofia on June 30, 2012. In previous years, two Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride parades have been marred by violent attacks on participants.

(New York) – The Bulgarian justice minister should publicly denounce a cleric’s calls for violence against people who participate in the LGBT Pride Parade in Sofia on June 30, 2012, Human Rights Watch said today in a letter to Justice Minister Diana Kovacheva.

Posted in Bulgaria, Europe/Central Asia, LGBT Rights, Press release | Comments Closed

Ukraine: Investigate Brutal Attack on Gay Activist

June 26th, 2012 | Author: Human Rights Watch

Ukrainian authorities should immediately conduct a thorough investigation into a vicious attack on a leading lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) rights activist.

(Moscow) – Ukrainian authorities should immediately conduct a thorough investigation into a vicious attack on a leading lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) rights activist, Human Rights Watch said today.

Posted in Europe/Central Asia, hate crimes, LGBT Rights, Press release, Ukraine | Comments Closed

Azerbaijan: Council of Europe Should Speak Up

June 26th, 2012 | Author: Human Rights Watch

The Azerbaijani government released nine prisoners who had been convicted on politically motivated charges on June 22, 2012, four days before a Council of Europe body is scheduled to discuss a report on political prisoners in the country.

(Berlin) – The Azerbaijani government released nine prisoners who had been convicted on politically motivated charges on June 22, 2012, four days before a Council of Europe body is scheduled to discuss a report on political prisoners in the country, Human Rights Watch said today.

Posted in Azerbaijan, Europe/Central Asia, free speech, political prisoner, Press release | Comments Closed

EU: Turn Rights Promises Into Actions

June 25th, 2012 | Author: Human Rights Watch

With the adoption on June 25, 2012, of a comprehensive human rights package, European Union (EU) foreign ministers made a powerful pledge to prioritize human rights in EU policy at home and abroad. Now EU institutions and all 27 member states will have to exercise a firm, coherent, and uniform approach to human rights abuses worldwide, in a transparent and accountable manner.

(Brussels) – With the adoption on June 25, 2012, of a comprehensive human rights package, European Union (EU) foreign ministers made a powerful pledge to prioritize human rights in EU policy at home and abroad.

Posted in EU human rights package; strategic framework on human rights and democracy; EU Action Plan, Europe/Central Asia, European Union Foreign Policy, Foreign, Press release | Comments Closed