Issue No 14

April-May 2006

 

Welcome to Civil Society Watch Monthly Bulletin, an e-newsletter of updates and analyses concerning civil society's rights to freedom of association, assembly and expression around the world. The Bulletin is compiled by the staff at Civil Society Watch, a programme of CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation. Please feel free to forward the Bulletin to friends and colleagues. We welcome your comments and contributions!

 

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

 

FRONT PAGE
New hope for Nepal

Interview with Tatwa P. Timsina, Secretary General of Institute of Cultural Affairs (ICA) Nepal &

Coordinator of CIVICUS Civil Society Index in Nepal

 

CIVICUS ALERTS!

ZIMBABWE: End use of repressive laws against demonstrators

World Press Freedom Day: CIVICUS calls for respect of freedom of expression

NEPAL: Ensure new government guarantees civil society rights

 

ANALYSIS

CIVICUS: Defending civil society rights through prevention

Finn Heinrich, CIVICUS Assistant Secretary General, Programmes

 

GOOD NEWS

PHILIPPINES: Restrictions on assembly declared unconstitutional

UAE: Government vows to let workers form unions

 

CSW COUNTRY UPDATES
AZERBAIJAN: Activists on trial for treason

BAHRAIN: Law restricts freedom of assembly

BANGLADESH: Unionists detained

BELARUS: UN calls for immediate release of political prisoners

BRAZIL: Investigations used to intimidate NGO

CONGO: Environmental network receives threats

EGYPT: Protesters arrested, state of emergency extended

ETHIOPIA: Treason trial begins against civil society activists

GUATEMALA: Indigenous land activists killed

KYRGYZSTAN: Human rights defender attacked

MALDIVES: NGOs continue to be denied registration

NIGERIA: Legislation to ban gay and lesbian organisations

PAKISTAN: Disappearances of activists continue

RUSSIA: Implementing regulations for NGO law published

SOUTH AFRICA: Protesters arrested and injured

SUDAN: UN concerned about restrictive NGO law

TANZANIA: Banned education NGO refuses to apologise

TAJIKISTAN: New NGO law debated, religion law prepared

THAILAND: Trial of protesters commences

TURKEY: New anti-terrorism bill to restrict freedoms

UGANDA: NGO registration bill passed

UZBEKISTAN: Organisation closed by court ruling

ZIMBABWE: Proposed human rights commission problematic

 

RESOURCES AND PUBLICATIONS

Council of Europe: Human Rights Information Bulletin

HRInfo: Arab states using dirty tactics to silence dissent, says report

United Nations: Human Rights Council elections

CIVICUS: What do you think?  Have your say on the CIVICUS Blog!

 

FRONT PAGE

 

New hope for Nepal

Interview with Tatwa P. Timsina, Secretary General of Institute of Cultural Affairs-Nepal &

Coordinator of CIVICUS Civil Society Index in Nepal

 

After over a year long suspension of civil liberties, the people of Nepal are celebrating the success of their peaceful revolution. In response to 20 turbulent days of peaceful mass protests, Nepali King Gyanendra addressed the nation on 24 April, agreeing to reinstate the House of Representatives. Keeping to their promises, the new Council of Ministers on 9 May reportedly annulled three restrictive ordinances promulgated by the former royal government, including those related to media, NGOs and local administration. According to reports, the labour ordinance was also amended and the government is discussing whether to rescind the draconian Terrorist and Disruptive Activities Act (2002).

 

In February 2005, King Gyanendra dismissed the government and imposed a state of emergency, suspending civil liberties in a vow to crush a decade-old Maoist revolt. Since then, officials have committed serious human rights violations, including the arbitrary arrest and detention of thousands of critics, and the implementation of severe restrictions on freedom of speech and assembly. The recent protests were violently repressed by security forces, resulting in the deaths of at least 17 people, with hundreds more injured and thousands arrested.

 

Civil Society Watch interviewed Tatwa P. Timsina, the Secretary General of the Institute for Cultural Affairs in Nepal on the state of civil of society in his country and his renewed hopes for its bright future.

 

To read the full interview, visit: http://www.civicus.org/csw/FRONT_PAGE-Nepal.doc

 

CIVICUS ALERTS!

ZIMBABWE: End use of repressive laws against demonstrators

 

9 May 2006 - CIVICUS welcomes the release of the remaining 105 civil society activists in Zimbabwe who were arrested on Thursday 4 May while peacefully demonstrating against the socio-economic conditions in the country. However, CIVICUS condemns the ongoing and arbitrary use of repressive security laws against civil society activists in Zimbabwe.

 

Hundreds of Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) members, men, women and children staged a peaceful protest in Bulawayo on 4 May against the 1000 per cent increase in school fees. Approximately 200 people, including 73 children were arrested and charged under Section 7c of the Miscellaneous Offences Act; “conduct likely to cause a breach of the peace.”

 

To read the full alert, visit: http://www.civicus.org/new/content/Zimbabweprotesters.htm

 

World Press Freedom Day: CIVICUS calls for respect of freedom of expression

 

3 May 2006 - CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation joins global civil society today to celebrate World Press Freedom Day. As an international alliance of civil society, CIVICUS emphasises the important roles of freedoms of expression and the press in supporting civil society’s crucial function as an advocate for the public good.

 

Proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in 1993, World Freedom Day urges the global community to reflect on the importance of the fundamental rights of freedom of expression and freedom of the press, as stated in article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

 

To read the full appeal, visit: http://www.civicus.org/new/content/CIVICUSpressandcivilsociety.htm

 

NEPAL: Ensure new government guarantees civil society rights

 

26 April - CIVICUS would like to congratulate Nepali civil society for their resilience and courage in bringing about the re-instatement of parliamentary democracy through the strength of their mass peaceful demonstrations.

 

While CIVICUS welcomes the new development in Nepal, we nevertheless caution the Seven-Party Alliance to use this victory to also strengthen the role of civil society and consolidate the rights to assembly, association and expression.

 

To read the full letter, visit: http://www.civicus.org/new/content/Nepalstrengthencivilsociety.htm

ANALYSIS

 

CIVICUS: Defending civil society rights through prevention

Finn Heinrich, CIVICUS Assistant Secretary General, Programmes

 

Existing human rights advocacy work has mostly used a ‘naming and shaming’ approach after a violation of civil society rights has taken place, with seemingly little positive impact. However, experience has shown that it is generally easier to address restrictive legal provisions before they are enacted and political capital is invested in the policy. CIVICUS explores the potential for an early warning mechanism to alert the international community to potential restrictions on civil society before they occur.

 

To read the full article, visit: http://www.civicus.org/csw/ANALYSIS-EWM.doc

 

GOOD NEWS

 

PHILIPPINES: Restrictions on assembly declared unconstitutional

25 April  - The Supreme Court of Philippines declared the government's “calibrated preemptive response” (CPR), towards street protests unconstitutional on the grounds that it violates the freedom of peaceful assembly, reports INQ7.  The CPR came into force in September 2005, amid mass protests against government policies, entailing a blanket restriction on all rallies without permits.  While declaring CPR unconstitutional, however, the court reportedly upheld a 21-year-old law on public assemblies that requires organisers to secure a permit for rallies in public places.  It also gave local governments 30 days to designate “freedom parks” where demonstrations can be held without a permit under the same 1985 law.

 

4 May - In a similar move, the Supreme Court rejected President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's justification for declaring a "state of emergency" in the country in February, and ruled that the ensuing raid on a newspaper and the threat of sedition charges against the media constituted prior restraint on the press and a violation of the Philippine Constitution, reports the Southeast Asian Press Alliance. Allegedly claiming to thwart a coup engineered by colluding rightists and leftists, Arroyo declared a "state of emergency" and called on the military to suppress "lawless violence" under Presidential Proclamation (PP1017). For one week, PP1017 reportedly led to arbitrary arrests, prohibitions against street protests, and at least one raid on a daily newspaper.

 

View Source:

http://news.inq7.net/breaking/index.php?index=1&story_id=73698

http://www.seapabkk.org

 

UAE: Government vows to let workers form unions

3 April 2006 - The government announced a planned amendment to the labour law on 30 March which would allow workers in the Emirates to join unions, take strike action and engage in collective bargaining with employers, reports the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions. The announcement was made against a backdrop of recent protests by migrant workers against exploitation and hazardous working conditions, pressure on the Emirates authorities by international bodies, and negotiations between the UAE and the USA on a trade pact. Trade unions are currently banned in the UAE.

 

View Source:

http://www.icftu.org/displaydocument.asp?Index=991223621&Language=EN

 

CSW COUNTRY UPDATES

 

AZERBAIJAN: Activists on trial for treason

17 April - Three youth activists are on trial for charges of plotting to overthrow the government, reports EurasiaNet. Azerbaijani reportedly authorities arrested the three Yeni Fikir leaders in August and September 2005, in the run-up to the November parliamentary elections. Yeni Fikir is allegedly aligned to the opposition Popular Front Party. Prior to the elections, authorities arrested dozens of other individuals, including many former government officials and prominent business leaders, who are alleged to have ties to opposition parties. These individuals also reportedly face charges of attempting to overthrow the government and committing other crimes against the state. 
 

View Source:

http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/civilsociety/articles/eav041706.shtml

 

BAHRAIN: Law restricts freedom of assembly

Draft amendments to the 1973 Assembly Law were submitted to parliament in March, containing several measures which constitute severe infringements of the right to freedom of peaceful assembly, reports FIDH. Demonstrations, marches or rallies near hospitals, airports, malls, diplomatic missions, international organisations, main avenues and restricted areas will reportedly be strictly forbidden. The draft also allegedly bans holding public meetings before 9am or after 11.30pm and staging demonstrations or rallies before sunrise or after sunset. Furthermore, organisers who do not abide by the new law would be sentenced to six months of imprisonment and given fines of at least 100 Bahraini dinars, while participants in illegal gatherings could be jailed for up to four months.

 

View Source:

http://www.fidh.org/article.php3?id_article=3195

 

BANGLADESH: Unionists detained

7 April - The International Confederation of Free Trade Unions has called on the government of Bangladesh to release three unionists belonging to the Bangladesh Cha Workers' Union (BCWU), an affiliate of the Bangladesh Mukto Sramik Federation (BMSF), imprisoned on 24 March.  A protest by members of BCWU appealing for the release of the three leaders was reportedly violently put to an end by police. The arrests were allegedly linked to fraud charges that were previously cleared.

 

View Source:

http://www.icftu.org/displaydocument.asp?Index=991223635&Language=EN

 

BELARUS: UN calls for immediate release of political prisoners

2 May - A United Nations rights expert demanded the immediate release of political prisoners in Belarus, called on the government "to cease human rights violations" and urged the authorities to engage in dialogue with all sectors of civil society, reports the UN News Service. "The Special Rapporteur reportedly demanded the immediate and unconditional release of Aleksandr Milinkevich, Vintsuk Vyachorka, Aleksandr Buchvostau, and Sergei Kalyakin, as well as all other political prisoners of Belarus." The Belarusian Human Rights Center VIASNA provides updated reports of new political prisoners and their trials on their website http://www.spring96.org/en.

 

View Source:

http://www.un.org/news

 

BRAZIL: Investigations used to intimidate NGO

CONECTAS Direitos Humanos is calling on authorities in São Paulo to cease the baseless accusations and police investigations against Conceição Paganele, the President and Founder of Association of Mothers and Friends of Children and Adolescents at Risk (AMAR). Two inquiries and three police investigations allegedly seek to associate recent rebellions at FEBEM, a juvenile detention facility with AMAR's work to protect the adolescents detained at the facility. AMAR is the recipient of numerous human rights awards recognising its work. CONECTAS believes the investigations are being used to intimidate the organisation.

 

View Source:

http://www.conectas.org/en/index.html

 

CONGO: Environmental network receives threats

4 May - The DRC Natural Resources Network has expressed deep concern after its members received threats. The three members are lawyers Jean Claude Katende and Jean-Pierre Muteba, respectively the African Association for Human Rights Defence president and the Unionists' New Dynamics general secretary, reports Journaliste en danger. The threats reportedly follow the publication of the 19 April 2006 Network Final Declaration, denouncing the mismanagement of Congolese natural resources, characterized by: one-sided contract-signing, ecosystem and environment deterioration, and bribery in the assignment of exploitation rights.

 

View Source:

http://www.jed-afrique.org

 

EGYPT: Protesters arrested, state of emergency extended

1 May - Human rights activists condemned the arrest of at least 30 protesters at demonstrations held on 26 and 27 April, in support of pro-reform judges, reports IRIN News. Police allegedly beat protesters with sticks in a bid to break up the demonstrations, which were held in a district of the capital that contains the journalists’ and lawyers’ syndicates, the Judges’ Club and the Supreme Court. The demonstrations were reportedly organised to express solidarity with a number of reformist judges who stepped up demands for judicial independence following parliamentary elections last year. In other news, the Egyptian government extended a 25 year-old state of emergency for two more years, until the government is able to pass an anti-terrorism bill, IRIN News also reports. Activists allegedly say the government has historically used the emergency law to thwart political opposition rather than fight terrorism.


View Source:

http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=53040

http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=53085

 

ETHIOPIA: Treason trial begins against civil society activists

8 May - The treason trial against two anti-poverty activists, along with 131 political activists and journalists, began on 2 May in Addis Ababa.  According to reports the trial could take over a year, with over 70 samples of video evidence and more than 360 witnesses due to take the stand. Daniel Bekele, a lawyer and policy manager of the ActionAid office in Ethiopia and Netsanet Demissie, an environmental and human rights lawyer and chair of the Organization for Social Justice in Ethiopia have been repeatedly denied bail since their imprisonment last year and have not been allowed to view the evidence presented against them.

 

View Source:

http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGAFR250152006

http://www.civilsocietywatch.org

 

GUATEMALA: Indigenous land activists killed

5 May - Prior to a mass resistance march on 29 April, three indigenous land activists were killed, reports the Human Rights Defenders Unit of the National Movement for Human Rights. Meregilda Suchité, an indigenous healer and a woman rights activist from Chiquimula was shot dead on 2 April, while Antonio Ixbalán Cali and his wife María Petzey Coo both activists of CONIC, the peasant and indigenous organisation which coordinated the resistance march, were murdered at their house. Other activists denounced the killings and the resistance march continued with over the 20,000 peasant demonstrators. Several peasants were arrested and three were wounded during the march, however the marchers succeeded in negotiating a new dialogue with the government on land and indigenous issues.

 

KYRGYZSTAN: Human rights defender attacked

17 April -  Human rights defender Edil Baisalov, head of the Coalition for Democracy and Civil Society, was attacked on 12 April several days after Baisalov had led a demonstration to protest organised crime, reports Human Rights Watch. On April 8 he reportedly led an estimated 2,000 people in a peaceful march that called for law and order in the country and protested the growth of organised crime and attempts by criminal groups to gain access to political power.

 

View Source:

http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=52825&SelectRegion=Asia

http://www.hrw.org/english/docs/2006/04/14/kyrgyz13174.htm

 

MALDIVES: NGOs continue to be denied registration

5 April - The Maldivian Reporting Network for Persons in Judicial Care (commonly known as the Detainee Network, www.maldiviandetainees.net ) is still awaiting an answer to its over year-old application to register as an NGO in the Maldives, reports the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI). Two British Members of Parliament, the International Commission of Jurists and Amnesty International have all made representations to the Maldivian government supporting their registration. After a few Ministry delays on trivial matters, in January 2006 one of the founding members of the Detainee Network was allegedly informed that discretionary medical treatment she was receiving for cervical cancer might not be made available if she continued to support 'anti-government' projects. She subsequently withdrew her name and the application had to be recently re-submitted, causing further delays. According to CHRI. the Detainee Network would be the first official rights-based NGO in the Maldives and would enhance the credibility of any meaningful reform within the Maldivian police and penal systems.


View Source:

http://www.humanrightsinitiative.org

 

NIGERIA: Legislation to ban gay and lesbian organisations proposed

27 April - The government has proposed legislation that would criminalise same-sex marriage and ban advocacy groups and public demonstrations focused on gay and lesbian issues, reports Human Rights Watch. The planned law would also prohibit organisations and churches from providing advocacy and sympathetic advice and welfare support for gays and lesbians. Some 60 European Members of Parliament have reportedly called on the Nigerian government to abandon the proposed legislation.

 

View Source:

http://uk.gay.com/headlines/9858

http://hrw.org/english/docs/2006/03/23/nigeri13066.htm

 

PAKISTAN: Disappearances of activists continue

18 April - The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) expresses concern about the ongoing disappearances of political and human rights activists in Balochistan, the southern province in Pakistan. It is alleged that government’s security personnel are involved in these disappearances. The most recent victim is Munir Mengal, the management director of Baloch Voice, a Balochi-language television station based in Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, who went missing after arriving in Karachi, Pakistan from Bahrain on April 7. Eleven activists have disappeared in the last five years, reports AHRC.

 

View Source:

http://www.ahrchk.net

 

RUSSIA: Implementing regulations for NGO law published

5 May - The Russian government has issued two decrees, on 15 April and 3 May outlining the implementation of the new NGO law, reports the International Center for Not-for-Profit Law. The 15 April decree stipulates the application procedure and provides the appropriate forms. The 3 May decree expands the Federal Registration Service, and authorises it to: make decisions on the registration of symbols of NGOs; control the activities of NGOs, including branches of international and foreign NGOs, political parties and religious organisations; create an experts council relating to religious organisations; send its representatives to participate in events conducted by NGOs, political parties, and religious organisations; maintain a Federal List of Extremist Materials; and to consider appeals from denial of registration.

 

View Source:

http://www.icnl.org

 

SOUTH AFRICA: Protesters arrested and injured

13 April - The police's Independent Complaints Directorate has opened an attempted murder investigation after protesters were shot at during a pro-democracy picket in South Africa at Swazi border posts, reports the Mail and Guardian. Seven people were allegedly injured and 25 arrested in the protests supporting Swaziland's struggle for freedom and commemorating Swazi King Sobhuza II's institution 33 years ago of an ongoing state of emergency. At least 500 protestors, reportedly led by the Congress of South African Trade Unions, the Swaziland Solidarity Network, the South African Community Party and its youth wing, held demonstrations and tried to close the border.
 

View Source:

http://www.mg.co.za/articlePage.aspx?articleid=269235&area=/breaking_news/breaking_news__national/

http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=52770

 

SUDAN: UN concerned about restrictive NGO law

3 May - During her recent visit, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour raised her concerns with senior Sudanese Government officials over a new law restricting NGOs, reports the UN News Service. According to Human Rights First, the Sudanese government froze the assets on 11 April of a local women's rights NGO called the Women's Awareness Raising Group, Red Sea, making it impossible for the organisation to continue its work. Sudanese officials also asked the Norwegian Refugee Service (NRC), which coordinates the largest camp for internally displaced people in Sudan, to leave on 5 April, reports the UN News Service. UN officials expressed concern that the conditions for the 90,000 in the Kalma camp are likely to deteriorate once NRC leaves.

 

View Source:

http://www.un.org/news

http://action.humanrightsfirst.org/campaign/AWOON/explanation

 

TANZANIA: Banned education NGO refuses to apologise

7 April - The education NGO HakiElimu banned from undertaking or publishing research last year says it will not apologise, at least for the time being, as demanded by the government so as to be allowed to resume its activities, and has denied any wrong doing on its part, reports IPP Media. In September 2005, the government issued a circular accusing the executive director of HakiElimu of repeatedly failing to conform to directives given to him by the government and disparaging the image of the education system and the teaching profession. In a recent statement, HakiElimu expressed optimism that their current dialogue with government would resolve the issues.
 

View Source:

http://www.ippmedia.com/ipp/guardian/2006/04/07/63764.html

 

TAJIKISTAN: New NGO law debated, religion law prepared

16 April - The Tajik parliament is currently debating a new draft law on public organisations which was adopted on 2 December 2005, reports the Central Asia-Caucasus Institute. While the new law reportedly would not directly ban the activities of NGOs, some observers think that up to 80 per cent of NGOs may be closed under the new law, if it is narrowly interpreted. In addition to the NGO law, an even harsher religion law is reportedly being prepared which would restrict the number of mosques; ban proselytism; ban the teaching of religion to children under seven; ban foreigners from leading religious communities; and institute compulsory registration for all religious communities.

 

View Source:

http://www.cacianalyst.org/view_article.php?articleid=4174&SMSESSION=NO

 

THAILAND: Trial of protesters commences

26 April - The testimonies in the trial of 58 persons who were among protesters outside a police station on 25 October 2004, have commenced, reports the Asian Human Rights Commission. Over 1000 protesters were detained and 85 were killed during the protest calling for the release of six men held in the Tak Bai District Police Station who were held under martial law provisions. The protesters are accused of various offences, including obstructing government officers, disturbing the peace and causing damage to property. The trial is scheduled to run until July 2007.

 

View Source:

http://www.ahrchk.net

 

TURKEY: New anti-terrorism bill to restrict freedoms

28 April - 17 NGOs are demanding a new anti-terror law be withdrawn, saying that they themselves will be treated as "unarmed terrorist organisations" under the new law, reports BIA News.  The NGOs say the draft bill would restrict freedoms of expression and assembly, and treat citizens as terrorists.  Amendments proposed to the law were reportedly debated and approved by the Internal Affairs Commission of Parliament on 26 April. Government officials reportedly say the amendments are in accordance with European Union human rights guidelines.

 

View Source:

http://www.bianet.org/2006/04/01_eng/news78371.htm

http://www.bianet.org/php/yazdir.php?DosyaX=../2006/05/01_eng/news78116.htm

 

UGANDA: NGO registration bill passed

12 April - NGOs are expressing concern about the NGO Registration (Amendment) Bill, passed by parliament on 7 April, reports the Ugandan Coalition of Non-governmental Organisations. Under the bill, NGOs and evangelical churches would be required to renew their registration permits annually. The bill also contains a controversial clause that gives security (ISO and ESO) representation on the government NGO Board. The bill gives the NGO Board powers to register or deny registry to NGOs opposed to government policy or whose activities are not in the 'public interest.' The bill awaits the President's signature before it can become law.

 

View Source:

www.civicus.org/new/media/CONOBPRESSRELEASEUganda.doc

 

UZBEKISTAN: Organisation closed by court ruling

28 April - Authorities have decided to close the local office of the American Bar Association Central European and Eurasian Law Initiative (ABA-CEELI), said the organisation in a statement.  The organisation is alleged to have operated in violation of its charter, supported and set up local NGOs, provided legal assistance to them and concealed financial documents.  The organisation is appealing the court's 27 April ruling to close their office. According to the organisation, "The action against ABA-CEELI follows similar proceedings in recent months against other foreign and international development assistance, human rights and humanitarian organisations, resulting in the departure of a number of such groups from Uzbekistan. At the same time, the government of Uzbekistan is also aggressively curtailing the activities of domestic civil society organisations."

 

View Source:

http://www.abanet.org/media/statementsletters/sttuzbekistan.html

 

ZIMBABWE: Proposed human rights commission problematic

10 April - The proposed Zimbabwe Human Rights commission, approved by Zimbabwean Cabinet on 21 March 2006 has numerous problems, said a statement by the Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum. The proposed body would reportedly focus on the promotion, protection, and respect for human rights in Zimbabwe. The organisations are concerned that the Commission is being formed merely in response to international criticism and that it will lack independence and any real legitimacy and willingness to investigate human rights abuses.

 

View Source:

http://www.hrforumzim.com/frames/inside_frame_press.htm

 

RESOURCES AND PUBLICATIONS

 

Council of Europe: Human Rights Information Bulletin

The latest edition of the Council of Europe's Human Rights Information Bulletin, covering November 2005 to February 2006, is now available. Each Bulletin, published three times a year, examines signatures and ratifications of human rights conventions; developments in cases before the organs of the European Convention on Human Rights; coverage of other conventions in the field of human rights; activities in the field of human rights of the Committee of Ministers and the Parliamentary Assembly and the activities of the Directorate General of Human Rights.

 

The bulletin is available at http://www.coe.int/T/E/Human_rights/hribe.asp

 

HRInfo: Arab states using dirty tactics to silence dissent, says report

In response to a growing civil society movement, Arab governments are resorting to dirty tactics to silence critics, says a new report by the Arabic Network for Human Rights Information. The report, which focuses on cases in Egypt, Bahrain and Tunisia, says Arab governments attempt to prevent opposition, activists and journalists from speaking through attacks, detention, imprisonment, disappearances, and the fabrication of criminal cases against them.

The report is available at http://www.hrinfo.net/en/reports/re2006/

 

United Nations: Human Rights Council elections

On 9 May, the United Nations General Assembly elected the first members of the new Human Rights Council. The resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 15 March 2006 establishing the Human Rights Council calls on UN Member States to take into consideration a candidate’s “contribution to the promotion and protection of human rights” when electing countries to serve on the body. Some of the newly elected members, however, have rather suspect human rights records. Check out the list at the UN site below.

 

View the list of newly elected members at http://www.un.org/ga/60/elect/hrc/

 

CIVICUS: What do you think?  Have your say on the CIVICUS Blog!

Civil society must regularly confront controversial issues which affect both what we do and how we do it.  Here is an opportunity to share your thoughts on these topics, to speak out and to make a difference! Help CIVICUS develop its vision of a global community of active, engaged citizens committed to the creation of a more just and equitable world.

 

Have your say, visit http://civicus.civiblog.org

 

CONTACT US

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CIVICUS is an alliance of approximately 1000 members in 105 countries, dedicated to strengthening civil society and citizen action around the world. Civil Society Watch is a programme of CIVICUS, which seeks to expose, address and prevent threats to civil society's rights to freedom of association, expression and assembly. For more information, visit www.civicus.org and www.civilsocietywatch.org

www.civilsocietywatch.org

DISCLAIMER:

The views expressed in this bulletin are a reflection of those contained in the original reports to which they are linked here, and are not necessarily those of CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation.