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Issue No 23 |
March 2007 |
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
Guatemala: In defence of the defenders
An interview with Claudia Samayoa of the Unit for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, Guatemala
ZIMBABWE: African civil society activists demand end to repression
INDIA: Government bill threatens civil society
International Women's Day: CIVICUS calls for protection of women activists
LGBT civil society: Building momentum, but still under threat
GOOD NEWS
CANADA: Parliament rejects extension of anti-terror measures
PAKISTAN: Controversial NGO Code of Conduct withdrawn BAHRAIN: Government uses spying and threats to intimidate activists
BELARUS: 20 organisations threatened
BURMA / MYANMAR: Demonstrators threatened with life imprisonment
CHINA: Renewed crackdown on activists
EGYPT: Amendments threatening human rights approved
GEORGIA: Human rights defender detained
IRAN: Remaining two women rights defenders released
IRAQ: Martial law powers could restrict civil society
KAZAKHSTAN: Unregistered church pastor sentenced
MOROCCO: Rights defenders sentenced
NEPAL: Bomb scare at homes of civil society leaders
NIGERIA: Anti-corruption campaigner threatened
PHILIPPINES: New anti-terror law could threaten human rights
RUSSIA: Anti-government march blocked
SAUDI ARABIA: Ten human rights defenders detained incommunicado
SOMALIA: Civil society activist shot dead
SRI LANKA: Trade unionists labelled terrorists
SUDAN: Government suspends 52 NGOs
VENEZUELA: IACHR lists concerns, appeals for visit RESOURCES AND PUBLICATIONS
The Observatory:
2006 Annual Report released
International Helsinki Federation:
Annual Report focusing on OSCE states published
UNHRC:
Report on human rights defenders
Changemakers:
Competition on anti-corruption strategies
CIVICUS: What do you think?
GUATEMALA: In defence of the defenders
An interview with Claudia Samayoa of the Unit for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, Guatemala
Over the last year, attacks and threats against civil society activists in Guatemala have increased - particularly those committed by police and with clear government interests. Rather than depending on clandestine groups, as they have in the past, government-led attacks have become much more brazen. Impunity and weak rule of law have allowed this violence to continue so far unabated. Claudia Samayoa of the Unit for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, at the National Movement of Human Rights in Guatemala speaks to Civil Society Watch about the precarious situation for human rights defenders in the country.
Read the full interview, visit: http://www.civicus.org/csw/FRONTPAGE_Guatemala.htm
ZIMBABWE: African civil society activists demand end to repression
14 March - Prominent civil society activists from across Africa called for the immediate and unconditional release of all political and civil society activists and for the immediate end to violence against peaceful citizens. The statement was issued by the members of the CIVICUS co-organised African solidarity mission that visited Zimbabwe in November 2006 to discuss the country's crisis.
http://www.civicus.org/new/media/Zimbabwe-press-release-14.3.07.doc
INDIA: Government bill threatens civil society
9 March – A controversial bill in India could allow authorities to severely restrict the work of civil society organisations. In a submission to the Indian government, CIVICUS calls for the bill to be dropped. While the government claims that the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Bill would prevent funding of terrorist activities, local and international organisations say it may actually restrict legitimate civil society work.
Press Release: http://www.civicus.org/csw/CIVICUS-press-release-IndiaFCRB-9.3.07.htm
International Women's Day: CIVICUS calls for protection of women activists
7 March - CIVICUS called on governments to guarantee greater recognition and protection for women civil society activists. In commemoration of International Women’s Day, CIVICUS recognised that women around the world still face gender-based violence and exclusion.
http://www.civicus.org/new/media/CIVICUS-IWD2007-pressrelease.doc
LGBT civil society: Building momentum, but still under threat
An article by the Civil Society Watch team
While lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered (LGBT) organisations have become formalised and respected and their numbers have grown over the last 50 years – particularly in North America and Europe - in many countries, LGBT organisations still remain illegal, and transgender and homosexual activities often face severe state restrictions. CSW discusses the barriers and opportunities facing civil society campaigning for LGBT rights internationally.
Read the article, visit: http://www.civicus.org/csw/ANALYSIS_LGBT.htm
CANADA: Parliament rejects extension of anti-terror measures
28 February - The Canadian parliament voted on 27 February against extending extraordinary police anti-terror investigative powers, reports the Toronto Star. The measures empowered authorities to detain suspected terrorists without charge, subject to release on strict bail conditions, and to permit police to force witnesses to testify in a closed court before a judge. Neither of the powers has reportedly been used in the five years since they were enacted.
http://www.thestar.com/printArticle/186476
PAKISTAN: Controversial NGO Code of Conduct withdrawn
6 March - A highly controversial government-led NGO Code of Conduct originally set to kick in this month has been withdrawn in response to strong opposition from civil society, reports the Pakistan NGO Forum. Organisations feared that the regulations would stifle the sector. They are now reportedly pushing for the government to consider the Code previously developed by NGOs.
BAHRAIN: Government uses spying and threats to intimidate activists
22 March - Public security officials offered a man money to spy on well-known activist Ghada Jamsheer, head of the Women's Petition Committee, reports the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights. The vice-president of the Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights Hussein Jawadymous has also reportedly received anonymous telephone threats.
http://www.bahrainrights.org/pressreleases
BELARUS: 20 organisations threatened
3 April - The authorities have warned 20 organisations that they have breached the Law on Public Organisations by participating in the unregistered group, the Assembly of Non-Governmental Organisations, reports Charter97. The organisation has reportedly been denied registration several times.
http://www.charter97.org/eng/news/2007/04/03/20
BURMA / MYANMAR: Demonstrators threatened with life imprisonment
13 March - All nine activists arrested for participating in a 22 February 2007 protest on the soaring inflation in the country have been released, reports the Southeast Asian Press Alliance. Before their release, however, all were forced to sign a paper acknowledging that they would be imprisoned for life should they organise demonstrations without permission or participate in illegal demonstrations.
CHINA: Renewed crackdown on activists
14 March - China's annual session of the National People's Congress in Beijing was marred by increasingly violent crackdowns on protesters, petitioners and rights activists across the country and a surge in house arrests of activists,
Human Rights Watch reports.
http://hrw.org/english/docs/2007/03/14/china15481.htm
EGYPT: Amendments threatening human rights approved
27 March - In a referendum on 26 March, Egyptian voters overwhelmingly approved changes to the constitution, reportedly removing constitutional safeguards requiring the government to obtain judicial warrants to search a citizen's home or monitor communications during a terrorism-related investigation, reports the Middle East Times. Activists who attempted to protest against the amendments on the voting day were reportedly beaten and sexually assaulted by security forces, reports the Arabic Network for Human Rights Information.
http://www.hrinfo.net/en/reports/2007/pr0326.shtml
http://www.metimes.com/storyview.php?StoryID=20070327-111231-2859r
GEORGIA: Human rights defender detained
23 March - The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders reports the arbitrary detention of Jaba Jishkariani, a member of the Egalitarian Institute, a newly-established Georgian NGO composed of human rights defenders, writers and intellectuals. He was reportedly detained after being charged with "disrespect to the court" for opposing the unfair sentencing of a
juvenile.
IRAN: Remaining two women rights defenders released
21 March - The last two women human rights defenders, Shadi Sadr and Mahboobeh Abasgholizadeh,
who were
detained along with 31 other women on 4 March 2007 while demonstrating in
Tehran, were released from prison on 19 March with bail conditions,
reports Human Rights First.
http://www.humanrightsfirst.org/defenders/hrd_iran/alert030607_iranian_women.htm
IRAQ: Martial law powers could restrict civil society
23 February - Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's issued martial law powers on 13 February, giving military commanders authority to conduct warrantless arrests, monitor private communications, and restrict civil society groups in Baghdad, reports Human Rights Watch.
http://hrw.org/english/docs/2007/02/23/iraq15393.htm
KAZAKHSTAN: Unregistered church pastor sentenced
13 March - A court sentenced Pastor Fauzi Gubaidullin on 7 March to three days in prison for leading an unregistered Baptist church which refuses to abide by a court order banning it for three months, reports Forum 18.
http://www.forum18.org/Archive.php?article_id=931
MOROCCO: Rights defenders sentenced
8 March - Two human rights defenders, Brahim Sabbar and Ahmed Sbai, were sentenced on 6 March 2007 to one year in prison on charges including inciting violent protest activities and belonging to an unauthorised association, the Sahrawi Association of Victims of Grave Human Rights Violations Committed by the Moroccan State, reports Amnesty International.
http://www.amnestyusa.org/news/document.do?id=ENGMDE290042007
NEPAL: Bomb scare at homes of civil society leaders
9 March - Members of the legislative parliament expressed shock and condemnation over the bomb scare at the residences of civil society leaders Dr. Devendra Raj Pandey and Krishna Pahadi, reports Nepal News.
http://www.nepalnews.com/archive/2007/mar/mar09/news15.php
NIGERIA: Anti-corruption campaigner threatened
7 March - Leading anti-corruption campaigner Anyakwee Nsirimovu, director of the Institute for Human Rights and Humanitarian Law, was violently assaulted and received death threats, in what is likely a reprisal for his outspoken criticism of corrupt government officials, reports Human Rights Watch.
http://hrw.org/english/docs/2007/03/07/nigeri15460.htm
PHILIPPINES: New anti-terror law could threaten human rights
13 March - Following the signing into law of an anti-terrorism bill on 6 March, a United Nations human rights official has urged members of the Congress to "further debate" the measure and either amend or repeal it altogether, reports the Asian Journal.
RUSSIA: Anti-government march blocked
25 March - Russian police have blocked a march planned by up to 2,000 critics of President Vladimir Putin, the second crackdown this month on a public display of opposition to the Kremlin, reports Reuters. Witnesses reportedly said up to 100 protesters were arrested.
SAUDI ARABIA: Ten human rights defenders detained incommunicado
26 March - Ten human rights defenders have been arrested and are being detained incommunicado, reports the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders. The men, arrested on 3 February 2007, are known for their peaceful human rights activities.
SOMALIA: Civil society activist shot dead
22 March - Well-known Somali human rights defender and director of KISIMA Peace and Development Organisation, Isse Abdi Isse, was shot dead by an unknown assailant in south Mogadishu in the early evening of 14 March, reports Amnesty International.
http://www.amnestyusa.org/news/document.do?id=ENGAFR520062007
SRI LANKA: Trade unionists labelled terrorists
2 March - The International Trade Union Confederation has denounced increasing threats and harassment to trade unionists in Sri Lanka. Following a February protest, posters have reportedly appeared branding the organisers as traitors and terrorists.
http://www.ituc-csi.org/IMG/pdf/Intimidation_abduction_of_TUists_28-02-07.pdf
SUDAN: Government suspends 52 NGOs
22 March - The government has temporarily suspended 52 local NGOs working in South Darfur after an investigation found they did not comply with regulations, reports Reuters. There are currently 100 NGOs operating in the state.
http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?art_id=nw20070322114951218C792939&set_id=1&click_id=68&sf=
VENEZUELA: IACHR lists concerns, appeals for visit
9 March - In an letter to the government, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights appealed to be allowed to visit Venezuela in order to address worrying trends in the country, including restrictions on the media and civil society, as well as impunity in cases related to human rights violations.
http://www.cidh.org/Comunicados/English/2007/13.07eng.htm
The Observatory: 2006 Annual Report released
The 2006 Annual Report of the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders documents acts of repression faced by 1,311 human rights defenders, as well as obstacles to freedom of association, in about 90 countries around the world.
For more information, visit: http://www.fidh.org/article.php3?id_article=4108
International Helsinki Federation: Annual Report focusing on OSCE states published
The International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights has released its annual report focusing mainly on the state of civil and political rights in 39 of the 56 OSCE states, paying particular attention to developments in Central Asia, the Russian North Caucasus region, and Belarus.
For more information, visit: http://www.ihf-hr.org/documents/doc_summary.php?sec_id=3&d_id=4387
UNHRC: Report on human rights defenders
During the UN Human Rights Council's 4th session from 12-30 March, Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders, Hina Jilani submitted her report, touching on a variety of issues. Please see report A/HRC/4/37.
For more information, visit: http://www.ohchr.org/english/bodies/hrcouncil/4session/reports.htm
Changemakers: Competition on anti-corruption strategies
The Changemakers competition Ending Corruption: Honesty Instituted is seeking innovative, high-impact strategies to end the corrosive impact of corruption. Three overall winners each receive $5,000.
For more information, visit: http://www.changemakers.net/en-us/competition/endcorruption
CIVICUS: What do you think? Have your say on the CIVICUS Blog
Have your say, visit http://civicus.civiblog.org
CONTACT US
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CIVICUS is an alliance of members and partners in over 100 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
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.