A working group created by France’s National Assembly in June 2009 to study the issue of face-covering Muslim veils in the country is considering a law to prohibit the wearing of such veils in all public places. Endorsing the creation of the group, President Nicolas Sarkozy has stated that what he terms “the burqa” is not welcome on French territory. A Human Rights Watch paper submitted to the working group in November 2009 argues that a ban on full veils in public places would violate the fundamental rights to freedom from discrimination, freedom of religion and the right to autonomy and would be deeply counterproductive.

The French Immigration Minister’s proposals to address the needs of unaccompanied migrant children held at transit zones, especially airports, falls short of bringing France into compliance with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

The Kyrgyz authorities should immediately release the human rights activists Bakhrom Hamroev and Izzatilla Rakhmatillaev and allow them to continue their fact-finding work without further interference.

European leaders should use the upcoming EU-Russia summit to convey alarm over deteriorating human rights in Russia and to press for concrete improvements. The summit is scheduled for November 18 and 19, 2009, in Stockholm.

Boris Dittrich writes on behalf of Human Rights Watch to the President of the Republic of Serbia to express concern that the persistent homophobia in Serbian society has given rise to incidents of violence, and prevents lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) Serbians from exercising to the full enjoyment their human rights.

Uzbek authorities should immediately release the human rights defender and farmers' rights activist Ganikhon Mamatkhanov, who is facing trial on politically motivated charges.

Uzbek authorities should immediately stop their new harassment campaign against political activists and human rights defenders. Since November 7, 2009, local authorities in six locations have detained at least seven activists and beaten three of them, one of whom sought hospital treatment.

The criminal convictions of two young activist bloggers are a step backward for free expression in Azerbaijan.