Europe/Central Asia

Protect Jewelry Industry from the Taint of Blood Diamonds

Thu, 18 Mar 2010 10:16:48 -0700

From March 18 to 25, Basel will be filled with excitement and beauty as nearly 2,000 companies and 100,000 people in the watch and jewelry business in 100 countries gather for BaselWorld, the world's largest jewelry show.

UK: Interrogation Policy Appears to Permit Complicity in Abuse of Detainees

Human Rights Watch — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 08:26:01 -0700

(London) - The UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) should immediately clarify statements in its annual human rights report that appear to give a green light to complicity by UK security agencies in the mistreatment of terrorism suspects in other countries, Human Rights Watch said today.

Madrid needs to stand up for the forgotten children of Tenerife

Simone Troller — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 04:43:40 -0700

It is now almost four years since 30,000 migrants arrived in the Canary Islands, the first EU landfall for boats from West Africa. Since then Spain has repatriated most of them or transferred them to the mainland, and the number of new immigrants has fallen.

Fredrik Reinfeldt and Carl Bildt visit Moscow

Tanya Lokshina, Deputy Director, HRW Moscow office. — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 02:20:52 -0700

This is Britain’s chance to uphold the Olympic ideal

Tom Porteous, London director — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 04:32:52 -0700

According to the Olympic Charter, the goal of Olympism is "to place sport at the service of the harmonious development of man, with a view to promoting a peaceful society concerned with the preservation of human dignity".

Serbia: 9 Arrested for Kosovo War Crimes

Human Rights Watch — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 15:15:42 -0700

(New York) - Serbia's recent arrest of nine men suspected of killing 41 Kosovo Albanians civilians in 1999 is a welcome step toward justice for the victims, Human Rights Watch said today. The nine men have not been identified.

Grozny: Rebuilt, Fearful and (Almost) Forgotten by the West

Tanya Lokshina, Deputy Director, HRW Moscow office — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 03:13:21 -0700

The year 2010 is already well under way. Spring is not far off, but the centre of Grozny is still bathed in the New Year illuminations. It's about 9 in the evening and a friend from "Memorial" and I, both here for work, are walking along the main street, which is today called Putin Prospect. Multi-coloured fairy lights twinkle and shop windows blaze.

Uzbekistan: Reverse Rights Defender’s Prison Sentence

Human Rights Watch — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 14:25:48 -0800

(New York, March 12, 2010) - The Uzbek government should immediately release a human rights defender convicted on fabricated religious extremism charges, Human Rights Watch said today.

Azerbaijan: Appeal Court Leaves Bloggers in Jail

Human Rights Watch — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 15:32:20 -0800

(New York) - The Azerbaijani government should release two bloggers who have been detained since July 2009 as the result of a staged fight designed to frame them, Human Rights Watch said today. The bloggers, Emin Milli and Adnan Hajizade, lost their appeal against their conviction today.

Uzbekistan: UN Review Should Highlight Atrocious Record

Human Rights Watch — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 07:24:46 -0800

(New York) - A UN review of Uzbekistan's human rights record on March 11 and 12, 2010, is a rare opportunity to highlight the government's abysmal record and to urge specific steps to end abuses, Human Rights Watch said today. The government's persecution of human rights defenders, rampant torture and ill-treatment, and religious persecution top the list of concerns, Human Rights Watch said.