Civil Rights Defenders (CRD) interviewed Belarusian activists for its new report, “Dictatorship No More? EU Sanctions Lifted at the Expense of Civil and Political Rights in Belarus.” The report highlights testimonies of activists who say the government remains deeply repressive despite the European Union’s (EU) claim that Belarus has improved its human rights record. It…
On February 22, 2017, Rosa Maria Payá, President of the Latin-American Youth Network for Democracy (JuventudLAC), and several Cuban activists held a ceremony to present Luis Almagro, Secretary General of the Organization of the American States (OAS), with the “Oswaldo Payá Prize” in Havana, Cuba. Almagro planned to receive the award in person, but…
Khadija Ismayilova (Image: Washington Post)On February 21, 2017, former Azerbaijani political prisoner and journalist Khadija Ismayilova reported that Azerbaijani civil society activists were harassed, blackmailed and arrested days before Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev announced that his wife would be the country’s new vice president. Ismayilova said the arrests are connected to the government’s ongoing efforts…
UPDATE: After nearly a year behind bars, the Sudanese TRACKs activists have been released! The World Movement for Democracy welcomes their release & stands in solidarity with #SudanCivilSociety. Last month, three Sudanese civil society activists affiliated with the Centre for Training and Human Development (TRACKs) encountered another delay in their case. Several Sudanese authorities failed to…