December 2010
Issue: 56



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!
To subscribe or unsubscribe please visit www.civicus.org/csw/csw-newsletter or email cswcommunity@civicus.org


An Activist's Guide to The Yogyakarta Principles on the Application of International Human Rights Law in Relation to Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity
Click here to download

Association of Women in Development and Women Human Rights Defenders International Coalition: List of Resources and Materials for Women Human Rights Defenders
Click here to download

International Journal of Civil Society Law Newsletter November 2010
Click here to download

Karapatan: 2010 Year End Report on the Human Rights Situation in the Philippines
Click here to download

Third Sector Research Centre: Briefing Paper on Women's Leadership, Employment and Participation in Third Sector and Social Enterprises
Click here to download

World Movement for Democracy: Sixth Assembly Report
Click here to download





CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation is an international movement of civil society with members and partners in over a hundred countries. CIVICUS nurtures the foundation, growth and protection of citizen action throughout the world especially in areas where participatory democracy and citizens’ freedom of association are threatened. The Civil Society Watch Programme of CIVICUS seeks to mobilise quick, principled and effective responses to events that threaten civil society fundamental freedoms of expression, association and assembly.


An OSCE Civil Society Parallel Conference was organised in Astana, Kazakhstan on November 28-29. The International Organisational Committee for this event included 21 organisations across the OSCE region. More than 250 civil society actors from local and international organisations across the region participated in the vigorous discussions at the event. Click here to read press statement and outcome document.



UNITED NATIONS: Treaty on Enforced Disappearances enters into force
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RUSSIA: Gay rights activists win landmark case upholding their right to hold public demonstrations
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UZBEKISTAN: Human rights defender Farkhad Mukhtarov released from prison
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Highlights

CIVICUS organises parallel conference in Astana, Kazakhstan to set strong precedent for Civil Society - OSCE engagement
Click here to read press statement and outcome document

CIVICUS supports a full page media advocacy advert with hundreds of supporters’ signatures through the CIVICUS Crisis Response Fund; published November 19 in the Philippine Daily Inquirer.
View the advocacy here




CIVICUS denounces raid on human rights alliance Karapatan offices and deterioration of human rights situation in the Philippines
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CIVICUS expresses solidarity with Swazi civil society in the run up to Global Days of Action to raise awareness of the dismal human rights situation in the country
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CIVICUS concerned about attacks on journalists and civil society in Russia
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Role and perspectives of civil society in development cooperation - keynote address by CIVICUS at international NGO Conference in Nicaragua
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Reflections by CIVICUS UN Representative in Geneva, Renate Bloem, on the Human Rights Council's Universal Periodic Review Process
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AZERBAIJAN: Amnesty urges government to end harassment of activists
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DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO: Police officers charged with abducting and murdering slain rights activist Floribert Chebeya Bahizere
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EGYPT: Civil society groups refused permission to monitor elections
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THE GAMBIA: Government arrests prominent women's rights activists on questionable charges
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KAZAKHSTAN:  OSCE heads of institutions emphasise the importance of rights in discussions on Euro-Atlantic and Eurasian security
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MALAWI: Presidential aide threatens to ban NGOs in a tirade over their transparency and  accountability
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RWANDA: Article 19 put spotlight on lack of freedom of expression as government readies to face its review at the UN Human Rights Council
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SOUTH KOREA: Filipino activists denied entry to the country during G20 Summit despite having valid travel documents
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SYRIA: Imprisoned human rights defender to receive Martin Ennals Award
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TURKMENISTAN: Human Rights Watch expresses concern about threat to Vienna-based activist from security services
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UGANDA: Civil society activists arrested for protesting against alleged unlawful sale of community land
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USA: Civil liberties and human rights groups urge investigation of FBI intimidation tactics against political activists
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VENEZUELA: President Chavez urges Parliament to pass restrictive international cooperation law
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ZAMBIA: Political activists threaten to kill reporter
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ZIMBABWE: 83 civil society members arrested and charged with 'criminal nuisance' for peaceful demonstration to mark international peace day
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Publicity launch of the CSW Online system (www.cswatch.rg) expected in January 2011. Several items are being developed for the launch including short stories on specific threats, a user “how to” online tutorial and a general media package.






Djilali Hadjadj is a journalist and President of the Algerian Association to Fight Against Corruption (l’Association algérienne de lutte contre la corruption - AACC). For years, Hadjadj has worked to prevent and stop corruption in Algeria, with a critical but constructive stance. He hosts two weekly columns in the newspaper Le Soir d'Algerie. He speaks about his work to stop embezzlement of public funds in his country.
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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.

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Adam Nord
Mandeep Tiwana

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