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January 2012
Issue: 68



Welcome to Civil Society Watch 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!
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CIVICUS: Broadening Civic Space through Voluntary Action
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Freedom House: Freedom in the World 2012
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International Center for Not for Profit Law: Comments on the Draft Egyptian Law on Associations and Foundations
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International Service for Human Rights: Human Rights Defenders in Colombia: How is the Government protecting their rights?
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Human Rights Watch: World Report 2012
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Human Rights Watch: ‘No One Left to Witness’: Torture, the failure of Habeous Corpus, and the Silencing of Lawyers in Uzbekistan
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Open Forum for CSO Development Effectiveness: Advocacy Toolkit: Guidance on how to advocate for a more enabling environment for civil society in your context
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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 Project of CIVICUS seeks to mobilise quick, principled and effective responses to events that threaten civil society fundamental freedoms of expression, association and assembly.

 

MYANMAR: More political prisoners released
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KAZAKHSTAN: Human rights defender, Yvgeny Zhovtis released
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ZIMBABWE: Zim Rights members acquitted for holding public meeting without permission
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Highlights

CIVICUS publishes Guide on Reporting Violations to UN Special Procedures
Click here to download in English and Russian



CIVICUS and international CSOs concerned about future of last remaining Ethiopian human rights monitoring group
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CIVICUS deplores sustained harassment of Belarusian NGO
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CIVICUS reports mixed results on CSO Enabling environment from the High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness in Busan
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ALGERIA: New media law stifles free expression
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BAHRAIN: Human rights defenders get death threats from former security police official
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BELARUS: High Court upholds sentencing of human rights defender Ales Bialiatski
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CHINA: Troops open fire, killing and injuring protestors in the Tibetan region
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CUBA: Dissident dies after 50 day hunger strike in jail
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EGYPT: Restrictive bill drafted for civil society organisations 
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Civil society groups denounce raids on offices
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ETHIOPIA: Journalists and opposition members convicted under anti-terrorism law
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UN Special Rapporteurs express dismay over misuse of anti-terrorism law
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GAUTEMALA: Land and labour rights activist murdered
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IRAN: Labour activists harassed and arrested
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LITHUANIA: Civil society groups prepare Outcome Document from parallel OSCE Summit
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MALAYSIA: UN experts express dismay at use of tear gas and water cannons against peaceful protestors
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New bill threatens freedom of peaceful assembly
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PAKISTAN: Activist working on fishermen’s rights killed by land grabbers
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RUSSIA: Human rights defender accused of declaring state secrets
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State TV attacks NGOs ahead of elections
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SENEGAL: UN High Commissioner for Human Rights condemns attacks on protestors
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SUDAN: Youth activists targeted
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SYRIA: UN High Commissioner for Human Rights calls for referral to the International Criminal Court
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TURKEY: Trade union activists given harsh sentences for belonging to an "llegal" Kurdish organisation
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ZIMBABWE: Call issued for ending brutal repression of Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA)
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In this interview, CIVICUS advocates South Africans 'Right to Know'

Dale McKinley, the official spokesperson of South Africa’s Right to Know Campaign (R2K) and member of its national working group spoke to CIVICUS about the Protection of Information Bill passed by the National Assembly and awaiting approval of the National Council of Provinces. Dale is a long time social and political activist as well as an independent writer. 

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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.

CONTACT US

EDITORS
Mandeep Tiwana

COPY EDITOR
Kiva Latouche
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DESIGN, LAYOUT and DISTRIBUTION
Oluwakorede Asuni

 


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