The UNESCO Chair & Institute of Comparative Human Rights at the University of Connecticut invites applications for the eighth annual International Leadership Programme: A Global Intergenerational Forum, to be held August 3 - 12, 2012 in Storrs, Connecticut.
*Applications must be received by March 9, 2012.*
The Forum seeks to empower young leaders by involving them in finding solutions to emerging human rights problems, and nurturing individuals to be effective leaders in the field of human rights. To this end, the Forum will:
· Introduce participants to the United Nations Millennium Development Goals and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
· Build a network of solidarity among human rights leaders
· Expand the knowledge relevant to human rights practice
· Provide tools and a platform for open debates
· Provide programmes, activities and processes necessary for human rights leadership
· Promote the sharing of experiences and understanding
· Showcase speakers on such topics as: health and human rights, education, the environment, the plight of child soldiers, the use of media, fundraising, conflict resolution and transformation; litigation and advocacy
The UNESCO Chair will provide all conference participants with dormitory housing, meals, ground transportation in Connecticut, resource materials and a certificate of participation.
Young people between the ages of 18-30, with community service experience, and with demonstrated ability to work on solutions to human rights problems, should apply. Relevant issues include, but are not limited to, human trafficking, the plight of children, refugees, hunger, HIV/AIDs, gender discrimination, racism, classism, the environment and peace education.
Conference will be held in English only. Fluency in English is required.
Applicants will be selected based on the strength of their application essay, demonstrated commitment to human rights (practical/hands-on experience), potential impact on the individual and their potential contribution to the Forum, regional and gender representation.
On the 9th of February, at 6:30 in the morning in the area of the institute "FIAN" (in Samara) a janitor found the body of Nikita Kalin, born in 1991. At 8:00am police arrived on the scene, and at 11:00am police contacted the mother of the victim. According to his mother, Nikita was stabbed 61 times, besides this, his ribs were fractured multiple times, and his head was wounded as well. No property was stolen. Currently there is one murder suspect under arrest. Nikita's blood was found on the clothes of the arrested suspect.
It is obvious, that Nikita was attacked by a group, and police also told his mother off the record, that the detained suspect is a national socialist activist, and refuses to name any accomplices. Besides the brutality of the murder, the investigation has still not questioned Nikita's mother, or his friend who was the last person who saw him. Due to this, we suppose that there will be an attempt to cover up the case, as it often hapens in Russia. However, the suspect has already hired a lawyer.
We suspect, that the investigation is working in the interest of the arrested, and thus support is necessary. At this point, a human rights organisation has provided a lawyer, but funds are still needed for funeral costs. [Read more]
posted 21 Feb 2012 23:33 by Rights in Russia
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updated 21 Feb 2012 23:50
]
"Say No to Putin"
Event: Rally in London "Say No to Putin"
Date: Sunday, 4 March 2012,
Time: 12pm - 4pm
Place: Opposite the Russian embassy in London
"If you are not indifferent to what is happening in Russia - come and express your point of view!" Organizers: "Organizing Committee For Fair Elections in London" and "Speak Louder!"
posted 1 Feb 2012 23:04 by Rights in Russia
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updated 1 Feb 2012 23:11
]
On Saturday 4th February two rallies will be held in London to support the Russian movement for fair elections.
One is to be held at 2pm in Whitehall, opposite Downing street. A letter to the British PM will be handed, asking him not to deal with Russia's illegitimate government.
For your information: here is the lists of cities and towns, both Russian and foreign where rallies and marches of support of the movement for fair elections will take place http://www.novayagazeta.ru/news/53654.html
posted 16 Jan 2012 03:20 by Rights in Russia
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updated 16 Jan 2012 03:24
]
Russian Justice Initiative (RJI) and Legal Assistance Organization “Astrea” conduct strategic litigation before the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) on behalf of victims of grave human rights abuses stemming from the second Chechen conflict and from post-conflict transition in the North Caucasus: disappearances, extra-judicial killings, torture and unfair trials. By mid-2011 the organization had won 100 cases at the ECtHR concerning violations in Chechnya and Ingushetia, and was representing over 1250 clients in more than 250 cases pending before the ECtHR from Chechnya, Ingushetia, Kabardino-Balkaria and Dagestan. Since 2008 RJI in partnership with the Tbilisi-based Georgian Young Lawyer’s Association has submitted over 35 cases of human rights violations stemming from the 2008 Georgia-Russia conflict to the European Court of Human Rights.
Job description: The ideal candidate shall have at least one year of professional experience in the human rights field; be committed to justice and respect for human rights; possess a high level of ethical awareness; be creative and able to work both independently and as a part of a team; a quick learner with a nuanced understanding of the human rights situation in the North Caucasus; capable of suggesting and implementing innovative approaches to providing legal redress to victims of human rights violations in the North and South Caucasus.
Start-date for the position is 15 February 2012 or sooner.
Application deadline is 1 February 2012 [Read more]
posted 21 Dec 2011 08:17 by Rights in Russia
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updated 21 Dec 2011 08:20
]
The Russian Community is going to join protesters all over Russia and organize a protest on 24th of December at 12 noon in front of the Russian Embassy in London. The organisers would be delighted to see as many people as possible at the protest.
Do come to the Russian Embassy on Saturday 24th at 12 noon to support protesters in Russia in their struggle for fair elections.
posted 21 Dec 2011 08:13 by Rights in Russia
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updated 21 Dec 2011 08:14
]
The Russian Community is going to join protesters all over Russia and organise a protest on 24th of December at 10.00 in front of the Russian Consulate on Melville Street. The Russian Consulate have been informed and police permission has also been granted. The organisers would be delighted to see as many people as possible at the protest.
Organizers of the protest are: Sophia Soboleva, Maksim Naumov, Denis Alyshev.
posted 10 Dec 2011 01:11 by Rights in Russia
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updated 10 Dec 2011 01:14
]
The rally in London to protest against election fraud in Russia is taking place between 11 and 3 pm in Old Palace Yard near Parliament Square. Check here for: Location
On December 10, 2011, thousands of people will be protesting on Russia's streets and squares against what we feel was a grossly unfair representation of our will.
Elections to the State Duma (lower chamber of Russian
parliament) held on December 4 were marred by an unprecedented and outrageous
amount of fraud - well documented by thousands of observers and members of the
press - and attempts of censorship against independent media. Ballot boxes were
stuffed and observers and journalists unlawfully and sometimes violently
ejected from polling stations to prevent them from registering these
violations. The announced elections results are heavily biased towards United
Russia, the ruling party associated with Russia's ex-president and incumbent
prime minister Vladimir Putin.
Several hundred people protesting against the fraud in
the following days have already been violently detained by the police, some are
still in custody. We, the Russian residents of the United Kingdom, feel that our votes
in the national elections have been stolen and our right for fair political
representation violated.
We express solidarity with our protesting compatriots
back home and all over the world and demand the elections results to be
recalculated and all those responsible for the fraud prosecuted.
On December
10, 2011, thousands of people will be protesting on Russia's streets and
squares against what we feel was a grossly unfair representation of our will.
Elections to the State Duma (lower chamber of Russian parliament) held on
December 4 were marred by an unprecedented and outrageous amount of fraud -
well documented by thousands of observers and members of the press - and
attempts of censorship against independent media. Ballot boxes were stuffed and
observers and journalists unlawfully and sometimes violently ejected from
polling stations to prevent them from registering these violations. The
announced elections results are heavily biased towards United Russia, the
ruling party associated with Russia's ex-president and incumbent prime minister
Vladimir Putin. Several hundred people protesting against the fraud in the
following days have already been violently detained by the police, some are
still in custody.
We, the
Russian residents of the United Kingdom, feel that our votes in the national
elections have been stolen and our right for fair political representation
violated. We express solidarity with our protesting compatriots back home and
all over the world and demand the elections results to be recalculated and all
those responsible for the fraud prosecuted.
The rally in
London is taking place between 11 and 3 pm in Old Palace Yard near Parliament
Square.
This will be
a static demonstration held in full compliance with requirements put forward by
London authorities and the Metropolitan police. Please contact Alexey Kovalev
at+447876708154orkovalever@gmail.comfor further
details.
Elections to the State Duma took place on 4 December 2011.
Our movement, Speak Up!, has spoken out against voting for Kremlin-controlled parties. But the Russian regime has even taken votes away from its own pocket parties. Each day in Russia, especially in Moscow, protest rallies are attracting thousands of people. The police are beating demonstrators and sending them to prison.
We must say ‘No!’ to the violations of our rights by the government! We want free and fair elections! We want to see a free and democratic country!
We call on civic activists and Russian citizens living in London to come to the Russian embassy on Friday, 9 December, and express your opposition to the regime established by Vladimir Putin.
Our demands: 1. Annul the results of the State Duma elections and set new elections for 4 March. 2. Prosecute those officials responsible for electoral fraud.
3. Set new presidential elections for no earlier than 6 months after the parliamentary elections. Until this time, the current president will remain as acting president. 4. Over one month the Ministry of Justice should register all parties denied registration over the past five years. Implement the decision of the European Court of Human Rights on restoring the registration of the Republican Party of Russia. 5. Eliminate government censorship in all federal media since this is in contradiction with the Constitution, and also the informal ban on freedom of assembly.
The rally will begin at 17.00.
We know that many of you are working, but come after work, will shall be there into the evening. Our slogans: Free and Fair Elections in a Free Country! Russia without Putin! Freedom of Political Prisoners! Putin must resign! Join us!
posted 8 Dec 2011 01:03 by Rights in Russia
[
updated 10 Dec 2011 01:08
]
On December 10, 2011, thousands of people will be protesting on Russia's streets and squares against what we feel was a grossly unfair representation of our will. Elections to the State Duma (lower chamber of Russian parliament) held on December 4 were marred by an unprecedented and outrageous amount of fraud - well documented by thousands of observers and members of the press - and attempts of censorship against independent media. Ballot boxes were stuffed and observers and journalists unlawfully and sometimes violently ejected from polling stations to prevent them from registering these violations. The announced elections results are heavily biased towards United Russia, the ruling party associated with Russia's ex-president and incumbent prime minister Vladimir Putin. Several hundred people protesting against the fraud in the following days have already been violently detained by the police, some are still in custody.
We, the Russian residents of the United Kingdom, feel that our votes in the national elections have been stolen and our right for fair political representation violated. We express solidarity with our protesting compatriots back home and all over the world and demand the elections results to be recalculated and all those responsible for the fraud prosecuted.
This will be a static demonstration held in full compliance with requirements put forward by London authorities and the Metropolitan police. Please contact Alexey Kovalev at +447876708154 or kovalever@gmail.com for further details.