On 18 June, Human Rights House Network has issued a statement against the packet of amendments that have been proposed to the Azerbaijan Republic laws “On Non-governmental Organizations,” “On Mass Media,” “On State Fees” and “On Donors,” as well as the Administrative Code.
The statement goes on to say, “Overall, the Draft Law contains serious shortcomings that contradict the democratic values and infringe the rights of human rights defenders guaranteed by the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders. Introduction of the laws of similar character is a part of the recent tendency aimed at controlling the work of the non-governmental organizations. Failure to prevent the enforcement of amendments carries a danger of spreading similar attempts to the neighbouring countries.”
The statements is signed by:
The Norwegian Human Rights House (on behalf of the following NGOs):
-The Human Rights House Foundation
-The Norwegian Helsinki Committee
Human Rights Centre of Azerbaijan
Institute for Reporters’ Freedom and Safety (Azerbaijan)
Human Rights House Sarajevo (on behalf of the following NGOs):
-Association of Female Citizens "Renaissance"
-Foundation CURE
-Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in Bosnia and Herzegovina
-Regional Co-ordinator for Youth Groups
-Serb Civic Council – Movement for Equality – The Council of the Sarajevo Canton
-Woman and Society Centre
Human Rights House Skopje (on behalf of the following NGOs):
– Association for Democratic Initiatives (ADI)
– The First Children’s Embassy in the World – "Megjashi"
– Helsinki Committee for Human Rights of the Republic of Macedonia
– Macedonian Women’s Rights Centre (MWRC) – Shelter Centre
– Polio Plus – Movement Against Disability
Russian Research Centre for Human Rights (on behalf of the following NGOs):
– Human Rights Network Group
– Independent Psychiatric Association of Russia
– Moscow Centre for Prison Reform
– Moscow Helsinki Group
– Mother's Right Foundation
– Non-violence International
– Right of the Child
– Right to Live and have Civil Dignity
– Social Partnership Foundation
– Union of the Committees of Soldiers' Mothers of Russia
The Belarusian Human Rights House in exile in Vilnius (Lithuania)
Georgian Human Rights Centre
Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights (Poland)
Index on Censorship (United Kingdom)
The Rafto Foundation (Norway)
HURINET-Uganda (Uganda)
For more information go to www.humanrightshouse.org