The Polish government intends to amend its Code of Criminal Procedure, in an effort to accelerate criminal proceedings. However, the consequences of the proposed amendment raise doubts about its compatibility with international law. The amendment would diminish the independence of the judicial system, abolish the defendants’ right to appeal a conviction, and even, in some extraordinary cases, allow criminal courts to conduct proceedings without the defendant nor the defence counsel. Therefore, Civil Rights Defenders supports, as a member of the JUSTICIA European Rights Network, a statement to ..read more

19 individuals charged for joining in Pride Legal harassments targeting the LGBTI+ community and rights defenders in Turkey reached new heights with the acceptance of an indictment charging 19 LGBTI+ rights defenders for joining the 9th LGBTI+ Pride parade. The event, which took place inside the campus of the Middle East Technical University (METU) in capital city Ankara on 10 May 2019, saw the detention of 21 students and one academic. 19 individuals from the detained group now charged for “attending unlawful assemblies and marches” and “not dispersing despite warning”, under the Law No: 291 ..read more

During Stockholm Pride (29 July-4 August 2019), we will host our partners and human rights defenders from Russia, Belarus and the Western Balkans. March with us in the parade and join our panel discussion in Pride House! March with us in the Pride parade Come and march with us! Civil Rights Defenders and our partners from several countries will participate in Stockholm Pride parade on 3 August 2019. Let’s march for the LGBTI+ people who can’t, march until all countries are on the right side of history. Let’s march to celebrate the achievements and positive changes that have taken place as a ..read more

Today, on the third anniversary of the killing of prominent political commentator and human rights defender Kem Ley, the 24 undersigned organizations renew calls on the Cambodian government to establish an independent and impartial Commission of Inquiry to conduct a thorough and effective investigation into his killing. On 10 July 2016, Kem Ley was shot and killed while having a morning coffee at a gas station located on Monivong Boulevard in central Phnom Penh. This killing occurred amidst a backdrop of attacks on human rights defenders and members of the political opposition, and a document ..read more

Have you experienced discrimination on the basis of any of the following grounds? Sex Transgender identity or expression Ethnicity Religion or other belief Disability Sexual orientation Age Civil Rights Defenders offers information and legal advice free of charge about how you can exercise your rights. Our legal advice concerning discrimination is limited to Stockholm, where we work besides Antidiskrimineringsbyrån Stockholm Norr and Antidiskrimineringsbyrån Stockholm Syd. Civil Rights Defenders has a particular focus on the rights of the indigenous Sami people and give legal advice in relate ..read more

Civil Rights Defenders is organising Human Rights Hackathon 2019, the 31 August and 1 September, in Prishtina, Kosovo. We aim to bring in one place creative people and human rights defenders, to work together and provide ICT solutions for human rights challenges. Fighting for the advancement of human rights is an ongoing battle that will struggle to succeed unless all possible means and tools are mobilised. Yet there is a clear shortage of technological investments around human rights issues and needs. Human rights defenders are not sufficiently equipped to address the growing digital challeng ..read more

Civil Rights Defenders has elected Anne Ramberg to serve as a member of the board. Anne Ramberg is the long-time serving Secretary General of the Swedish Bar Association and has a long and distinguished career as a lawyer with both national and international experience in the field of law and human rights. Civil Rights Defenders cooperates with and supports human rights defenders who work in some of the world’s most repressive areas. The organisation works with advocacy, judicial proceedings, training and security work for human rights defenders at risk and monitors the adherence to civil and ..read more

Photo by: Ayzhamal Istanbekova from Golos Svobody news portal In connection to the upcoming EU-Central Asia Ministerial meeting in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan on 7 July, Civil Rights Defenders and seven other international human rights groups have urged EU High Representative Federica Mogherini, and other EU officials, to advocate for an immediate release of wrongfully imprisoned human rights defender Azimjon Askarov. After being sentenced to life in jail on trumped up charges in September 2010, 68-year-old Askarov continues to languish behind bars, despite the obligatory ruling by the UN Human Rights ..read more

Photo: Holger Persson/Mostphotos Next week Civil Rights Defenders is participating in Almedalen – Sweden’s largest political forum for debates, seminars and meetings. Will you be around? Read more about where you can find us: Monday 1 July Defending their rights, risking their lives – what can Sweden do to support those who dare? Organiser: Forum Syd Time and venue: 11.00 – 11.45, Donnersgatan 6, “Sverige i världen” Language: English Participates from Civil Rights Defenders: Anders L. Pettersson, Executive Director Read more: Click here Structural racism and violence within the Police (in swe ..read more

Photo: Memorial On 21 June, Chechen human rights defender Oyub Titiev was released after being detained for 19 months. The 61-year-old Titiev is the head of Memorial in Chechnya and an outspoken activist, often targeted by the regime in attempts to stifle Memorial’s critical position as a human rights watchdog. Civil Rights Defenders demand that Oyub Titiev’s record should be cleared of all charges and that the ongoing persecution of human rights defenders in Chechnya immediately cease. Oyub Titiev was accused of possessing large amounts of marijuana in 2017, after local police stopped him on ..read more