OSCE Begins Conference On Human Rights Violations

Belarus police at Minsk rally (file photo) (RFE/RL) VIENNA, July 12, 2007 (RFE/RL) – The OSCE’s Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) expressed concern today to RFE/RL’s Turkmen Service about the plight of human rights champions in the OSCE region.

The comments came at the start of a two-day conference in Vienna organized by ODIHR and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.


The gathering is set to examine the role played by national courts, civil society, and national human rights institutions in dealing with violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms.

The Erosion Of CIS Press Freedom

The Erosion Of CIS Press Freedom
Prominent Kazakh journalist Sergei Duvanov being arrested in Almaty last month (RFE/RL)

FROM BAD TO WORSE. RFE/RL and Freedom House experts held a panel discussion at which they analyzed the erosion of press freedom in many CIS countries. According to Freedom House rankings, in 1994, six of the 12 CIS countries were rated "partly free"; by 2004, 11 of the 12 were rated "not free."


LISTEN

Listen to the entire briefing (about 70 minutes):
Real Audio Windows Media



SUBSCRIBE

For regular news and analysis on media issues throughout RFE/RL's broadcast area by e-mail, subscribe to "RFE/RL Media Matters."