DOCSLIB.ORG

Europe and Central Asia Summary of Amnesty International’S Concerns in the Region, July – December 2004

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Europe and Central Asia Summary of Amnesty International’S Concerns in the Region, July – December 2004 TABLE OF CONTENTS FOREWORD ..........................................................................................................................VI ALBANIA ............................................................................................................................... 1 The UN Human Rights Committee .......................................................................................... 1 Albania ratifies Protocol 12 of the ECHR .................................................................................. 1 Impunity ............................................................................................................................ 1 Allegations of custodial torture and ill-treatment ................................................................. 1 Alleged custodial ill-treatment of children ........................................................................... 2 Death in custody of Eriguert Ceka ...................................................................................... 2 Conditions of detention ......................................................................................................... 2 Violence against Women ....................................................................................................... 3 Trafficking of women and children for forced prostitution and cheap labour ............................. 3 Violence in the family ....................................................................................................... 3 ARMENIA .............................................................................................................................. 3 Conscientious objection (update to AI Index: EUR 01/004/2202, 01/002/2003 and 01/005/2004) . 3 Religious Freedom ............................................................................................................... 4 Police ill-treatment and conditions of detention ........................................................................ 4 AZERBAIJAN ......................................................................................................................... 4 Admissibility of torture evidence (update to AI Index: EUR 01/001/2004 and EUR 01/005/2004) .. 4 Judicial harassment of human rights defender (update to AI Index: EUR 01/001/2004) ................ 5 Police ill-treatment and conditions of detention ........................................................................ 6 Nagorno-Karabakh ............................................................................................................... 6 Death penalty (update to AI Index: EUR 01/003/2000) ........................................................ 6 Torture and unfair trial (update to AI Index: EUR 01/003/2000, 01/001/2001 and 01/003/2001) ..................................................................................................................................... 6 BELARUS ............................................................................................................................... 6 International concern about human rights (update to AI Index: EUR 01/005/2004) ..................... 6 “Disappearances” (update to AI Index: EUR 01/005/2004) ....................................................... 6 Freedom of Expression ......................................................................................................... 7 Trade Union Rights .............................................................................................................. 7 Prisoners of Conscience ........................................................................................................ 8 Mikhail Marinich............................................................................................................... 8 Aksana Novikava [update to AI Index: EUR 01/005/2004 and EUR 49/005/2004] ................... 8 Yury Bandazhevsky (update to AI Index: EUR 01/005/2004) ................................................ 8 BELGIUM ............................................................................................................................... 8 UN Human Rights Committee scrutinizes Belgium’s record ........................................................ 8 Deportation of foreigners ..................................................................................................... 10 Independent commission re-evaluating methods used during forcible deportations of foreigners (Update to AI Index: EUR 01/005/2004) ........................................................................... 10 Disciplinary proceedings relating to the death of Semira Adamu in 1998 (Update to AI Index:EUR 01/001/2004) ................................................................................................ 10 BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA ...................................................................................................... 11 General and political developments ....................................................................................... 11 War crimes and crimes against humanity ............................................................................... 11 International investigations and prosecutions ..................................................................... 11 Domestic investigations and prosecutions .......................................................................... 12 Unresolved 'disappearances' and Srebrenica commission ......................................................... 13 Right to return in safety and with dignity ............................................................................... 13 “War on terror”................................................................................................................... 14 Accountability of peacekeeping forces ................................................................................... 14 Human trafficking ............................................................................................................... 14 Committee for the Prevention of Torture ................................................................................ 14 BULGARIA ........................................................................................................................... 14 Social care homes for people with mental disabilities ............................................................... 15 Discrimination against Roma ................................................................................................ 15 Excessive use of firearms..................................................................................................... 16 CROATIA ............................................................................................................................. 16 AI Index: EUR 01/002/2005 Amnesty International September 2005 II Europe and Central Asia Summary of Amnesty International’s Concerns in the Region, July – December 2004 General and political developments ....................................................................................... 16 War crimes and crimes against humanity ............................................................................... 16 International prosecutions ............................................................................................... 17 Domestic prosecutions .................................................................................................... 17 Unresolved "disappearances" ............................................................................................... 18 Right to return ................................................................................................................... 18 Rights of the child ............................................................................................................... 18 CYPRUS ............................................................................................................................... 19 Discrimination against Roma ................................................................................................ 19 Detention of refugees .......................................................................................................... 19 Conscientious Objection ....................................................................................................... 19 Committee for Missing Persons ............................................................................................. 20 CZECH REPUBLIC ................................................................................................................ 20 Cage beds – a restraining method in violation of international human rights law ......................... 20 Allegations of illegal sterilization of Romani women ................................................................. 21 FRANCE ............................................................................................................................... 21 Acts of racist or religious violence ......................................................................................... 21 Ill-treatment by state agents................................................................................................ 22 Unaccompanied children in border areas ................................................................................ 23 Torture proceedings in court ................................................................................................ 23 Case updates
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Jehovah's Witnesses Respectfully Request the Government Of
    Enclosed information material is submitted by the European Association of Jehovah's Witnesses European Association of Jehovah's Witnesses TURKMENISTAN RELIGIOUS FREEDOM ISSUES STATEMENT BY THE EUROPEAN ASSOCIATION OF JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES O S C E H u m a n Dimension Implementation M e e t i n g , W a r s a w 16–27 SEPTEMBER 2019 T u r k m e n i s t a n Jehovah’s Witnesses in Turkmenistan are not able to worship freely. Since September 2018, there has been an increase in government interference with the Witnesses’ religious activity. The Witnesses experience the following violations of their basic reli- gious freedoms: Police harassment and threats Police interference with public manifestation of belief 3 Government denial of right to possess religious material Government refusal to provide alternative civilian service Government denial of registration As of September 2019, seven young Witnesses are unjustly impris- oned in Turkmenistan for their conscientious objection to military service. Turkmenistan has no provision for an alternative to military service and has taken a harsh stance towards conscientious objectors. During the reporting period, six young Witness men were sentenced to im- prisonment. Bahtiyar Atahanov was forcibly taken to a military unit Turkmenistan has and later sentenced to four years in prison. Other cases are pending no provision for with the Prosecutor’s Ofce. an alternative to Law enforcement authorities continue to mistreat Jehovah’s Witnesses military service and has taken Authorities have intimidated and harassed the Witnesses by searching their homes without a warrant, seizing personal belongings, forcibly a harsh stance taking them from their workplace or homes for interrogation and even beating some of them—all in an efort to pressure them to abandon towards conscien- their faith.
    [Show full text]
  • Top Ten Taglines
    Guantanamo: Detainee Accounts Table of Contents I. Transfer to Guantanamo.......................................................................................................... 1 II. Living conditions ..................................................................................................................... 5 III. Interrogation........................................................................................................................... 9 IV. Humilation and Degradation.............................................................................................. 13 V. Punishment............................................................................................................................. 15 VI. Beatings and other inappropriate use of force................................................................. 18 VII. Suicide Attempts................................................................................................................. 22 VIII. Release ................................................................................................................................ 22 IX. After-effects .......................................................................................................................... 23 Introduction The following is a compilation by Human Rights Watch of accounts by thirty-three former detainees at Guantanamo of their experiences there. Human Rights Watch interviewed sixteen of the detainees, reviewed press reports containing statements by former detainees interviewed
    [Show full text]
  • 49370-002: National Power Grid Strengthening Project
    Initial Environmental Examination Final Report Project No.: 49370-002 October 2020 Turkmenistan: National Power Grid Strengthening Project Volume 4 Prepared by the Ministry of Energy, Government of Turkmenistan for the Asian Development Bank. The Initial Environmental Examination is a document of the borrower. The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent those of ADB's Board of Directors, Management, or staff, and may be preliminary in nature. In preparing any country program or strategy, financing any project, or by making any designation of or reference to a particular territory or geographic area in this document, the Asian Development Bank does not intend to make any judgments as to the legal or other status of any territory or area. 49370-002: TKM TKM Power Sector Development Project 81. Out of these IBAs, eight IBAs are located close to phase I Transmission line alignments. Four IBAs are located close to proposed Gurtly (Ashgabat) to Balkanabat Transmission line. And four falls close to existing Sardar (West) to Dashoguz Transmission line. No IBA falls close to Dashoguz-Balkan Transmission line. The view of these IBAs with respect to transmission alignment of phase I are shown at Figure 4.17. 82. There are 8 IBAs along phase II alignment. Two IBAs, i.e. Lotfatabad & Darregaz and IBA Mergen is located at approx 6.0 km &approx 9.10 km from alignment respectively. The view of these IBAs with respect to transmission alignment of phase II is shown at Figure 4.18. : Presence of Important Bird Areas close to Proposed/existing
    [Show full text]
  • The Ethics of Intelligence Collection Ross W. Bellaby
    What’s the Harm? The Ethics of Intelligence Collection Ross W. Bellaby Thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of PhD Department of International Politics Aberystwyth University June 13th, 2011 DECLARATION This work has not previously been accepted in substance for any degree and is not being concurrently submitted in candidature for any degree. Signed ...................................................................... (Ross W. Bellaby) Date ........................................................................ STATEMENT 1 This thesis is the result of my own investigations, except where otherwise stated. Where *correction services have been used, the extent and nature of the correction is clearly marked in a footnote(s). Other sources are acknowledged by footnotes giving explicit references. A bibliography is appended. Signed ..................................................................... (Ross W. Bellaby) Date ........................................................................ [*this refers to the extent to which the text has been corrected by others] STATEMENT 2 I hereby give consent for my thesis, if accepted, to be available for photocopying and for inter- library loan, and for the title and summary to be made available to outside organisations. Signed ..................................................................... (Ross W. Bellaby) Date ........................................................................ I hereby give consent for my thesis, if accepted, to be available for photocopying
    [Show full text]
  • CTC Sentinel 4
    JULY 2011 . VOL 4 . ISSUE 7 COMBATING TERRORISM CENTER AT WEST POINT CTC SentineL OBJECTIVE . RELEVANT . RIGOROUS Contents The JRTN Movement and Iraq’s FEATURE ARTICLE 1 The JRTN Movement and Iraq’s Next Insurgency Next Insurgency By Michael Knights By Michael Knights REPORTS 6 Anwar al-`Awlaqi’s Disciples: Three Case Studies By Alexander Meleagrou-Hitchens 10 Will Al-Qa`ida and Al-Shabab Formally Merge? By Leah Farrall 12 The Somali Diaspora: A Key Counterterrorism Ally By Major Josh Richardson 15 David Hicks’ Memoir: A Deceptive Account of One Man’s Journey with Al-Qa`ida By Ken Ward 17 Hizb al-Tahrir: A New Threat to the Pakistan Army? By Arif Jamal 20 The Significance of Fazal Saeed’s Defection from the Pakistani Taliban By Daud Khattak JRTN leader Izzat Ibrahim al-Duri, seen here in 1999. - Photo by Salah Malkawi/Getty Images 22 Recent Highlights in Terrorist Activity he stabilization of iraq This article argues that one driver for 24 CTC Sentinel Staff & Contacts has become wedged on a the ongoing resilience, or even revival, plateau, beyond which further of Sunni militancy is the growing improvement will be a slow influence of the Jaysh Rijal al-Tariq al- Tprocess. According to incident metrics Naqshabandi (JRTN) movement, which compiled by Olive Group, the average has successfully tapped into Sunni Arab monthly number of insurgent attacks fear of Iraq’s Shi`a-led government and between January and June 2011 was the country’s Kurdish population, while 380.1 The incident count in January offering an authentic Iraqi alternate to About the CTC Sentinel was 376, indicating that incident levels al-Qa`ida in Iraq (AQI).
    [Show full text]
  • WHO European Childhood Obesity Surveillance Initiative – COSI
    WHO European Childhood Obesity Surveillance Initiative COSI Turkmenistan 2016/2017 (Round Four) report on data collection of childhood nutritional status | Ashgabat, Turkmenistan | 2020 ABSTRACT Childhood obesity remains an important public health problem in prevalence of overweight (19.1%) and obesity (3.2%). the World Health Organization (WHO) European Region, where it Family data showed that most mothers (87.3%) breastfed their is unequally distributed within and between European countries children for more than 7 months; of these, 50.5% breastfed from and population groups. Nutritional surveillance data are essential to 13 to 24 months. Children from Turkmenistan reported a high food effectively design, implement and evaluate policies and strategies consumption of fresh fruit (70.1%), vegetables (68.1%), meat (68.3%), aimed at counteracting obesity. Turkmenistan joined the WHO dairy products such as low-fat/semi-skimmed milk (75.7%), but more European Childhood Obesity Surveillance Initiative (COSI) study than 40% of children reported a consumption (> 4 days/week) of in 2016/2017 (fourth round) alongside 34 other countries. This soft drinks (42.5%) and other sugary foods such as candy bars and population-based system involves a standardized, harmonized chocolate (43.9%), and biscuits, cake, doughnuts and pies (48.3%). systematic process of monitoring prevalence of thinness, Regarding physical activity the majority of children reported walking overweight and obesity (based on measured data) among primary or cycling to school (80.5%), and play outside for 1–2 hours per day schoolchildren. during weekdays (65.3%) but sedentary habits such as watching TV COSI Turkmenistan was implemented in five velayats (regions): Ahal, or using electronic devices (1-2h/day) were reported by the majority Balkan, Dashoguz, Lebap, Mary and Ashgabat city.
    [Show full text]
  • Download Thepdf
    Volume 59, Issue 5 Page 1395 Stanford Law Review KEEPING CONTROL OF TERRORISTS WITHOUT LOSING CONTROL OF CONSTITUTIONALISM Clive Walker © 2007 by the Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University, from the Stanford Law Review at 59 STAN. L. REV. 1395 (2007). For information visit http://lawreview.stanford.edu. KEEPING CONTROL OF TERRORISTS WITHOUT LOSING CONTROL OF CONSTITUTIONALISM Clive Walker* INTRODUCTION: THE DYNAMICS OF COUNTER-TERRORISM POLICIES AND LAWS................................................................................................ 1395 I. CONTROL ORDERS ..................................................................................... 1403 A. Background to the Enactment of Control Orders............................... 1403 B. The Replacement System..................................................................... 1408 1. Control orders—outline................................................................ 1408 2. Control orders—contents and issuance........................................ 1411 3. Non-derogating control orders..................................................... 1416 4. Derogating control orders............................................................ 1424 5. Criminal prosecution.................................................................... 1429 6. Ancillary issues............................................................................. 1433 7. Review by Parliament and the Executive...................................... 1443 C. Judicial Review..................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Closing Gitmo Due to the Epiphany Approach to Habeas Corpus During the Military Commission Circus
    50-1, BEJESKY, ME FORMAT.DOC 2/19/2014 7:36 PM CLOSING GITMO DUE TO THE EPIPHANY APPROACH TO HABEAS CORPUS DURING THE MILITARY COMMISSION CIRCUS ROBERT BEJESKY* TABLE OF CONTENTS I. INTRODUCTION ............................................................................... 44 II. DETENTION IN AFGHANISTAN ........................................................ 47 III. GUANTÁNAMO BAY ..................................................................... 53 A. Advantages of Moving Detainees to Guantánamo Bay ..... 53 B. Standard for Detention and Guilt ....................................... 55 1. “Suspected” Terrorists ................................................. 55 2. The Identity of Detainees and the Right to Detain ...... 57 C. Harsh Treatment ................................................................ 60 1. Interrogations and Human Rights Abuses ................... 60 2. Lack of Evidence of Guilt and No Legal Recourse ..... 66 IV. MILITARY TRIBUNALS & SUPREME COURT DECISIONS ................ 68 A. An Obscure System ........................................................... 68 B. Combatant Status ............................................................... 71 C. Due Process Under U.S. and International Law ................ 74 D. Due Process Afforded at Guantánamo .............................. 76 E. Procedures Applicable to U.S. Citizens ............................. 79 1. Three American Detainees .......................................... 79 2. Noncitizen Detainees ................................................... 81
    [Show full text]
  • Press Release
    PRESS RELEASE March 27, 2006 Look Who's Coming: James Yee Ellen Sung, Staff Writer Capt. James Yee was a West Point graduate and one of the first Muslim chaplains in the Army when he was assigned to Guantanamo Naval Base. It was a year after the Sept. 11 terror attacks, and Yee explained the basics of Islam to thousands of new personnel, informally ministered to prisoners and helped ease tensions over treatment of the Koran at the military prison. His reviews were stellar. On Sept. 8, 2003, supervisors wrote that his work was "truly exemplary in every measure." Two days later, he was arrested on suspicion of spying for al-Qaeda. Yee spent more than two months in solitary confinement before he was released. Military prosecutors never found enough evidence for spying charges, and Yee eventually was cleared on lesser allegations, too. In 2005, he received an honorable discharge from the Army, but he knew that his professional reputation would always be shadowed by doubt. Yee, who visits Durham on Thursday, spoke by phone recently to staff writer Ellen Sung. Q - I'm curious about your impressions of Guantanamo, a place most of us will never see. A - I had authorized unaccompanied access to these prison cell blocks, so I was in a very unique position to really interact with the prisoners on a very personal level and really get to know who these people are. First and foremost, we have to understand they are human beings, and they should be treated as such. Every one of these people, all of whom are of the Muslim faith, are also fathers, brothers, sons.
    [Show full text]
  • Fabricating Terrorism British Complicity in Renditions and Torture TABLE of CONTENTS
    Fabricating Terrorism British Complicity in Renditions and Torture TABLE OF CONTENTS FOREWORD by Geoffrey Bindman....................................................................................................................3 INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................................................................4 British Complicity in Rendition and Torture Overview....................................................................................7 PART ONE - RENDITIONS ....................................................................................................................................10 1. Definitions........................................................................................................................................................10 2. The responsibilities of British authorities........................................................................................................14 3. Case studies ..................................................................................................................................................21 Case 1 - Binyam Mohammed Al Habashi ......................................................................................................21 Case 2 - Jamal Al Harith ..................................................................................................................................24 Case 3 - Jamil El Banna and Bisher Al Rawi ..................................................................................................26
    [Show full text]
  • TRAGEDY of KARBALA - an ANALYTICAL STUDY of URDU HISTORICAL WRITINGS DURING 19Th > 20Th CENTURY
    ^^. % TRAGEDY OF KARBALA - AN ANALYTICAL STUDY OF URDU HISTORICAL WRITINGS DURING 19th > 20th CENTURY ABSTRACT THESIS SUBMITTED FOR THE AWARD OF THE DEGREE OF JBottor of $t)tlo£;opI)p IN ISLAMIC STUDIES By FAYAZ AHMAD BHAT Under the Supervision of PROFESSOR MUHAMMAD YASIN MAZHAR SIDDIQUI DIRECTOR, SHAH WALIULLAH DEHLAVI RESEARCH CELL Institute of Islamic Studies, A.M.U., Aligarh. DEPARTMENT OF ISLAMIC STUDIES ALIGARH MUSLIM UNIVERSITY ALIGARH (INDIA) 2003 :^^^^ Fed ir. Comptrf^r Aaad m >«'• Att. M "s/.-Oj Uni^ 0 2 t'S 2C06 THESIS 1 ABSTRACT The sad demise of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) (571- 622AD) created a vacuum in the Muslim Ummah. However, this vacuum was filled by the able guided and pious Khulafa {Khulafa-i-Rashidin) who ruled Ummah one after another. Except the first Khalifah, all the subsequent three Khulafa were unfortunately martyred either by their co-religionists or by antagonists. Though the assassination of Hazrat Umar (RA) did not create any sort of havoc in the Ummah, but the assassination of Hazrat Uthman (RA) caused a severe damage to the unity of Muslim Ummah. This was further aggravated by the internal dissentions caused by the assassination of the third Khalifah during the period of the fourth Khalifah, leading to some bloodshed of the Muslims in two bloody wars of Camel and Si/fin; Hazrat All's assassination was actually a result of that internal strife of the Muslims, dividing the Muslim community into two warring camps. Hazrat Hasan's abdication of the Khilafah tried to bridge the gulf but temporarily, and the situation became explosive once again when Hazrat Muawiyah (RA) nominated his son Yazid as his successor whose candidature was questioned and opposed by a group of people especially by Hazrat Husain (RA) on the ground that he was not fit for the Khilafah.
    [Show full text]
  • Current Status of Health Intervention and Technology Assessment in the Balkan Region
    CURRENT STATUS OF HEALTH INTERVENTION AND TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT IN THE BALKAN REGION CURRENT STATUS OF HEALTH INTERVENTION AND TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT IN THE BALKAN REGION Abstract This report outlines the status of health technology assessment (HTA) in the Balkan region, including facilitators and barriers. It is based on the discussions during a WHO workshop on health intervention and technology assessment in support of universal health coverage held in Ljubljana, Slovenia, in February 2020, as well as a survey and a desktop review of relevant literature. Participants from public institutions working in the field of HTA from eight Balkan countries and areas attended the workshop, along with international technical experts and staff from WHO and WHO partners. The developmental status of HTA varies across countries. Facilitators of HTA identified include political will, networks, structured health systems, legal frameworks and relevant examples of gain. Barriers include political instability, small economies and human resources. Recommendations for future action include mapping needs and options, strengthening collaborative initiatives, involving stakeholders and develop roadmaps towards transparent and sustainable HTA frameworks. All participants recognized the need for increased transparency. Keywords HEALTH TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT HEALTHCARE DECISION MAKING HEALTH POLICY TRANSPARENCY COST-EFFECTIVENESS ANALYSIS Document number: WHO/EURO:2020-1303-41053-55733 © World Health Organization 2020 Some rights reserved. This work is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 IGO licence (CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO; https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/igo). Under the terms of this licence, you may copy, redistribute and adapt the work for non-commercial purposes, provided the work is appropriately cited, as indicated below.
    [Show full text]