Tag: Human Rights

Václav Havel Human Rights Prize. Photo courtesy: Council of Europe
Human Rights

Human Rights: Three Candidates Shortlisted for the 2024 Václav Havel Prize

2024 Václav Havel Prize. Photo courtesy: Council of Europe
2024 Václav Havel Prize. Photo courtesy: Council of Europe

Human Rights: Three Candidates Shortlisted for the 2024 Václav Havel Prize

The overall winner of the 2024 Prize is due to be announced at the opening of PACE’s Autumn plenary session in Strasbourg on 30 September.

The selection panel of the Václav Havel Human Rights Prize, which rewards outstanding civil society action in defence of human rights in Europe and beyond, has announced the shortlist for the 2024 Award.

Meeting in Prague, the panel – made up of independent figures from the world of human rights and chaired by the President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) Theodoros Rousopoulos – decided to shortlist the following three nominees, in alphabetical order: read more

Narges Mohammadi. Photo: Gulf Centre for Human Rights
Human Rights

Iran Urged to End Harassment of Narges Mohammadi

Narges Mohammadi. Photo: Gulf Centre for Human Rights
Narges Mohammadi. Photo: Gulf Centre for Human Rights

Iran Urged to End Harassment of Narges Mohammadi

Narges Mohammadi is serving multiple sentences amounting to more than 13 years of imprisonment. 

A group of independent experts has urged the Islamic Republic of Iran to immediately and unconditionally release Narges Mohammadi and all women human rights defenders, who remain in jail on charges relating to their defence of human rights.

“We are alarmed about the unfair proceedings and lengthy sentences handed to human rights defender, Narges Mohammadi, directly related to her peaceful exercise of her rights to freedom of expression and assembly in the pursuit of gender equality in Iran,” the experts said. “Unduly covering charges under the framework of “national security” or “propaganda against the state in order to silence critical voices” need to stop.” read more

Poor children who live and sleep on the open pavements in India’s capital New Delhi. Photo: Rakesh Raman / RMN News Service (Representational Image)
Democracy, Human Rights

Safeguarding Democracy and Human Rights in the Digital Age

Poor children who live and sleep on the open pavements in India’s capital New Delhi. Photo: Rakesh Raman / RMN News Service (Representational Image)
Poor children who live and sleep on the open pavements in India’s capital New Delhi. Photo: Rakesh Raman / RMN News Service (Representational Image)

Safeguarding Democracy and Human Rights in the Digital Age

The Digital Democracy Initiative works closely with civil society partners CIVICUS, Global Focus, Digital Defenders Partnership, and Access Now. 

As autocrats are increasingly misusing digital platforms to spread fake news, suppress dissenting voices, and deprive people of their fundamental rights, new programs are required to protect people’s rights in the technology-driven world.

In this direction, the Digital Democracy Initiative (DDI) is a program aimed at safeguarding inclusive democracy and human rights in the digital age. The DDI focuses on support to local civil society in the Global South, particularly in countries undergoing democratic regression and where civic space is under pressure. read more