This year’s DocLisboa, which took place in the laid-back but rapidly gentrifying Portuguese capital from 17-27 October, had a slight, wistful but unmistakable valedictory air. After seven years at the helm, the widely-respected director of the non-fiction-oriented—but by no means documentary-only—festival, Cíntia Gil, was heading off to the challenging new pastures of Sheffield’s Doc/Fest. Her «number two,» Italian…

On 22nd November 2019, EIN held its quarterly civil society briefing, ahead of the 1362nd CM-DH meeting. Over 40 participants attended the briefing, including participants from 29 Permanent Representations to the Council of Europe, the EU representation to the Council of Europe, the office of the Commissioner for Human Rights and other CoE staff members.…

On violations of freedom of assembly and the right not to be subjected to torture and ill treatment in rallies held on 19th and 20th October   Statement of the Human Rights Club   On October 19, the National Council of Opposition Democratic Forces held a protest in the center of Baku referring various political…

S&D Group Press Release Last weekend Azerbaijani authorities violently dispersed peaceful rallies organised by the National Council of Democratic Forces (NCDF), an umbrella organisation of opposition parties, and civil society groups protesting against gender violence. Dozens of participants were detained, beaten and otherwise mistreated, including Ali Kerimli, the leader of the opposition People’s Front. Kati…

The Committee of Ministers at the Council of Europe today urged Azerbaijan to quash the conviction decisions and delete the criminal records of eight applicants known collectively as the ‘Ilgar Mammadov group’. The group is comprised of government critics, civil society activists and human rights defenders who have all been subjected to “retaliatory prosecutions” by the Azerbaijani…

Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum (EaP CSF) Steering Committee condemns the heavy-handed action taken by the Russian authorities in response to protests on 27 July 2019. The brutality and violence, as well as the wave of arrests that has followed, is no way to respond to peaceful expression of opinion – a civil right, enshrined in human rights and fundamental…