Men who Killed Czech Prostitute get Life Sentences in Germany
1/11/2006 Three young Germans of Russian origin have been handed lengthy jail sentences for the kidnapping, rape and murder of a prostitute in the Czech Republic. The regional court in the southern German city of Heilbronn found that the three men had planned to sell the sex worker from the Czech border city of Plzen to a brothel in Germany. The judges said the leader of the group hatched the plot because he was 30,000 euros in debt. They raped and killed the 37 year old woman after failing to beat her into submission, for fear that she would report them to the police. Two of them received life sentences, the third was handed a fifteen year prison sentence. Taken From: Men who killed Czech prostitute get life sentences in Germany, Radio Prague, 10 January 2006.
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Violence Against Women Act of 2005 Passes in the House and the Senate
1/1/2006
Before adjourning for the holidays, both houses of Congress passed the Violence Against Women Act of 2005 (VAWA). The first version of VAWA passed in 1994. It was reauthorized in 2000 and expired September 30, 2005. Advocates around the country have been advocating for the passage of this new bill all year. "VAWA 2005 is landmark legislation that funds initiatives to help children exposed to violence, train health care providers to support victims of abuse, work with men as allies to help teach the next generation that violence is wrong, and provide crisis services for victims of rape and sexual assault" (cited in: Congress Completes Work on Violence Against Women Act, Family Violence Prevention Fund, 19 December 2005). The bill also promises funding to train public officials to respond to the problem and to improve law enforcement efforts. It calls for continued strengthening of support services, including the provision of transitional housing.
Two controversial amendments were proposed prior to the bill's passage. The "Kyl Amendment," which allows federal agencies to collect DNA samples for the national database, passed and is a part of the final bill. The "King Amendment," however, was rejected. It would have affected immigrant women by prohibiting batterers from serving as a sponsor for visa applicants.
The passage of VAWA is seen as critical to protecting the victims and combating domestic violence and sexual assault.
Compiled from: Congress Completes Work on Violence Against Women Act, Family Violence Prevention Fund, 19 December 2005.
VAWA 2005 Reauthorization, national IMMIGRATION project, 17 December 2005.
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Russian Parliament Considers Tightening Control over NGOs
1/4/2006
Despite allegations that it is a "threat to civil society," the lower house of the Russian Parliament, in the first two of three readings required to make a law, has passed a draft bill that will allow closer regulation of NGOs. Some say the legislation is necessary for national security, arguing that the government must keep closer watch over the activities and finances of the organizations. The legislation is strongly supported by the Kremlin and President Vladimir Putin. "The authorities argue that NGOs are being used by Western governments and foreign spies to fan revolution across the former Soviet Union." Western governments have voiced criticism of the bill and Russian NGOs are lobbying for revisions that will remove the threat to democracy.
Compiled from: Rosenberg, Steve, "Russian MPs pass key NGO measure," BBC News, 21 December 2005.
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United States' Violence Against Women Act 2005 Signed into Law
1/6/2006
On 5 January 2006, United States President George Bush signed into law the Violence Against Women Act of 2005 (VAWA). This is a reauthorization of the comprehensive federal domestic violence law first passed in 1994 and reauthorized in 2000. The 2000 version of the law expired in September 2005.
The law enjoyed broad bipartisan support in Congress. "This law supports programs that have been successful in combating domestic violence and changing attitudes toward violence in the family in America. In addition, VAWA will also expand its focus to change attitudes toward other violent crimes including dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. This law takes significant steps to ensure that these serious crimes receive the proper attention and resources they deserve," said House Judiciary Committee Chairman F. James Sensenbrenner, Jr. (R-Wis.).
President of the Family Violence Prevention Fund, Esta Soler, released a statement commending President Bush's actions. "Our homes and communities will be safer and healthier because President Bush signed a strong Violence Against Women Act into law this afternoon. We commend Congress for passing this critical legislation, and the President for signing it so promptly. It can significantly improve the nation's response to domestic, sexual and dating violence, and stalking."
Compiled From: Sensenbrenner Praises President Bush's Signing of Violence Against Women Act, US Newswire, 5 January 2006; Bush Signs 'Violence Against Women Act'; Funding Badly Needed Initiatives to Prevent Domestic & Sexual Violence, Help Victims; Statement by Esta Soler, President, Family Violence Prevention Fund, US Newswire, 5 January 2006; Bush Signs Domestic Violence Act Extension, The Guardian, 6 January 2006.
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United States' Fair Housing Act Prohibits Discrimination Against Domestic Violence Victims
1/6/2006
The U.S. District Court for Vermont, in its ruling on cross motions for summary judgment in the case of Bouley v. Young-Sabourin, recently ruled that the Fair Housing Act prohibits a landlord from evicting a woman because she was battered. The judge based the ruling on the fact that the victims of domestic violence are usually women and that throwing them out of their home for being abused constitutes gender-based discrimination, which women are protected against under the Act.
Quinn Bouley was the plaintiff in the Vermont case. Ms. Bouley called the police after being attacked by her husband. She obtained a restraining order and filed criminal charges against him. Soon after the attack however, her landlord visited her to discuss the attack. The visit was followed by an eviction notice in which the landlord, Ms. Young-Sabourin, noted her fear that the violence would continue. Ms. Bouley filed suit, alleging that her landlord discriminated against her because she did not act in a "stereotypically 'feminine' manner." This is a type of gender discrimination that the Supreme Court has already held to be unlawful. The U.S. District Court agreed that the eviction was based on unlawful gender discrimination. Soon after its decision was released, the parties settled.
This is a very important decision for domestic violence victims. The Department of Justice indicates that "women living in rental housing experience intimate partner violence at three times the rate of women who own their homes." According to the ACLU these victims are less likely to report abuse because they are fully aware that if the landlord finds out about the violence, they may end up homeless. The decision from this case paves the way to eliminating this double victimization. It provides protection for women who are strong enough to stand up to their abusers and helps to keep "their families safe." The ACLU, which wrote an amicus brief on behalf of Ms. Bouley, believes that "the principle set out in the judge's ruling should be applicable to other areas of the law" as well.
Compiled from:
Federal Law Protects Battered Women From Housing Discrimination, Court Rules, ACLU, 1 April 2005.
ACLU Hails Ruling That Fair Housing Act Prohibits Discrimination Against Victims of Domestic Violence, ACLU, 18 April 2005.
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Turkey Steps Up Efforts to Combat Sex Trafficking
2/1/06
Turkey has received attention as one of the largest markets for the illicit sex trafficking of women from former Soviet states, with 5,000 women estimated to be working as sex slaves in the country. The women, usually between the ages of 18 and 24, are mostly from Moldova and the Ukraine and are lured into Turkey with false promises of jobs as waitresses or dancers. Once in Turkey, their passports are confiscated, the women raped and beaten. Nearly one-third of these women are mothers of small children. The Ankara bureau of the International Organization for Migration has launched an awareness campaign appealing to the high importance Turkish society places on family. A recent television commercial features four children left behind in Moldova, begging in broken Turkish for their mothers. Turkey has also set up free telephone help lines, hoping clients will provide information so that the authorities can locate and rescue these women. Last year 52 women were rescued from calls to these help-lines, and over two-thirds of the callers were clients. Despite Turkey’s efforts to combat sex-trafficking, the United States has slashed funding for the program citing financial strain. However, the U.S. Embassy in Ankara observes, “we get so much return on our program in Turkey, which is why we would like to continue our support.” Compiled from: Amberin Zaman, “Sex Trafficking Plagues Turkey,” Los Angeles Times, 1 February 2006. ___________________________________________________________ Supreme Court Will Rule On Domestic Violence Case
2/15/06
In April of this year, the United States Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in Dixon v. United States, a case involving a woman who invokes battered women’s syndrome as a defense to a conviction for the illegal purchase of firearms. Dixon claims that fear for her life and that of her two daughters led her to purchase seven guns for her boyfriend, an ex-felon. In order to purchase the guns at two gun shows, Dixon provided a false address and lied about not facing criminal charges (she was under indictment for a “check-cashing scheme” at the time.) Dixon appealed her conviction stating that the Judge wrongly refused to allow the Jury hear expert testimony on battered women’s syndrome and the effects of domestic violence. However, the Supreme Court will not rule on this issue. Instead, the Supreme Court will decide whether a defendant must prove that she or he was under duress, or whether it is the responsibility of the prosecution to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that a defendant was not under duress. Today, Dixon has completed her prison sentence, and no longer lives with her abusive boyfriend. Compiled from: “Supreme Court to Hear Domestic Violence Case,” Family Violence Prevention Fund (15 February 2006). ___________________________________________________________ Moldova Passes Gender Equality Law
2/9/06
On 9 February 2006, the Moldovan parliament passed a law in the final reading which requires gender equality in public and private sectors. The law guarantees equality of access for both men and women to governmental posts as well as private sector employment. A proposal to require at least 30% of all candidates on electoral lists to be women stirred debate among the members of Parliament. Some argued that after years of being relegated to a different level of society, women needed the push of a quota to be adequately represented in the new democracy. Others, both men and women, stated that such stipulations would undermine the women candidates' individual qualifications and skills. The specific proposal was opposed by the majority of lawmakers, while the law on equality passed in its first version with 65 votes in favor and 2 against. Compiled from: "Principle of Equal Chances for Women and Men Legislated in Moldova", www.wunrn.com, 9 Februrary 2006. ____________________________________________________________ Kyrgyz Police Halt Flight to U.A.E. on Trafficking Suspicion
2/15/06
Security forces in Osh, Kyrgyzstan, stopped a charter flight to the
United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.) on the evening of 13 February, akipress.org reported. The plane's passengers included 61 young women-- one Kyrgyz citizen, one Turkmen citizen, and 59 Uzbek citizens --suspected of traveling to engage in prostitution. The women were removed from the flight and an investigation is ongoing. A BBC Uzbek Service correspondent who spoke with some of the women reported that one, a resident of Samarkand, said that she was traveling to work in a restaurant in Dubai. But another woman, a 17-year-old from Ferghana, said that she was going to the U.A.E. to work as a prostitute. The woman cited a lack of alternative employment opportunities in Uzbekistan as the reasons for her decision. Cited in: RFE/RL Newsline Vol. 10, No. 29, Part I, www.rferl.org, 15 February 2006. Copyright (c) 2006. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington, DC 20036. www.rferl.org. ___________________________________________________________ Azerbaijani Security Official Reports on Human Trafficking
2/3/06
Azerbaijani Deputy Interior Minister Vilayat Eyvazov, the senior official responsible to combat human trafficking, reported on 2 February that police have arrested 269 individuals on charges of human trafficking, Turan reported. Eyvazov explained that the Azerbaijani authorities have uncovered and dismantled some 50 criminal gangs involved in human trafficking operating in the country. Eyvazov also reported that counseling services were being provided to victims of human trafficking and added that victims are "illegally sent to Turkey,
the United Arab Emirates, and other foreign countries." Published in: Azerbaijani Security Official Reports on Human Trafficking, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty Newsline, 3 Februrary 2006. Copyright (c) 2006. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. www.rferl.org ___________________________________________________________ Laws of Moldova, Bulgaria and Ukraine Now Available
1/06
The Bulgarian Law on Combating the Illegal Trafficking in Human Beings is now available on Legislationline.org. The Moldovan Draft Law on the Prevention and Combating of Trafficking in Human Beings is now available on Legislationline.org The Ukrainian Law on Amendments to the Criminal Code of Ukraine Criminalizing Trafficking in Persons is now available on Legislationline.org. Compiled from: "Country Legislation", Legislationline.org, January 2006. ___________________________________________________________ NGO State Registration Fees Reduced in Kazakhstan
1/19/06
Beginning January 1, 2006, Kazakhstan reduced the state registration fees for all legal entities, including NGOs. Kazakkstani NGOs, which had been paying the equivalent of $146 in registration fees, will now pay the reduced rate registration rate of $57. 90% of all NGOs applying for registration will benefit from the change. Compiled from: "NGO State Registration Fees Reduced in Kazakhstan", International Center for Not-For-Profit Law, January 19, 2006. ___________________________________________________________ Bosnia and Herzegovina Signs Trafficking Convention
Bosnia and Herzegovina has signed the Trafficking Convention of the European Council. Find the complete Convention here. ___________________________________________________________ Ukraine Adopts Amendments to Criminal Code Criminalizing Trafficking
1/06
It was reported that today, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine (parliament) adopted amendments to Article 149 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, which criminalises trafficking in human beings. The amendments were adopted by way of 270 votes in favour. The amendments seek to bring Ukraine in line with the commitments resulting from signing the Additional Protocol to the UN Transnational Organised Crime Convention, on the Prevention and Suppression of Trafficking in Human Beings, Especially Women and Children (otherwise known as the "Palermo Protocol"), 2000. Cited in: "Ukraine Adopts Amendments to Criminal Code Criminalizing Trafficking in Human Beings", Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, January 2006. © OSCE, 2004. Reproduction is authorised, provided the source is acknowledged, save where otherwise stated. ___________________________________________________________ |
Albania: A Step Forward for Justice for Women
1/26/06
Amnesty International welcomes recent initiatives to introduce legislation in Albania to prevent violence against the family and to protect victims of such violence.
“This is a much-needed step forward in tackling violence against women in the family”, said Amnesty International, a human rights organization which has campaigned world-wide against violence against women.
On 23 January 2006 a coalition of Albanian non governmental organizations (NGOs), led by the Citizen’s Advocacy Organization and including the main Albanian women and children’s NGOs, presented a draft law on the prevention of violence within the family to the legislative commission of the Albanian parliament by citizens’ petition. The draft law includes provisions for both the prevention of such violence and for measures to protect victims, who lack effective remedy under current legislation.
Statistics suggest that around 40 per cent of Albanian women have experienced such violence in its physical or psychological forms. The citizens' petition, signed by 20,000 Albanians, is an indicator that a significant sector of Albanian society condemns this widespread and deeply damaging phenomenon and calls for effective action against it.
In a report to be published in March 2006 Amnesty International will also ask the Albanian government to go further, and amend the Criminal Code so that such violence may be defined and criminalized under domestic legislation, as recommended in 2003 to the Albanian government by the UN Committee for the Elimination of Discrimination against Women.
Amnesty International's report will highlight the failure of successive Albanian governments to abide by their responsibilities under international law to prevent domestic violence, and in particular to protect women and girls, the most frequent victims, from such violence, and to investigate, prosecute and punish perpetrators.
Violence against women is an abuse of the human rights of women and girls, including their rights to mental and physical integrity, to liberty and security of the person, freedom of expression and the right to choice in marriage. Violence may lead to treatment amounting to torture, to cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment and in extreme cases, may violate the right to life. Violence against women prevents the full enjoyment of rights and fundamental freedoms such as the right to health and employment.
| AI Index: EUR 11/001/2006 | | 26 January 2006 |
Cited in: Albania, A Step Forward For Justice For Women: Public Statement, Amnesty International, 26 January 2006.
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Update on NGOs in Russia
1/18/06
PUTIN SIGNS NGO BILL INTO LAW
President Putin signed controversial legislation on nongovernmental organizations into law on 10 January, but the move was not reported in the official "Rossyskaya gazeta" until 17 January in an apparent effort not to have the matter cloud German Chancellor Angela Merkel's recent visit to Moscow, "The Moscow Times" reported (see End Note, "RFE/RL Newsline," 17 January 2006). The law will come into force on 10 April. Asked why "Rossyskaya gazeta" waited a week to publish the announcement, Deputy Editor Timofei Kuznetsov said that it is "not a pressing law. It does not come into force from the moment it is published, but within 90 days [of being signed]." PM
1/31/06
BRITISH AMBASSADOR DENIES CHARGES ON NGOS. Anthony Brenton, who is the ambassador of the United Kingdom to Russia, has written to several NGOs in that country to "assure all of our current and former recipients of grants that there is nothing unlawful or in anyway improper about our support to NGOs in Russia," the "Financial Times" reported on 31 January. The London daily noted that this "is the strongest [U.K.] response to date to the accusations made by the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) that some Russian NGOs, including the Moscow Helsinki Group, are financed by the British intelligence service" (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 26 and 27 January 2006). PM
PUBLIC CHAMBER CALLS FOR RESTRAINT WITH NGOS. Public Chamber Secretary Yevgeny Velikhov read a statement on 30 January in which he expressed concern over unspecified recent "statements about contacts between foreign special services and Russian public associations [NGOs]," Interfax reported. "The Public Chamber Council calls upon the state and the mass media to refrain from using the scandal to undermine the prestige of Russian [NGOs] pending an investigation into all the circumstances surrounding the matter," he added (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 27 and 30 January 2006). PM
2/1/06
NGO ACTIVIST TO FILE LAWSUITS. Lyudmila Alekseyeva, a frequent RFE/RL contributor who heads the nongovernmental organization Moscow Helsinki Group, said in Moscow on 31 January that she will sue "the first and second television networks, the journalist Arkady Mamontov, and the head of the parliament's security committee...who have [recently] accused me of taking money from foreign spies," mosnews.com reported (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 30 January 2006). "This is exactly like [the times of] the Soviet Union, when I was accused of receiving money from the CIA.... We will defend all [NGOs] that are being put under pressure by the authorities," she added. The chairman of the State Duma Security Committee is Colonel General Vladimir Vasilev of the Unified Russia party. PM
2/2/06
POLICE DETAIN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS. Police detained 15 human rights activists in Moscow on 1 February for holding a protest rally after being denied permission to do so, Russian news agencies reported.
About 50 activists from nongovernmental organizations gathered near the headquarters of the Federal Security Service (FSB) to protest recent FSB allegations that Russian NGOs had received funds from alleged British spies. Activists say the allegations are part of a government campaign to discredit NGOs and gain support for a controversial new law restricting their activities (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 31 January and 1 February 2006). PM
Published in: Putin Signs NGO Bill into Law, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty Newsline, 18 January 2006; British Ambassador Denies Charges on NGOs, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty Newsline, 31 January 2006; Public Chamber Calls for Restraint with NGOs, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty Newsline, 31 January 2006; NGO Activist to File Lawsuits, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty Newsline, 1 February 2006; Police Detain Rights Activists, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty Newsline, 2 February 2006.
Copyright (c) 2006. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. www.rferl.org
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U.S. President Bush Signs Trafficking Bill into Law
1/14/06
On January 10, President Bush signed legislation that will provide $360 million over two years to the fight against human trafficking in the US and abroad. Funds from the bill will be used to contribute to knowledge on the subject as well as for providing assistance to victims. The bill sets aside funds for studies of trafficking, to compile statistics on the sex industry, for organizations assisting victims, and for helping United States law enforcement agencies to prosecute the crime. The U.S. Department of State estimates that as many as 17,500 individuals are trafficked into the United States every year. Across international borders, the figure jumps to 700,000 people each year, a number which many advocacy groups say is underestimated and increasing.
Compiled from: "Law Targets Traffickers", WomenseNews staff, WomenseNews, 14 January 2006.
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Macedonia to Present Report to CEDAW
1/06
At the January 16 - February 3 session of the Committee to Eliminate Discrimination against Women, Macedonia will present its country report at the United Nations headquarters in New York City.
For more information, please see Macedonia's full report.
Compiled from: CEDAW 34th Session, United Nations, January 2006.
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Kosovo Domestic Abuse Shelter Tries to Overcome Huge Barriers
1/5/06
As the only domestic abuse shelter in Kosovo, Liria faces massive cultural and financial challenges. The center was founded in 1999, soon after the international peacekeeping forces descended on the area following Kosovo's civil war. Nazife Jonuzi, the director of Liria, says these troops brought with them a Western approach to women in society, hiring women to work on military bases, acting respectfully, and, critically, expecting Kosovar men to do the same. The idea that domestic abuse is a private affair and should be dealt with by the family is one so entrenched in Kosovo that Jonuzi says there was no concept of shelters for victims of domestic violence before the Western peacekeeping troops arrived.
In addition to the task of challenging deeply-held cultural norms, Liria currently faces a financial crisis as funders refuse to dispense promised funds. At first, Liria was supported by international non-governmental organizations, but now both the center and peacekeeping troops report that its budget is supposed to come equally from Austrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the local municipality. However, while the municipality had already provided a building free of charge, it has so far refused to dispense its share of funding to Liria. The Austrian Ministry is waiting to see what happens with the municipality before offering their share. Liria and the women it serves are waiting, too, but also continuing to work against domestic abuse as the only safe haven for Kosovar women.
Compiled from: "A Haven for Abused Women in Kosovo", Damaso Reyes, Christian Science Monitor, 5 January 2006.
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Uzbek Women Human Rights Defenders Forcibly Detained in Psychiatric Hospitals
3/29/06
Vienna, 28 March 2006-- In connection with a meeting on Human Rights Defenders organized by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) to be held in Vienna on 29-30 March, the International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights (IHF) wishes to call attention to the severe persecution of women human rights activists and their families in Uzbekistan, which includes inter alia forced psychiatric detention, beatings, and politically-motivated trials.
“Women in Uzbekistan are very active in human rights defense, and women are paying a heavy price for defending human rights there. No one can accept these persecutions, which cannot be tolerated by Uzbekistan’s international partners,” stated Aaron Rhodes, Executive Director of the IHF.
Research carried out by the IHF shows that the Uzbek authorities are now using the Soviet-era technique of forcibly detaining activists in psychiatric hospitals exclusively against women human rights defenders and political activists.
The IHF denounces the recent detention in psychiatric hospitals of women human rights defenders Shokhida Yuldasheva and Lydia Volkobrun and urges the international community to express solidarity with them by firmly condemning this practice, and conditioning relations with Uzbekistan upon changes.
As protecting women human rights defenders is a priority of the Austrian Presidency of the EU, the IHF calls upon the EU to demand the immediate release of Shokhida Yuldasheva and Lydia Volkobrun. The EU should also address the wider climate of persecution faced by women human rights defenders and their families.
Information on cases of persecution suffered by women human rights defenders and their relatives follows:
Shokhida Yuldasheva (a signatory, together with Elena Urlaeva, of a letter published on 15 March 2006 condemning repressive acts by the authorities against Muslims—see below) was arrested on 17 March and suffered beatings. She is currently held in a psychiatric hospital in the city of Karchi.
Lydia Volkobrun, a 69-year old activist, was arrested on 17 March 2006 and is currently held in a psychiatric hospital in Tashkent. As a former staff member of the police department, she has, on several occasions, written complaints about illegal actions taken by police officers. In 2004 she was forcibly detained in a psychiatric hospital on two occasions.
On 15 March the husband of Elena Urlaeva, a prominent activist who has been forcibly imprisoned in psychiatric institutions several times, suffered injuries as a result of an attack by strangers while he was waiting at a bus stop. Mashurov Mansur lost consciousness and had to be taken to the hospital with a broken nose. This act of aggression is very similar to those suffered by other activists and their relatives and is considered to have been carried out by professionals.
Urlaeva was detained by the police on 28 August 2005 for dissemination of leaflets of the opposition party “Ozod Dekhonlar” and for posting a caricature of the national symbol of Uzbekistan. She was released from hospital on 27 October 2005, but was temporarily placed under house arrest after her release. In 2002 Urlaeva had been forcibly held in a psychiatric institution on two occasions (for a total of six months) due to her human rights work. During this time Urlaeva reported that she received forcible injections of psychiatric drugs and that the hospital staff had tied her to the bed to administer the injections which caused chronic headaches, and problems with her heart and kidneys.
Mukhtarova Dilzora, a member of Ezgulik, was arrested on 26 December 2005, and has been accused of murder. In a note sent from prison, she claims to have been tortured.
Tadjibaeva Mutabar, leader of the club of “Flaming Hearts” in the Fergan province, was arrested on 7 October, the day before she planned to go to Ireland for an international conference for human rights defenders. She was charged with extortion for politically motivated reasons. On 6 March she was sentenced to eight years in prison for "anti-government activity" and receiving money from Western governments to disrupt public order. She was found guilty on 13 charges, including threatening public order, fraud, theft and blackmailing local businessmen.
Gavkhar Yuldasheva, a member of Ezgulik from Jissak province, was beaten on 3 January 2006 before a meeting with representatives of foreign embassies. She was arrested and taken to the Regional Department of the Minister of Interior (ROVD) where she beaten; she was unable to walk after this. She was subsequently released.
On 1 March Nadira Khidojatova, coordinator of the opposition party “Sunshine Coalition of Uzbekistan” and sister of Nigora Khidojatova, a leader of the opposition party Ozod Dekhkonlar, was sentenced to 10 years on false chargers of extortion, plunder, embezzlement and theft. Nigora’s husband, Arif Aidan, was recently killed by Uzbek citizens in Kazakhstan in what some consider to be an act directed against his wife.
Imamova Munozhaat, a member of the Human Rights Society of Uzbekistan (HRSU) in Jizzak province, is under constant surveillance and receives regular threats ordering her to cease her human rights activities. On 15 August 2005 she visited the city of Jizzak to meet the chair of HRSU branch B. Khamroev. She was detained near his flat and beaten. At the time she was 3 months pregnant and as a result lost her child. As in the cases of many other human rights defenders, police request regular reports on all her movements and she is not allowed to exit the region.
Bolbekova Bukhvol, a member of the Human Rights Society of Uzbekistan (HRSU) in Jizzak province, was dismissed from the position of Chair of the women’s council of the village by order of the regional khokim (administrator) after the Andijan events. She is under constant surveillance; police request regular reports on all her movements and she is not allowed to exit the region.
Togaeva Khurshida, Chair of the Pakhtakor regional branch of the HRSU in Jizzak province, is under close surveillance. On 23 September, she was beaten by two strangers who asked her which ambassadors had B. Khamroev (Chair of the HRSU branch in Jizzak) visited. She was hospitalized as a result of this attack.
Both Kurbanova Saida, member of the HRSU in Jizzak province and Fazieva Gulnora, member of the Initiative Group of independent human rights defenders in Tashkent, are under constant surveillance and are not allowed to leave their respective regions.
Cited in: "Uzbekistan: Women human rights defenders being forcibly detained in psychiatric hospitals," International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights. 28 March 2006.
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Tajikistan Submits Combined First, Second and Third Periodic Report to CEDAW
3/17/06
Tajikistan recently submitted a combined initial, second and third periodic report to the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women. The report outlines the status of the state’s implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, which it ratified on 26 June 1993. The report describes the status of women in the context of a recently ended civil war and a newly democratic state.
Tajikistan reports that it has passed legislation under The Criminal Code of the Republic of Tajikistan that punishes acts that indicate discrimination against women. The state notes that the number of cases that have been brought to the courts and the true number of victims of violence are not equal. Few cases have been brought to the courts, but Tajikistan attributes this to a reluctance on the part of women to discuss their experiences with law enforcement. The state also voiced support for the collection of data and the study of violence against women, as well as educational programs for the public and for government employees, medical personnel, journalists and police officers.
Domestic violence is an issue of great concern as very few women report this form of violence. There are, however, criminal provisions that punish family violence. The report acknowledges that few men have been criminally charged unders such provisions.
Compiled from: Combined initial, second and third periodic report of States Parties Tajikistan, to the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, U.N. Doc. CEDAW/C/TJK/1-3, 7 June 2005.
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New Resource on Domestic Violence for Social Workers in Kosovo
3/15/06
PRISTINA, 9 March 2006 - A manual that will help social workers better assist victims of domestic violence was today presented by Ambassador Werner Wnendt, the Head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo, to Ibrahim Selmanaj, PISG Minister of Labor and Social Welfare.
The manual, entitled Responding to Incidents of Domestic Violence, contains a thorough analysis of the applicable law in Kosovo and international human rights standards on domestic violence. It provides practical guidance for social workers on how to support victims and their families, describes the psychological and physical dangers domestic violence poses to women and children, and supports the concept of a multi-agency response to domestic violence.
"Society as whole must be aware that domestic violence is not acceptable and there is an urgency to educate the public about this problem," said Ambassador Wnendt. "While much remains to be done, this manual is a small but necessary contribution to combat this crime and ensure that this problem is dealt with in a comprehensive manner."
The manual, created with the assistance of the OSCE Mission, is a balanced combination of theory and practical tools for social service workers. It outlines their roles and duties in protecting and supporting victims.
Minister Selmanaj welcomed the manual, saying: "Violence as such is unpreventable, yet at the moment when there is violence it should be dealt with properly. We are committed to put into practice the guidance in this manual in the interest of our society and deal with cases of domestic violence."
The manual has been translated into both Albanian and Serbian and will be disseminated to social workers throughout Kosovo.
Published in: OSCE Mission presents manual on domestic violence for Kosovo's social workers, OSCE Press Release, March 13, 2006.
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Georgia Contends With Problem of Trafficking of Women
3/8/06
According to the International Organization for Migration, at least 500 Georgian women are victim to trafficking every year. However, officials say that this number is an estimate and that cases that come to the attention of the police are merely the tip of the iceberg. An increase in trafficking activity within Georgia is only expected to increase in the near future given the country's widespread poverty and high unemployment rates, as most trafficking victims are young, poor, and female. An IOM trafficking hotline operator commented that every case she'd heard in the past months involved the search for a job abroad.
While Georgian anti-trafficking activists report a new determination to tackle the issue, bureaucratic issues and legal and bureaucratic barriers preventing victims from coming forward are hindering the government's response. Specifically, the inability to access information from Turkey, the neighboring country to which many women are trafficked, hampers efforts to prosecute trafficking offenders. Victims' fear of police and bureaucratic obstacles pulls trafficking rings further underground. Some country experts believe Georgian police could be more proactive in addressing trafficking issues; instead of relying on victims to come forward, experts say police should take initiative and actively investigate situations themselves. Finally, activists and experts advocate for the government to address the root problem behind trafficking: the lack of employment in Georgia and the resulting poverty.
Compiled from: Molly Corso, Human Trafficking Takes Toll on Georgia, Eurasia.net., 3 March 2006.
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Radio Prague's Talking Point on the Czech Republic as a Destination Country for Human Trafficking
3/8/06
In this week's Talking Point we'll have a look at what happens here with illegal migrants and sex workers.
Among the many other changes to take place in the Czech Republic since 1989, this country has been confronted with rising prostitution, and a new phenomenon: the trafficking of people. At the Ministry of the Interior of the Czech Republic, they have established a special Department for Crime Prevention, which deals specifically with illegal migrants and the sex trade. Jitka Gjuricova, the Director of the Crime Prevention Department, explains the situation of the Czech Republic with regards to human trafficking:
"The Czech Republic is a source country, which means that people are taken from here abroad. We are also a transit country because we link the poor east to the wealthy west. However, we're also a destination country, because as far as the prices of sexual services are concerned, the costs here are very reasonable for clients from the west. The economy is still on a different level than in Germany or Austria, for example, so the prices here can be one-third less, though lately they've also been rising—since we entered the EU."
The International Organization for Migration in Prague is one of the key sources of assistance for women who end up in the Czech Republic against their will, or discover upon arrival that promises of a job as an au pair or housekeeper are non-existent, and they are instead expected to work in the sex trade. Lucie Sladkova, who heads the IOM mission in Prague talks about what the situation is like in the Czech Republic with regards to the trafficking of people:
"I would say that the situation in the Czech Republic is similar to other European countries. So, the legislation is in place and there are the provisions within the penal code to prosecute traffickers. There is also a program or kind of referral system to help and assist victims of trafficking. We cooperate with charities, so there are protection services in place in the Czech Republic. Also, we handle the safe return of victims of trafficking to other IOM missions in their home countries, where the protection program is in place, and there are shelters and rehabilitation centres for psychological, medical, or social help, etc."
Is the Czech Republic a transit country for the trafficking of women, or is it a destination country?
"The situation in the Czech Republic—I would call it a destination country, more and more. We owe a lot to foreign women and girls because when IOM Prague managed the Raise Awareness campaign, the target group were Czech women and girls, and there was no information campaign targeting foreign girls and women, and I think that we should do a lot to inform them about the risks and misconceptions that are here in the Czech Republic about the counter-trafficking situation."
It sounds to me like you're describing a shift in terms of location, or the destination of women. So, where are Czech women being trafficked to primarily, and for whom is the Czech Republic a destination country?
"If we speak about Czech girls and women, I have the information that they are mostly trafficked to Italy—at least we have some returns from Italy. Now we have the information from Sweden, from the UK, and also recently we got the information from the Hague. If we talk about the Czech Republic as a destination country, more and more of the girls are from the former Soviet Union, or Russian-speaking countries. Mainly Moldova, Ukraine, but also from European countries like Bulgaria and Romania."
How does the trade of women happen here? Who is running the show? Is this a Czech operation—that is, Czech men who are involved as the pimps, or are there foreigners involved in this happening as well?
"Since we are now talking about the organized crime networks, there are always Czech men or agencies involved, because when you recruit you must have the local knowledge. So the whole chain, or organized network, is not only from Czech origin, but there are local agencies involved because you have to have the information that is specific to the Czech situation."
Could you provide some statistics? How many people are we talking about?
"I don't have any hard data on that, but if we talk about those who were assisted, then for the last two years it was 35 girls and women overall."
What are some of the conditions for assistance to these women?
"The main condition in this referral system or in this program for protection is that they have to cooperate somehow with the Czech police, which means that they should be ready to provide some information and go court and help with the prosecution of traffickers. This is very harsh and could also be a very dangerous condition."
Given that this is a regional problem, what is the IOM doing to promote awareness of the issue of trafficking women and children in the region?
"There is no country in the region that did not participate in the raise awareness campaigns. So, all the IOM offices in the region were providing information through these campaigns. Some of the IOM offices are also service providers, so in some countries there are shelters that are managed by IOM. Here in the Czech Republic we rely on the services of NGOs."
Where the sanctions against such crimes are concerned, Jitka Gjuricova summarizes the situation:
"Abuse of people for the purpose of sexual acts is punishable by several laws in the Czech Republic, and the most severe sentence is 5 years. Our criminal law also addresses human trafficking, and there the harshest sentence is 12 years. Unfortunately, our experience is that criminals don't receive the most severe sentences because there is often a problem proving the case. In one of the latest cases, a woman even testified in court, and despite this her trafficker received only a 2-year sentence. So unfortunately, we have the same experience as in many other states—that is, the maximum sentence is not applied often and the sanctions are not high."
The problem with trafficking in human beings and the sex trade is surely something that the Czech Republic will be battling in the future as well.
Cited in: Linda Mastalir, Human Trafficking: the Czech Republic as a Destination Country, Radio Prague, 7 March 2006.
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E-mail: cr@radio.cz
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Movie About Wartime Rape in Bosnia Well-Received in Sarajevo
3/6/06
Grbavica, Jasmila Zbanic's taboo-breaking movie featuring a Bosniak woman raped by a Serb soldier, received a standing ovation from five thousand viewers after premiering on March 1st in Sarajevo's Zetra Olympic Hall. The movie broaches what is perhaps one of the former Yugoslavia's most pervasive social taboos in a way that de-emphasizes its political aspects and instead focuses on the human needs of love, recognition, and forgiveness. Esma, the central character of the movie, is a Bosniak woman raped by a Serb solider in a prison camp during the Bosnian War, as part of the widespread tactic of using rape as a strategy of war to humiliate enemies. Esma bears a daughter, Sara, as a result of the rape and both women are consequently cast out of the family due to the social stigma surrounding rape. The movie was shot in Sarajevo with the support of partners in Austria, Germany, and Croatia. Despite the positive reception in Sarajevo, the film's premiere in Banja Luka, the main city in Bosnia's Serb-dominated region, has been cancelled due to controversy, while its Belgrade screening is still scheduled to take place. Grbavica was also this year's Golden Bear prize winner, the first prize of the Berlin Film Festival.
Compiled from: "Sarajevans Acclaim First Film About Rape Victims", Balkan Investigative Reporting Network, 3 March 2006.
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UN Announces Closure of Refugee Office in Uzbekistan
4/20/06
The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has closed its office in Uzbekistan in compliance with a demand from Uzbekistan's Foreign Ministry (see "RFE/RL Newsline," March 21, 2006), the UN News Service reported on April 19. UNHCR spokeswoman Jennifer Pagonis told a briefing in Geneva the same day that the UN Development Program, acting "under an alternative arrangement," will provide care and assistance to 1,800 refugees in Uzbekistan, most of them from Afghanistan. Previously, the UNHCR had cared for the refugees. DK
Published in: UN Announces Closure of Refugee Office in Uzbekistan, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 20 April 2006.
Copyright (c) 2006. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. www.rferl.org
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Russian Court Throws Out Suit Against NGO
4/12/06
Moscow's Basmany Court refused on April 11 to hear a case against the Research Center on Human Rights brought by the Federal Registration Service (FRS), the website of the Moscow daily "Kommersant" reported. The authorities claim that the NGO has not provided them with the required information on its activities for the past five years. The center denies the charge. After the court's ruling, center Director Lyubov Vinogradova said that she fears that this is not the end of the NGO's troubles because the FRS refuses to accept the registration documents the center has attempted to file and thereby prevents the NGO from being legally registered. The NGO is an umbrella organization bringing together 13 human groups and was founded in 1992. It includes the Union of Committees of Soldiers Mothers as well as the Moscow Helsinki Group led by Lyudmila Alekseyeva, a frequent RFE/RL contributor (see "RFE/RL Newsline," January 29 and 30, and February 1, 2006).
Published in: Court Throws Out Suit Against NGO, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 12 April 2006.
Copyright (c) 2006. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. www.rferl.org
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Turkey Responds Slowly to Honor Killings
4/12/06 Turkey's government and civil society sectors are slowly beginning to address the practice of honor killing, or murdering women for disgracing a family's "honor" by allegedly having an affair, an extra-marital pregnancy (often the result of rape), being seen in public with a man, or even not showing modesty in their dress. However, as Turkey works to gain acceptance into the European Union, improving its deeply flawed human rights record has become a priority, and honor killings have begun to attract more attention. Under the new Turkish penal code approved last year, those guilty of honor killings are now eligible for life sentences, a steep improvement from the prior norm of showing leniency, and giving only a couple years in prison, for those convicted of honor killings. However, because the ideas surrounding honor killings are so embedded in the culture of the deeply patriarchal societies where they occur, scholars like Aytekin Sir, an expert on honor killings at Diyarbakir, Turkey's Dicle University, see such legal measures to be merely the first step towards eradication of honor killings. For example, he reports that that judges often rely on their own sense of justice, rather than that of the law, to assign punishment, and so the stricter sentences for perpetrators of honor killings have been largely negelcted. Furthermore, families have found ways of circumventing the tougher punishments and still retaining their sense of "honor" by pressuring young women to commit suicide or having children engage in honor killing because of the lighter sentence they will receive. Civil society has become more active on the issue of honor killings, as well, creating greater public awareness. The Turkish press has increased its coverage of honor killings, and the phenomenon is appearing in more books, plays, and films. In particular, a women's group called Ka-Mer has been active in creating safe shelters and telephone hotlines for persecuted women and protecting women by settling them in different parts of Turkey with new identity information. The group works in southeastern Turkey, home to a Kurdish majority, where half of women are illiterate and many are entirely dependent upon their husbands or fathers for financial support. Ka-Mer and other experts say that poverty and lack of education are the two most common factors linking honor killings. One study has shown that uneducated women are as likely to believe in honor killings as are men, making the education of women a vital component to fighting the practice of honor killings. The road towards elimination of this practice is uphill, with increased honor killings due to large-scale migration to cities and accelerated fighting between Kurdish rebels and Turkish forces in the southeast, but recent developments show that Turkey is at least on the path towards addressing honor killings. Compiled from: "Turkey Faces Battle to Stamp Out Honor Killings", Gareth Jones, Reuters Alertnet, 7 April 2006. ____________________________________________________________ |
Czech Republic Fails to Implement Measures Against Enforced Sterilization of Romani Women
4/5/06
Two and a half months after the Czech Public Defender of Rights (“Ombudsman”) published a ground-breaking report on enforced sterilization of Romani women in the Czech Republic, the government has implemented no part of the Ombudsman’s recommendations. With the release of the English translation of the report in March, Czech, European, and international civil society members urge the Czech government to take action on ensuring the rights of all Czech women by implementing the measures suggested by the Ombudsman. Currently, sterilization victims suffer without due remedy and all Czech women remain at risk of enforced sterilization.
Compiled from: Czech Report on Coercive Sterilization of Romani Women Published in English Translation, European Roma Rights Centre, 14 March 2006.
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OSCE Centre Supports Meeting on Crisis Centres in Tajikistan for Women Victims of Violence
5/30/06
KHUJAND, Tajikistan, 24 May 2006 - Representatives of the OSCE Centre in Dushanbe, local authorities, international experts and civil society met today to discuss the work of crisis centres and shelters in remedying and preventing violence against women.
Experts from Russia and Kazakhstan presented best practices on protecting women's rights, including the social and psychological rehabilitation and reintegration of victims into society. Tajik experts presented the results of the work of the first shelter for women victims of violence, which opened in July 2005 in Khujand (northern Tajikistan) with OSCE support.
According to Orzu Ganiyeva, Executive Director of the Khujand shelter, the facility organized over 300 psychological and legal consultations in the last nine months. Another 1,000 consultations were given over a telephone helpline. The shelter offered temporary accomodation to 21 women victims of violence and their children, as well as three adolescents. "Several cases of physical and psychological violence have been solved in an amicable way, while one was pursued through legal remedies," she added.
Gunta Robezniece, Gender Officer of the OSCE Centre in Dushanbe, said: "The work of the shelter has shown that there is a strong demand for this type of service. We are glad to see that the Government understands the importance of such centres. This helps pave the way for more shelters to be opened in other parts of the country."
The meeting was supported by the OSCE Centre in Dushanbe and organized by the Tajik non-governmental organizations Women's Centre Gulrukhsor in Khujand and the National Association of Business Women.
Contacts
Eugenia Benigni
Media Officer
12, Zikrullo Khojaev Str.
734017 Dushanbe
Tajikistan
Tel: +992 918 677413 (mobile)
+992 372 24 58 79
+992 372 21 40 63
+992 372 24 33 38
Fax: +992 372 24 91 59
cid-tj@osce.org
eugenia.benigni@osce.org
Published in: OSCE Centre Supports Meeting on Crisis Centres in Tajikistan for Women Victims of Violence, Press Release, OSCE, 24 May 2006.
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Uzbekistan Court Shuts Down U.S. NGO
5/4/06
PRAGUE, May 4, 2006 (RFE/RL) -- An Uzbek court today ordered the closure of the local offices of Counterpart International, a nongovernmental organization funded by the U.S. State Department and United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
Uzbekistan's Justice Ministry has accused the organization of breaking a number of laws.
Lelei LeLaulu, the head of Counterpart International, told RFE/RL's Uzbek Service that the group has not decided whether it will lodge an appeal.
"There is a certain point where we have to look and decide whether an appeal will only make it more difficult for our staff and colleagues or whether we should just accept the court's order at this stage and perhaps look at ways of working with the Uzbek people in another stage of our development," LeLaulu said.
In a statement on May 3, Counterpart International said it has delivered nearly $80 million in medical and humanitarian aid during its work in Uzbekistan.
In the past six months, Uzbek authorities have also shut down offices of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, the group Freedom House, and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty's Tashkent bureau.
Published in: Uzbekistan Court Shuts Down U.S. NGO, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 5 May 2005.
Copyright (c) 2006. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. www.rferl.org
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Tajik Police Arrest Human Trafficker After Tajik President Calls for Concerted Fight against Human Trafficking
5/4/06
TAJIK POLICE ARREST HUMAN TRAFFICKER... Tajik police announced the arrest of two suspects on May 3 for involvement in human trafficking, marking the 26th such case in the Sughd region of the country, Avesta reported. A 45-year-old woman and another suspect were arrested in the northern Tajik town of Khujand. Sughd prosecutors said the woman is accused of having deceived a young female victim, sending her to the United Arab Emirates and demanding $10,000, and forcing her into prostitution. Another female suspect, sought by Tajik police since 2004, was extradited to Tajikistan from the United Arab Emirates, Asia-Plus reported on May 3. RG
...AFTER TAJIK PRESIDENT CALLS FOR CONCERTED FIGHT AGAINST HUMAN TRAFFICKING. Chairing a cabinet meeting in Dushanbe, Tajik President Imomali Rakhmonov on May 2 instructed his ministers and other senior officials to devote greater attention to efforts to counter human trafficking, Asia-Plus reported. Rakhmonov further called for the implementation of a recent five-year state program to focus on crimes related to human trafficking. Cooperation between Tajik and United Arab Emirates law-enforcement officials resulted in the return of about 45 Tajik victims of human trafficking in October. There are several thousand Tajik women estimated to have been victimized by traffickers and tricked into prostitution abroad (see "RFE/RL Newsline," October 17, 2005). Human trafficking is an increasing problem for Central Asia, with several countries serving as both sources and transit states for young female victims. RG
Copyright (c) 2006. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. www.rferl.org.
Published in: Tajik Police Arrest Human Trafficker...After Tajik President Calls for Concerted Fight against Human Trafficking, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 4 May 2006.
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OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine Trains Consular Officials to Assist Fight against Human Trafficking
KYIV, 28 April 2006 - More than 30 representatives from foreign consulates in Ukraine gathered today in Kyiv for an anti-trafficking course, co-organized by the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine.
The training course focuses on current prevention, prosecution and protection initiatives in the country. It will also include discussions on the root causes and consequences of trafficking, ways in which consular officials can identify and assist potential victims, and an overview of the work of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry's Centre on the Protection of Ukrainian Citizens Abroad.
"Human trafficking constitutes a pervasive and persistent criminal violation of the most fundamental of human rights: the right to life, liberty and security of the person," said Abina M. Dann, the Canadian Ambassador to Ukraine. "Like all countries, organizations and individuals for whom human rights are sacred, we strongly denounce and criminalize human trafficking. We want to provide better protection to the vulnerable and we are firmly resolved to bring perpetrators to justice."
This is the fourth in a series of training courses hosted by the Canadian Embassy in Kyiv for consular and visa staff of foreign diplomatic missions, and is part of a comprehensive national anti-trafficking programme being implemented by the Project Co-ordinator's office. The event was organized in co-operation with the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Canadian Embassy, and the non-governmental organization, International Women's Rights Centre La Strada-Ukraine.
The event will close with a presentation of the Project Co-ordinator's new anti-trafficking public service announcements featuring the Ukrainian singer Ruslana, the platinum award winner of the 2004 Eurovision song contest.
Contacts
Volker Frobarth
Senior Project Officer
Striletska 16
01054 Kyiv
Ukraine
Tel: +38 044 492 0382
volker.frobarth@osce.org
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Gender Training Course Supported by OSCE Ends in Uzbekistan
TASHKENT, 28 April 2006 - A five-day gender training course for participants from Uzbekistan's Ombudsman institution, the Women's Committee and other Uzbek women's organizations ended today in Tashkent.
The course, which was organized with the support of the OSCE Centre in Tashkent, aimed at preparing the trainers to help improving domestic capacity to promote gender equality in accordance with international standards and make it a sustainable activity by training national experts on gender issues.
The 23 participants covered topics such as trainers' skills, methodological training preparations, legislative gender expertise and the development of a gender strategy.
The initiative forms part of a joint project by the Ombudsman's office, the Women's Committee and the non-governmental organization, Civil Initiatives Support Centre.
Source link: OSCE Centre in Tashkent; http://www.osce.org/item/18827.html
Contacts
12B Afrosiyob Street, 4th Floor, Mirobod district
700015 Tashkent
Uzbekistan
Tel: +998 71 140 04 70
Fax: +998 71 140 04 66
OSCE-CIT@osce.org
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