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Azerbaijan: High Representative Catherine Ashton and Commissioner Štefan Füle “disappointed” by amendments to the Criminal Code posted on: 2013/06/11

On 6 June 2013, the spokespersons of Catherine Ashton, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, and Štefan Füle, EU Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy made a statement on the approval of amendments to the Criminal Code in Azerbaijan which will establish punitive measures against slander and insult on the internet.

Bahrain: Joint letter Sent To High Representative Catherine Ashton ahead of EU-GCC Ministerial Meeting.posted on: 2013/04/15

A joint letter has been sent to the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton ahead of a European Union (EU) – Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) ministerial meeting scheduled to take place in Manama on 1 July 2013. The letter has been signed by 6 human rights organisations including Front Line Defenders.

Brussels: Human Rights Defenders and Development Agencies: How to build stronger synergies?posted on: 2012/04/24

15-16 October 2007 Front Line Defenders, with the support of the European Commission and of the King Baudouin Foundation, and with the assistance of ECDPM, hosted an international conference to adddress the issue of how human rights organisations and development agencies could work more effectively together to deliver enhanced security and protection for human rights defenders at risk.

Belarus: Joint statement by EU High Representative Catherine Ashton and US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton on concerns about human rights in Belarusposted on: 2011/12/19

EU High Representative Catherine Ashton and US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton issued a joint statement today on concerns about human rights in Belarus on the anniversary of the 19 December 2010 crackdown.

Brussels: Igor Kalyapin highlights lack of effective investigation of disappearances in Chechnya to representatives of EU member Statesposted on: 2011/05/12

On Tuesday 10 May 2011 afternoon, Igor Kalyapin met representatives of EU Member States in the context of the COHOM Task force on HRDs, just before the formal COHOM meeting. COHOM is the Council Working Party on Human Rights, chaired by Mr Engelbert Theurmann (on the right on the picture). Igor Kalyapin summarised the current human rights situation in Chechnya, described the work and technique of the Joint Mobile Group, and referred to the letter received from the Prosecutor’s Office of the Chechen Republic, which confirms the lack of proper and effective investigation into criminal cases and abductions of people. Igor Kalyapin urged the EU to use that letter in their contacts with the Russian authorities at high level in order to enhance the rule of law in Chechnya.Pictured LTR are Mr Vincent forest, Head of Front Line's EU Office, Mr Igor Kalyapin, Head of Joint Mobile Group, Ms Veronique Arnault, Director for Human Rights and Democracy at the European External Action Service (EEAS)and Mr Engelbert Theurmann.

Bahrain: Injured human rights defenders denied access to medical treatment

Got a huge shock when I heard our friend Abdulhadi had been shot in Bahrain, but I just spoke with him and he insisted he wasn't hurt seriously, just a couple of birdshot pellets fired from some distance. He is much more worried about the attacks on protesters and their lack of access to the hospitals which have been closed off by the Bahraini/Saudi military.

It is hugely disappointing that the EU and the US do not seem to be responding more actively to this brutal crackdown against peaceful protesters. The Bahraini human rights defenders believe the visit of US Defense Secretary Gates "gave a green light for the crackdown," although Gates himself was quoted as saying that "baby steps" to reform was not enough.

Secretary of State Clinton visited Tahrir square in Egypt today and reportedly said: “To see where this revolution happened, and all that it has meant to the world, is extraordinary for me.” It is cruelly ironic that whilst she spoke the armed forces of two US allies, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, were brutally clearing the Pearl Square in Manama.

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Bahrain: Injured human rights defenders denied access to medical treatment

Got a huge shock when I heard our friend Abdulhadi had been shot in Bahrain, but I just spoke with him and he insisted he wasn't hurt seriously, just a couple of birdshot pellets fired from some distance. He is much more worried about the attacks on protesters and their lack of access to the hospitals which have been closed off by the Bahraini/Saudi military.

It is hugely disappointing that the EU and the US do not seem to be responding more actively to this brutal crackdown against peaceful protesters. The Bahraini human rights defenders believe the visit of US Defense Secretary Gates "gave a green light for the crackdown," although Gates himself was quoted as saying that "baby steps" to reform was not enough.

Secretary of State Clinton visited Tahrir square in Egypt today and reportedly said: “To see where this revolution happened, and all that it has meant to the world, is extraordinary for me.” It is cruelly ironic that whilst she spoke the armed forces of two US allies, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, were brutally clearing the Pearl Square in Manama.

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Strasbourg: "EU High Representative pays tribute to human rights defenders as she welcomes the European Parliament Human Rights Report"posted on: 2010/12/16

"On Friday we celebrated international Human Rights Day. This year's theme highlighted the work of individuals and organisations worldwide who fight human rights violations, specifically discrimination. Over the past year I have met Nobel prize-winner Shirin Ebadi on Iran and Front Line award-winner Afghanistan's Human Rights Commissioner for Women Dr Soraya Sobhrang and other human rights defenders and will continue to do so. As I have said to you previously, I fully expect colleagues in Brussels and the Heads of the EU Delegations to do the same".

Full Text of The High Representative's Speech

Speech by Catherine Ashton EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the European Commission on the Annual Human Rights Report European Parliament, Strasbourg, 15 December 2010 On Friday we celebrated international Human Rights Day.

This year's theme highlighted the work of individuals and organisations worldwide who fight human rights violations, specifically discrimination.