The ISHR Macedonia National Group invites other ISHR Sections and Groups to its first working conference "Building the Future Together", which will take part on 4 – 5 October 2008 in Skopje.

This action of the ISHR Switzerland is to protest the host China’s government’s lack of respect of human rights.
To demonstrate the peoples’ opposition face of this shameful farce, we propose that artistic and cultural events be held wherever possible, throughout the duration of the opening ceremony in public places all over the world.

On 17th of June, the commemoration day of the national uprising in the former German Democratic Republic, the working group China organized a manifestation in the city centre of Heidelberg in order to raise attention on serious human rights violations in the People’s Republic of China. These include systematic torture, censorship and total control of the media, oppression and persecution of religious groups and independent unions. The main focus of the activity in Heidelberg was the organ trade.

The following is a joint statement issued by NGOs from across Europe working on the defence of human rights, the promotion of democracy, and support for civil society in Cuba.

Martin Lessenthin, speaker of the board at the International Society for Human Rights extends his heartfelt appreciation to four political sponsors for their support of the unjustly imprisoned human rights defenders in Cuba and for helping to bring attention to the significant problem - political prisoners in Cuba. 30 German politicians have adopted a Cuban political prisoner through the ISHR’s program so far. Among the sponsors are the President of the European Parliament, Professor Hans-Gert Pöttering, and the Prime minister of Germany’s State of Saarland, Peter Müller.

The ISHR exhibition "Discover the real Cuba" shows the hidden side of Cuba’s reality – a police state, censorship, economic misery and severe persecution. It portrays cases of political prisoners in Cuba, their places of detention and prisons, the situation of their families and relatives. It explains the importance of tourism for Cuba's rulers and its outcome for the citizens. The exhibition opening took place on December 5, 2007 in the representation building of Saarland in Berlin and will be shown in 100 cities of Germany.

Almost every detainee in China has to, or has had to, suffer abuse or torture. Beatings and kicks, electric shocks, contortion and excessive twisting of limbs, hunger, thirst and sleep deprivation, sexual violence or other cruelties.

Dr. Ricardo Bofill, "Comité Cubano Pro Derechos Humanos"
Sylvia Iriondo, President of M.A.R. Por Cuba (Mothers & Women against Repression)
Dr. Darsi Ferrer, Director of the Juan Bruno Sáez health center
Juan Carlos González Leiva, Presidente de la Fundación Cubana de Derechos Humanos
Rodolfo González, Cuban Committee for Human Rights and others

The Venezuelan government publicly announced its intention to close RCTV on May 27th of the present year, a decision which is openly illegal due to the fact that it ignores the right that RCTV has to operate until 2022, according to the Telecommunications Act.
The real reason behind this decision is political not legal, as President Chávez has announced repeatedly in several occasions.

The 23rd of February is officially celebrated in Russia as the “Day of the Army”. Acclaimed are the armed forces of the ministry of defence, the troops of the ministry of the interior, the intelligence service FSB, the army stationed at the borders and the railway troops of the Russian Federation. However, also this year the day will not generate a festive mood in the soldiers and inductees. According to information of the International Society for Human Rights (ISHR) there is barely a troop in Russia, which isn’t marked by desertion, slave labour and oppression by fellow soldiers. The “Dedowschtschina”, the dominance of the soldiers who served longer over the younger ones, still exists. Also on the “Day of the Army” the so-called “Cargo 200”, the zinc coffins with bodies of soldiers having been tortured beyond recognition, will roll through Russia.

Neglecting the international appeals of numerous NGOs, Parliamentarians, prominent politicians and journalists, on January 23rd the Russian Supreme Court confirmed the Local Court of Nishnij Novgorod’s verdict on the closure of the “Society for Russian-Chechnyan Friendship”. According to ISHR the verdict is a warning for all non-governmental organisations (NGOs). “The Society for Russian-Chechnyan Friendship had prepared a lawsuit against Russia in front of the International Criminal Court (ICC) for the murder, torture and displacement of civilians in Chechnya.

18 months before the official start of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, the Chinese party leadership shows that it wants to enforce a propaganda spectacular. Through the Communist Party’s encouragement that local authorities should fight against “distracting elements”, it is evident for ISHR that the Olympic spirit of tolerance is buried in Beijing.