'A leading Palestinian journalist is jailed in the West Bank for broadcasting sessions of the Palestinian Legislative Council. Restrictive media laws in many post-communist countries curtail media freedoms guaranteed by these countries' constitutions or by international conventions that these countries have signed. In Central America, a select group of powerful families control the media and threaten democratic gains realized through the peace processes of the 1990s. Government control of print more...

Singapore’s Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has seen recruitment numbers for its police, civil defence and prison functions rise significantly this year, thanks in part to MHA’s use of new media platforms such as Facebook and YouTube to appeal to young Singaporean job-seekers…

'This page is dedicated to journalists who were assassinated in the exercise of their profession. It remembers their contribution to freedom of expression, democracy and peace.'
Source: UNESCO

'Lasantha Wickrematunge, Sri Lankan journalist who is the posthumous winner of the 2009 UNESCO World Press Freedom Prize, expected to be assassinated and went so far as to write an editorial for publication after his death. It appeared in his newspaper the Sunday Leader on 11 January 2009, three days after he had been murdered. In his editorial, which follows, Mr Wickrematunge voiced his commitment and readiness to die for press freedom.'
Source: UNESCO

'The potential of media in fostering dialogue, mutual understanding and reconciliation will be the topic of UNESCO World Press Freedom Day 2009. As the only UN agency with a mandate to defend freedom of expression and press freedom, UNESCO has placed mutual understanding, and dialogue through media at the core of its mission.'

'Reporters Without Borders (with UNESCO) has compiled a Handbook for Journalists for those going to dangerous parts of the world, listing international norms protecting them and containing practical advice on how to stay alive and safe.'

'An Amnesty International briefing highlights patterns of alleged human rights violations by Greek police against civilians. These include excessive use of force and firearms, torture or other ill-treatment, arbitrary detention and denial of prompt access to lawyers.'

French police have been accused of committing gross human rights violations – often against ethnic minorities – for which they are seldom brought to justice.

'As the World Bank hosts Extractive Industries Week, the story of the Mae Moh coal plant in Thailand shows why early community engagement is critical.'
Source: WRI, 2009

With the Human Rights in UNDP Practice Note, UNDP confirms its original policy position and elaborates, on the basis of experience, how this policy is to be implemented in the three strategic areas of intervention: (1) Supporting the strengthening of national human rights systems; (2) Promoting the application of a human rights-based approach to development programming; and (3) Greater engagement with the international human rights machinery. Prepared by the Democratic Governance Group, Bureau f more...