Access to safe and legal abortion in Europe - PACE Report

HROW would like to draw you attention to a Council of Europe Report, called "Access to safe and legal abortion in Europe", elaborated by the Committee on Equal Opportunities for Women and Men of the Council of Europe Parliamentarian Assembly (PACE).

In this report, the PACE recall that "Abortion is legal in the vast majority of the Council of Europe member states. The Committee on Equal Opportunities for Women and Men considers that a ban on abortions does not result in fewer abortions, but mainly leads to clandestine abortions, which are more traumatic and more dangerous. By the same token, the Committee notes that in many of the states where abortion is legal, numerous conditions are imposed which restrict the effective access to safe abortion."

For these reasons, the PACE invited the member states of Council of Europe to:

1. decriminalise abortion, if they have not already done so;
2. guarantee women's effective exercise of their right to abortion and lift restrictions which hinder, de jure or de facto, access to safe abortion;
3. adopt appropriate sexual and reproductive health strategies, including access of women and men to contraception at a reasonable cost and of a suitable nature for them as well as compulsory relationships and sex education for young people.

This is a 2008 Report (8 April 2008), nevertheless, the background situation in Europe, that is analysed here, it is still the current situation in most of the member states countries. Therefore, this report can be consider as an up-date report.

You will find this report in the following link:

Access to safe and legal abortion in Europe

The 2008 UNADIS Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic

UNAIDS (Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS) has published its new "Report on the global AIDS epidemic". The Report draws upon and publishes the best available data from countries and provides an overview and commentary on the epidemic and the international response.

The 2008 Report on the global AIDS epidemic emerges at the halfway mark between the 2001

Declaration of Commitment and the 2015 target of the Millennium Development Goals to reverse the epidemic by 2015.

The report documents considerable progress in many countries in addressing their national epidemics. Nevertheless, progress remains uneven and the epidemic’s future is still uncertain, underscoring the need for intensified action to move towards universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support.

If you would like to know more about the current situation in the faith against this epidemic, you will find the 2008 Report at the following link:

2008 Report on the global AIDS epidemic

CEDAW and the Human Rights Based Approach to Programming: A UNIFEM Guide

For all of you that are currently working with human rights-based approach (HRBA) I would recommend you to read the publication made by UNIFEM (United Nations Development Fond for Women) called: CEDAW and the Human Rights Based Approach to Programming: A UNIFEM Guide.

This publication is a practical guide to the human rights-based approach to programming for UNIFEM staff as well as partners, with a particular focus on the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW).

Starting with an overview of why it is important to understand gender equality as a human rights issue, the guide explains the "UN Common Understanding of the human-rights-based approach" and how this is reflected in UNIFEM's Multi-Year Funding Framework (MYFF).

It discusses the concrete implications for programming of applying the HRBA and highlights requirements of human rights-based programming in the context of Results-Based Management, a central concept in the work of UN development agencies.

This guide is available at the following link:

CEDAW and the Human Rights Based Approach to Programming: A UNIFEM Guide.

New Guide to Electronic Resources for IHRL

The American Society of International Law (ASIL) launched a new guide to electronic resources for International Human Rights Law (IHRL).

This guide provides a useful overview of electronic sources available for international human rights, regardless of the format. It includes general tips for doing research as well as for locating necessary documents and materials. It provides pointers on where to start: Bibliographic Databases and Online Catalogs, Research Guides and Bibliographies and Periodical Indexes.

The scope encompasses both primary sources on human rights instruments and jurisprudence, and secondary sources (including documents from non-governmental organizations and country reports) and concludes with links to other relevant websites.

The emphasis is on English-language materials, but the availability of resources in other languages is noted.

If you want to know more, visit the ASIL web site at the following link and enjoy it!

ASIL Guide to Electronic Resources for International Law

Public Schools and Crocifix... a wrong partnership!

HROW congratulates the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) for its decision on Wednesday 3th November 2009 in the Case of Lautsi v. Italy (Case n. 30814/06), in which the Strasbourg Court declared that the presence of the crucifix in the public schools' rooms is in violation of Art. 2 of Protocol 1 to the Convention (the right of parents to ensure education in conformity with their religious convictions), together with Art 9 of the Convention (the children's right of freedom of religion).

The Court not only based its decision on the need of religion neutrality of the State, in a democratic state, in connection with the education in public schools, but as well in the fact that the presence of this religious symbol is not in line with the pluralistic education, that is essential for the preservation of a democratic society.

This is a great step in a construction of a more inclusive and respectful Europe, where everybody, regardless its own conviction or belief, can be part of the common and pluralistic society.

You will find the judgement at the following link:

AFFAIRE LAUTSI c. ITALIE (Requête n^o 30814/06)

HROW strongly condemned the coup d'état in the Republic of Honduras and call for the restoration of the democratically-elected President and constitutional Government.

At the same time, HROW welcomes the resolutions of the UN General Assembly and the OAS Permanent Council in which both bodies called for the restoration of the democratic order in the Republic of Honduras and for the ceased of the constitutional discontinuity.

If you want to know more, you will find both Resolutions at the following links:

OAS Permanent Council. June 28, 2009.

UN General Assembly. June 30, 2009.

NEW Publication of the handbook for lawyers defending Roma and Travellers

The Council of Europe's Roma and Travellers Division has published a new handbook for lawyers defending Roma and Travellers communities "Ensuring access to rights for Roma and Travellers - The role of the European Court of Human Rights".

This handbook is based on the experience gained during the training sessions for lawyers organised over the last 13 years by the Council of Europe in cooperation with the European Roma Rights Center and its practical approach makes it a useful tool for both newcomers to the Convention and for experienced practitioners alike.

The publication is available at the following link:

Ensuring access to rights for Roma and Travellers. The role of the European court of Human Rights.

World Refugee Day 2009

Real People, Real Needs

This year, with the world economic crisis threatening to slash aid budgets and amid enormous global uncertainty, we need to ensure refugees are not forgotten. That's why the theme for this year's World Refugee Day on June 20 is "Real People, Real Needs."

Of the millions of people forcibly displaced by conflict, persecution and natural disasters, every one has a story to tell; they are real people, just like you and me, and they have real needs.

This World Refugee Day we must remember the millions of forcibly displaced and stateless people; they are under our care b ecause they are struggling with their day-to-day lives. One thing connects them all: basic needs that must be met so they have a chance to rebuild their lives.

All of us can activily help them to achieve a better world, it is our responsability. And, remember, the first step in the fitht against violence and intolerance is... be aware of it!