News
Kazakhstan: Civil Society Groups Call for Investigation into January 2022 Events
Six months after the deaths of over 240 people and hundreds were allegedly subjected to torture and other ill-treatment, there has been no accountability for the victims and their families. To ensure justice the Kazakhstani government needs to take urgent action to set up a fully independent investigation with the input of recognized independent international experts.
Iran: Freedom Now Petitions UN on Behalf of Women’s Rights Activists Saba Kord Afshari and Raheleh Ahmadi
On June 29, 2022, Freedom Now and Dechert LLP filed a petition with the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention on behalf of Iranian women’s rights activists Saba Kord Afshari and Raheleh Ahmadi.
Saudi Arabia: President Biden Must Set Preconditions for Meeting with Saudi Crown Prince
Freedom Now and 12 organizations call on President Biden to secure genuine progress on human rights in Saudi Arabia before meeting with the Crown Prince
Afghanistan: Open Letter to Permanent Representatives of Member and Observer States to the UN Human Rights Council
Freedom Now and 24 organizations call on UN Members to allow an urgent debate at the upcoming Human Rights Council meeting on the women’s rights crisis in Afghanistan.
Turkmenistan: UN Declares Detention of Lawyer Pygamberdy Allaberdyev to be a Violation of International Law
The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention has found that the Turkmenistan violated international human rights law by detaining lawyer Pygamberdy Allaberdyev.
Kazakhstan: UN Declares Detention of Human Rights Activist Alnur Ilyashev to be a Violation of International Law
The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention has found that the Government of Kazakhstan violated international human rights law by detaining human rights activist Alnur Ilyashev.
Sri Lanka: UN Declares Detention of Poet Ahnaf Jazeem to be a Violation of International Law
The United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention has found the Government of Sri Lanka violated international human rights law by imprisoning poet Ahnaf Jazeem.
Uzbekistan: Freedom Now Petitions UN on Behalf of Blogger Otabek Sattoriy
On May 2, 2022, Freedom Now filed a petition with the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention on behalf of Uzbek blogger and activist Otabek Sattoriy.
Tajikistan: Freedom Now Petitions UN on Behalf of Anti-Corruption Activist Saidnuriddin Shamsiddinov
On April 21, 2022, Freedom Now and Proskauer Rose LLP filed a petition with the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention on behalf of Tajik bailiff and anti-corruption activist Saidnuriddin Shamsiddinov.
Blog Post: Afghan Women Need International Support
In 1977, the UN invited member states to recognize March 8 as a day to celebrate women’s rights and world peace. International Woman’s Day is widely celebrated in countries around the world, including Afghanistan. It is observed as an official public holiday in 27 countries. Unfortunately, there is little to celebrate for women in Afghanistan today.
New Alliance to Protect Human Rights in Afghanistan
A diverse array of human rights organisations have come together to establish an alliance to collectively monitor the dire human rights situation in Afghanistan and advocate for the protection of human rights and accountability for all violations and abuses.
Request for Proposals: Small Grants Program
Freedom Now’s inaugural Small Grants Program will fund proposals between $2,000 and $10,000 focused on one or more of the following countries: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, or Uzbekistan.
Donate Today and Help Free a Prisoner of Conscience
Can you imagine a doctor being imprisoned just for treating a patient, or a journalist detained simply for publishing an article critical of his government?