Rights in Uzbekistan - does that include protecting its citizens?
INVITATION
Seminar by Uzbek human rights activist Umida Niazova on the current situation in UzbekistanWednesday, December 2, 1p.m.- 2.30p.m. (Registration and light lunch starts at 12.30 p.m.)
Location: Radisson BLU Conference Center, Cuxhaven+Bremerhaven Hall (Rävala pst.3, Tallinn)The seminar is in Russian with simultaneous translation to English and Estonian.
Please R.S.V.P at http://www.oef.org.ee/register
http://www.oef.org.ee/registerUmida is a human rights activist from Uzbekistan unable to live and work in her home country since her conviction in 2007. At that time the Uzbek court found Niazova guilty on charges of "preparing or disseminating material containing a threat to security and order," and sentenced her to prison for 7 years. Among these materials was a Human Rights Watch report on Uzbek troops' use of force in 2005 against protesters in the city of Andijan, which killed an estimated of 500 people. Niazova is an outspoken critic of the government's handling of the Andijan protests and the subsequent crackdown on independent journalists and human rights activists.
After publicly admitting her guilt, Umida’s sentence was suspended and she was granted amnesty under the condition she abstains from journalism and human rights activities within Uzbekistan. But if your heart tells you one thing, it is difficult to do something else and Umida continued with her work of monitoring and exposing gross human rights violations in Uzbekistan. She currently continues her work in Germany, where one of her new objectives is to promote a more open and honest discussion on the EU Strategy on Central Asia. The aforementioned strategy puts human rights at its core but as often happens with resource- rich countries- interests tend to dominate over values.
Umida’s lecture is part of the Human Rights Week of the Black Nights Film Festival taking place from November 30 to December 6 and screening 8 films addressing the topic of human rights from different angles. During the week from Monday to Friday at the ground floor of Solaris Center you will also have a chance to participate in public debates on human rights and conflict centers in the world.
Additional information:
Kelly Grossthal
Open Estonia Foundation
tel. 631 3791
e-mail: kelly@oef.org.ee