Kosovo: Bush Should Press Thaci on Human Rights
Progress Needed on Justice Reform, Missing Serbs, Plight of Roma President George W. Bush should use his meeting with Kosovo?s prime minister to press for improvements to its poor human rights record, Human Rights Watch said today. Bush is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Hashim Thaci and Kosovo President Fatmir Sejdiu in Washington, DC, on Monday, July 21. (18/07/2008)

UN: New Human Rights Commissioner Should Take Bold Steps to Confront Abusers
Senior Post Needed in New York to Support New High Commissioner Navanethem Pillay, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon?s presumptive nominee for the post of High Commissioner for Human Rights, should commit herself to be a voice for victims and human rights defenders worldwide, Human Rights Watch said today. An announcement of Pillay?s nomination is expected shortly, and will go to the UN General Assembly for approval. (18/07/2008)

Thailand: Stop Forced Returns of Karen Refugees to Burma
Civilians Forced Back Into Conflict Zone, More Returns Threatened Thai security forces should immediately stop forcing Karen refugees and asylum seekers to return to Burma from refugee camps in Thailand, Human Rights Watch said today. (18/07/2008)

Netherlands: Court Rules Pre-Entry Integration Exam Unlawful
Government Should Suspend Discriminatory Test Targeting non-Western Migrants The Dutch government should suspend its discriminatory ?integration test abroad? ? an exam on Dutch language and society ? that is required for family migrants from some non-Western countries following a July 15 court ruling that the test is unlawful, Human Rights Watch said today. (17/07/2008)

Cambodia: Murder of Journalist Jolts Run-Up to Election
Son Also Killed in Attack Amid Intense Ruling Party Pressure on Opposition With less than two weeks before Cambodia?s National Assembly elections on July 27, the political climate has sharply deteriorated, highlighted by the killing of opposition journalist Khim Sambo and his son in a drive-by shooting on July 11 in Phnom Penh, Human Rights Watch said today. (16/07/2008)

India: Protect Those Displaced from Chhattisgarh Violence
Andhra Pradesh Should Not Punish Families That Fled Violence Andhra Pradesh should protect and assist thousands of families who have fled the conflict in neighboring Chhattisgarh, Human Rights Watch said today. State officials should act immediately to end the government?s discrimination against the displaced people, Human Rights Watch said. (16/07/2008)

Bahrain: Convictions Tainted by Claims of Abuse
Verdicts Follow Allegations of Torture, Coerced Confessions in Detention Repeated allegations that confessions were obtained by abuse cast doubt on sentences that a Bahraini court has handed down this week to opposition political activists over violent protests in 2007, Human Rights Watch said today. The convictions of the men rested in part on confessions obtained during their interrogation and detention. (16/07/2008)

Bosnia: Protect Civil Society From Harassment
Republika Srpska Authorities Should End Campaign Against Anti-Corruption Group Republika Srpska authorities should refrain from verbal attacks on Transparency International Bosnia and Herzegovina and ensure the security of the organization?s staff and premises, Human Rights Watch said today. (16/07/2008)

EU: Governments Should Support Anti-Discrimination Directive
Broad Initiative Would Ban Discrimination for Sexual Orientation European Union governments should vote in favor of a proposed directive providing protection from discrimination on a broad range of grounds including sexual orientation, Human Rights Watch said today in a letter to leaders of all 27 member states. European Union law presently bans discrimination based on sexual orientation, disability, age or religion, in employment only. (16/07/2008)