Rights

Telecoms outperform Euro peers

Greece's telecommunication networks have responded well to the pandemic crisis so far. Despite the increase in traffic coming to at least 50 percent, as noted by British consultancy Tech4i2, the slowdown in internet speeds around the country has been the smallest compared to networks elsewhere in Europe.

Albania’s Planned Jail Terms for Curfew Breakers Spark Protests

Albania Prime Minister Edi Rama speaking in parliament on March 5 2020. Photo: LSA

"International rights organisations recommend decreasing the prison population due to the elevated danger that the COVID-19 disease poses to them. However, proposals running against these recommendations are being discussed in the parliament of Albania," their joint letter reads.

Western Balkans Have Yet to Embrace Freedom of Information

Between January 2017 and June 2019, BIRN journalists submitted 854 official requests to access public documents in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Montenegro, and Serbia. With the aid of the information gained from these requests, BIRN produced numerous investigative pieces and so exposed wrongdoing by governments, companies and powerful individuals.

Greek schools to get faster internet

Public schools in Greece will get faster internet service, the Education and Digital Governance ministries said Monday, announcing a program to convert existing ADSL lines to VDSL.
About 1.37 million students and 142,000 teachers at 11,400 schools across the country are expected to benefit from the changes.

Illiberal Populism: A Wake-Up Call for Human Rights

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo recently established a panel that will supposedly provide "fresh thinking about human rights discourse" but will most likely undermine gender equality and reproductive freedoms.

Clearly, rights activists must up their game. But they should be under no illusion that the human rights movement alone can save the planet.

The Parliament Authorised Minister Angelkova to Conclude Concession and Lease Contracts for Beaches

The Parliament has authorised the minister of tourism to conclude concession and lease contracts for beaches. This was decided by the MPs with the adoption of amendments to the Concessions Act on second reading, Focus News Agency reports.
Concessions on sea beaches will be executed under the Black Sea Coast Planning Act.

New Platform For Accessing Public Information In Bulgaria Will be Available

Each applicant will be able to track the progress of the file with respect to his request, writes NOVA TV. 

,,A new platform for accessing public information for all administrations has been launched. From next week anyone can submit a question and see their answer publicly'', Krasimir Bozhanov, Director of the Modernization of Administration at the Council of Ministers said.

Human Rights Commission chief resigns, blasts government

The president of Greece's National Commission for Human Rights (GNCHR), Yorgos Stavropoulos, has submitted a bombshell resignation letter in which he lambastes the government for downgrading the Commission's role and also packing it with five representatives of the LGBTQ community and two members of Roma community in violation of its rules.

New Development with the Concession of Sofia Airport

A new development around the concession of Sofia Airport. Once the obstacle with the amendments to the Concessions Act has been dropped and they have been approved by the Parliament, it now turns out that the President is delaying the decree on the promulgation of the corrected texts in the State Gazette.

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