1. Challenges and obstacles faced by human rights defenders 1.1. Challenges faced by human rights defenders This section focuses on challenges and obstacles faced by defenders in the period from 1 May 2007 to 30 April 2008. It is divided into four broader areas that reflect challenges and patterns of violations: • Threats to, and attacks on, the physical integrity of human rights defenders; • Right to liberty and freedom of movement of human rights defenders; • Freedom of association of human rights defenders; • Freedom of assembly of human rights defenders. The information presented in this section was collected in the course of ODIHR’s monitoring work, as well as during OSCE human dimension events, in particular the SHDM on the “Promotion and Protection of Human Rights” (July 2007) and the 2007 HDIM. ODIHR also received information from OSCE field operations, international organizations, international NGOs working on defenders’ issues, and from NHRIs. It should be noted that examples of specific threats towards individuals or institutions involved in activities promoting tolerance and fighting discrimination can also be found in the ODIHR report “Hate Crimes in the OSCE Region – Incidents and Responses: Annual Report for 2007”.31 1.2. Threats to, and attacks on, the physical integrity of human rights defenders Defenders continued to face serious attacks on, and threats to, their physical and psychological integrity during the period under consideration. At least three defenders were killed. Human rights activists were subjected to abduction, ill-treatment in custody, and poor detention conditions that affected their health. They were attacked and threatened, subjected to harassment and intimidation, and their family members were harassed. The following examples describe some of the circumstances and challenges affecting human rights defenders. Killings • A well-known journalist who had been active in uncovering and reporting on human rights abuses in a neighbouring country was shot and killed by an unknown gunman.32 • A defender and member of an opposition party was shot by unknown individuals in the stairwell of the block of flats where he lived with his family.33 31 “Hate Crimes in the OSCE Region – Incidents and Responses: Annual Report for 2007”, ODIHR, October 2008, <htpp://www.osce.org/item/33851.html>. 32 Case of Alisher Saipov (Kyrgyzstan), “Ensure Justice for Murdered Journalist, Bishkek”, Human Rights Watch, 25 October 2007. 33 Case of Farid Babaev (Russian Federation), “Urgent Appeal: Dagestani political candidate and human rights defender assassinated”, Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders (Observatory FIDH/OMCT), 5 December 2007. The government of the Russian Federation noted that a criminal investigation was conducted, two individuals were charged with murder, and the case was sent to court in July 2008. 11