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Leaders of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (U.S. Helsinki Commission) today expressed support for the Serbian government’s recent actions to stand up for basic rights of gay-rights demonstrators. "We applaud and support the Serbian authorities for seeking to protect the fundamental rights of those in the Belgrade gay-rights parade to express their views,” said Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD), Helsinki Commission Chairman. “From the statements of senior Serbian officials condemning the violence instigated by right-wing groups to the efforts of the police to stop it and arrest the perpetrators, the official response has been the correct one." Update on: Serbia: Attack on LGBT activists at the headquarters of Women in Black

Islamic sharia law allows a man to "discipline" his wife and children provided that he does not leave physical marks, according to a ruling by the supreme court in the United Arab Emirates. The judgment was made in the case of a man who slapped and kicked his daughter and slapped his wife, injuring both slightly. But the federal court in Abu Dhabi, capital of the UAE, also said that their bruises were evidence that the father had abused his legal right. The case reported today by the Abu Dhabi paper The National, is likely to attract attention because of the large number of foreign expatriates living in the Gulf state, where there are occasional prosecutions of westerners as well as nationals for breaching public morality. Non-Muslims, however, will not appear before a sharia court.

BAOBAB for Women’s human Rights calls for the immediate unconditional release on bail of Dr. Isatou Touray and Ms. Amie Bojang-Sissoho, who were both alleged to be involved in fund misappropriation.

As part of the British Government’s drive to cut costs and increase transparency, accountability and efficiency, the role, size and scope of government quangos have formed part of a broad Coalition Government review.