Thousands of people are being stopped and searched by British police under their counter-­terrorism powers – simply to ­provide a racial balance in official statistics, the government's anti-terror law watchdog has revealed. Moreover, said Lord Carlile, the utility of the section 44 stop and search powers is questionable: "none of the many thousands of searches has ever resulted in a conviction for a terrorism offence."

More than a 100 Romanian immigrants in Northern Ireland were spending the night in a church after fleeing their Belfast homes following racist attacks. Some of their homes had been attacked, and earlier in the week there was an attack on an anti-racism rally in support of immigrants. Bottles were hurled and people made Nazi salutes at those taking part.

Growing right-wing extremism in the Czech Republic will continue to result in violent attacks targeting the Roma, and a new government initiative is unlikely to improve the situation, writes Anna Dunin. In two recent incidents, arsonists burned a Roma house down, leaving a two-year-old girl gravely injured, and over 500 neo-Nazis marched to celebrate the anniversary of Hitler’s birthday.

Amnesty International’s Report 2009 evaluates the human rights situation throughout 2008 in Czech Republic. The report underlines that the government again failed to implement adequate anti-discrimination provisions. The Roma continued to experience discrimination, particularly in accessing education, housing and health, as well as threats of attacks by far-right groups. There were concerns over inhuman and degrading treatment of people with mental disabilities.

Amnesty International’s Report 2009 evaluates the human rights situation throughout 2008 in Albania. It states that domestic violence was widespread. The trafficking of women and children for forced prostitution or other forms of exploitation continued. There were incidents of torture and other ill-treatment of detainees in police stations and prisons. Detention conditions for remand and convicted prisoners sometimes amounted to inhuman and degrading treatment. Adult orphans were denied their legal right to adequate housing. Unemployment levels remained high, despite continued economic progress. More than 18 per cent of the population was estimated to be living below the national poverty line of US$2 a day. This sector of the population also suffered most acutely from limited access to education, water and health and social care. Prosecutions for corruption increased, but mainly targeted low-level officials. Public confidence in the judicial system was low.

Amnesty International’s Report 2009 evaluates the human rights situation throughout 2008 in Estonia. The report states that linguistic minorities continued to face discrimination in a number of areas, particularly in the fields of employment and education. Migrants were exposed to harassment by state officials and attacks by extremist groups. Criminal investigations into allegations of excessive use of force by law enforcement officials were dismissed. A human rights organization continued to be harassed by the government.

Amnesty International’s Report 2009 evaluates the human rights situation throughout 2008 in Bulgaria. The report points out that asylum-seekers continued to be detained for months and even years, and were denied protection. Discrimination against minorities persisted. Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people continued to experience violence and intolerance. Reports of ill-treatment by law enforcement officials were received throughout the year.

Amnesty International’s Report 2009 evaluates the human rights situation throughout 2008 in Bosnia-Herzegovina. The report states that use of nationalist rhetoric increased in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the country continued to be deeply divided along ethnic lines. Despite some progress, impunity for war crimes committed during the 1992-1995 war continued. Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people were subjected to attacks and the measures undertaken by the authorities to respond to such attacks remained inadequate.

Amnesty International’s Report 2009 evaluates the human rights situation throughout 2008 in Denmark. The report states that the government indicated that it would consider relying on diplomatic assurances to deport people to countries where they could be at risk of human rights violations. The system for investigating complaints against the police failed to ensure a remedy for ill-treatment. Discriminatory legislation and practice led to a lack of protection for survivors of rape.

Amnesty International’s Report 2009 evaluates the human rights situation throughout 2008 in Croatia. The report affirmes that despite slow progress in prosecution of war crimes committed by members of the Croatian Army and police forces against Croatian Serbs and other minorities during the 1991-1995 war, the country continued to move towards full integration with the EU. Physical attacks and intimidation of journalists increased.