Conference Program

Activists under Attack. Defending the Right to be a Human Rights Defender

Venue:The Norwegian Human Rights House, Tordenskioldsgate 6b, Oslo, Norway

Wednesday 13 October 2004

Moderators: Ms Maria Dahle and Mr Bernt Hagtvet

PART 1:   Opening Session

09.00:   Welcoming address, Ms Maria Dahle, Executive Director,
Human Rights House Foundation

09.10:  Norwegian support to human rights defenders
Lecturer: Mr Thorbjørn Jagland, Head of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs of the Norwegian Parliament

09.30:   The importance of networks in strengthening the security of human rights defenders
Lecturer: Ms Shirin Ebadi, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate 2003, Iranian lawyer and human rights activist

 10.35:   Artistic interlude: Mr Per Roar, Dancer and Choreographer
10.45:   The Norwegian Government’s policy on human rights defenders.
Lecturer: Mr Odd Einar Dørum, Norwegian Minister of Justice.

11.05:   Questions

11.20:   Coffee break

PART 2:   Supporting human rights defenders: Past, present and future

11.30:   The Drafting of a UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders
Lecturer: Mr Jan E. Helgesen, Associate Professor, Norwegian Centre for Human Rights

11.50:   Status report on the situation for human rights defenders worldwide. Analysis of trends
Lecturer: Mr Musa Yerro Gassama, Manager of Human Rights Defenders Office, Deputy-Director of the International Service for Human Rights.

12.10:    Implications of counter-terrorism and security legislation for the work of human rights defenders
Lecturer: Mr Gara LaMarche, Vice President and Director of U.S. Programs, Open Society Institute

12.30:   Plenary session

13.00:   Lunch

13.45:   Artistic interlude: Mr Pouyan Abdoli and Mr Per-Kristian Larsen

13.55:   The role of human rights defenders in the development of democracies
Lecturer: Mr Bernt Hagtvet, Professor, Department of Political Science, University of Oslo. Board Member, Human Rights House Foundation

14.15:   The effect of humiliation on escalation of conflicts
Lecturer: Ms Evelin Lindner, Dr.Med and Dr.Psychol, University of Oslo

14.35:   Coffee break

PART 3:   Testimonies from the Human Rights House Network

14.50:   Ms Özlem Dalkiran, Head of Information, Amnesty International Turkey, HRH Istanbul

15.00:   Mr Andrej Dynko, Vice President of the Belarusian Pen Center, HRH Minsk

15.10:   Mr Martin Masiga, National Co-ordinator, Human Rights Network of Uganda (HURINET), HRH Kampala

15.20:   Mr Carlos Ivan Lopera, REDEPAZ Peace Network, Colombia

15.40:   Ms Ida Kouklina, Union of Soldiers´ Mothers Committees of the Russian Federation, Russian Research Center for Human Rights, HRH Moscow

 15.50:   Mr Aage Borchgrevink, Advisor, the Norwegian
Helsinki Committee, HRH Oslo. Case: the Chechen Republic.

16.00-16.40:   Plenary Session


Thursday 14 October 2004

Moderators: Ms Mette Newth and Mr Niels Jacob Harbitz

09.00:   Introduction, Ms Mette Newth, Head of International Steering Committee, Beacon for Freedom of Expression. Board Member, Human Rights House Foundation

PART 1:   Initiatives and visions in strengthening human rights defenders’ work
 
09.10:   Strengths and weaknesses in the UN´s approach to human rights defenders                                                                     Lecturer: Mr Ben Majekodunmi, Human Rights Officer, Assistant to the UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Human Rights Defenders

09.30:   Council of Europe (CoE) support to human rights defenders
Lecturer: Mr Markus Jaeger, Deputy to the Director, Office for the Commissioner for Human Rights, Council of Europe

09.50:   Implementation of the EU Guidelines on Human Rights Defenders
Lecturer: Mr Erik Ader, Ambassador, The Royal Netherlands Embassy to Norway
0.10:   Questions

10.30:   Coffee Break

10.45:   Artistic Interlude: Mr Solo Cissokho

Non-governmental organizations (NGO´s)

11.00:   Strengthening the capacity of human rights defenders: The Human Rights House initiative. Case: Sarajevo
Lecturer: Mr Srdjan Dizdarevic, President of the Board, Human Rights House of Sarajevo 

11.10:   Methods in the protection of human rights defenders: The Human Rights Defenders´ Observatory.
Lecturer: Alexa LeBlanc, Programmes and Fundraising Director, International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH)

11.30:   The legal protection of human rights defenders. Ensuring and maintaining the “contextual space” in which defenders operate Lecturer: Ms Mary Lawlor, Director, Frontline – the International Foundation for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders

11.50:  Protecting human rights defenders: Escorting activists in dangerous areas.
Lecturer: Mr Vemund Olsen, Peace Brigades International (PBI)

12.00: Lunch

PART 2:   Making human rights work: Recommendations and follow-up

12.40:   Artistic Interlude: Ms Ida Aubert Bang, Barratt Due Conservatory of Music  

12.40:   Plenary Session on a statement supporting human rights defenders

14.00:   Closing by Ms Maria Dahle, Executive Director,
Human Rights House Foundation

14.10 – 15.30:   Working group finalizing the statement     Coordinator: Ms Borghild T. Krokan, Project Manager, Human Rights
            House Foundation (HRH)