On January 12, members of Bergen City Council, their advisers and administrative staff visited the Egil Rafto Human Rights House for a specially designed seminar on human rights. A similar seminar was held for the members of the City Government a week later. “It is very encouraging that politicians in Bergen are concerned about human rights issues and the relevance of human rights for norwegain politicians,” says executive director Therese Jebsen. (09-FEB-2005)

Politicians and staff members in public administration are responsible for ensuring and realizing the human rights. Therefore, the Egil Rafto Human Rights House, in cooperation with Amnesty International wish to contribute to strengthening the competence and awareness among the elected bodies. Increased knowledge is needed in order to identify and analyse human rights questions and dilemmas that might arise in relations to political deciding priorities.

“The municipality of Bergen is sending out important signals by participating at these seminars. In addition to individual learning, it might contribute to awareness rising within the municipality administration and among citizens on human rights issues. By responding to this kind of initiative, the politicians show that they take human rights challenges seriously, and they state an example,” says Therese Jebsen.

Through lectures and discussions the seminars focused on different aspects of international human rights, and their influence on Norwegian public administration. Issues discussed were both general challenges related to human rights, and more specific challenges the municipality and local authorities are facing. A special attention was given to Amnesty Internationals campaign on violence against women. Tanja Clifford of Amnesty Norway gave a strong appeal to the local politicians to take messures to combat domestic violence.

The human rights have been an overall part of the Norwegian legislation since 1999, when the three central international human rights convention where incorporated into the Norwegian body of law: UN’s Convention on Political and Civil Rights (1966), UN’s Convention on Economical, Social and Cultural Rights (1966), the European Human Rights Convention (1959). In 2004 UN’s Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989) where incorporated too.

The Egil Rafto Human Rights House will concentrate on training of elected bodies in a long-term perspective, and the January seminars are the first activities within this program. The politicians expressed that they found the seminar very relevant and useful.