Closer cooperation within the Human Rights House Network

27-28 February the meeting of Human Rights Houses contact persons took place in Moscow. Participants discussed main principles of development of the web-site, which presents a reflection of current work, strengthening relations and most important problems in the sphere of international human rights movement. (04-MAR-06)

Text: HRH Moscow / Yanina Savenko

The seminar was conducted by representatives of the Norwegian Human Rights House in Oslo – Ane Tusvik Bonde, Nina Therese Luhr and Niels Jacobs Harbiz who coordinate the work of contact persons in Europe and Africa and ensure development of Human Rights Houses Network. Coordinators from Sarajevo , Baku , Minsk , London and Warsaw and a member of the Russian-Chechen Friendship Society from Nijniy-Novgorod participated in the seminar.

Increase of links on the web-site and consolidation among coordinators
At the seminar coordinators managed to got acquainted with each other and with the Norwegian specialists, who coordinate the web-site work in Oslo . The main idea of the meeting was to considerably advance work of the web-site, making it more interesting and integral by developing links system. Thematic links will allow users to find easily information, independently from a country, and to get more profound knowledge of human rights problems in the world. The seminar was characterized by the friendly atmosphere, coordinators shared experience and informed each other of their difficulties. Participants discussed ethical principles in their work with information and stylistic rules of putting articles on the web-site. The main task of the web-site is not only an informative content but, first of all, raising a problem and its analysis by leading human rights activists.

Sharing experience
Sergey Smirnov, the representative of the organization “Informational Human Rights Net”,  creator of the web-site “Human Rights in Russia” (hro.org) told coordinators about his over ten years_ experience of work in creation and improving the most informative and effectively developed human rights web-portal in the Russian Federation.

Appeal to join efforts in protecting human rights
The Director of the Russian Research Center for Human Rights, Liubov Vinogradova, spoke about current projects of the Center, including support of the Russian human rights journalism in the Russian Federation. She also expressed hope for closer collaboration of Human Rights Houses, creating common macro projects, which would join our efforts in defending human rights. 

Looking forward
A task of the up-to-date stage of developing Human Rights Houses network consists of working out a strategy for further work of this international organization, answering challenges of the present times. The seminar has become the first step on a path leading to it. The next step will be the meeting of advisory team, which is planed to be in Oslo at the end of March.