Fresh figures from the Norwegian Red Cross unveil that Kurds, together with Pakistanis, top the statistics for forced marriages in Norway. In an open meeting to take place at the Human Rights House in Oslo on Tuesday, the Norwegian Council for the Rights of the Kurds’s (RKR) women’s issues group wishes to address this, informs RKR’s administrator Liv Kjølseth, right. (07-OCT-06)

On the basis of RKR’s press release, this article has been written and prepared for publication by HRH / Niels Jacob Harbitz.
 
The meeting, which begins at 18:00 and is set to last for two hours, has attracted the following speakers:
 
Bahar Monzir, Norwegian leader of Organisasjon of Women`s Freedom in Iraq.
Bahar works at the Red Cross telephone service for people experiencing various kinds of pressure in relation to marriage. She will contribute to the debate by way of sharing of her experiences from conversations with young girls and women subjected to enforced marriage.

Rasool Awla, who is an Iraqi Kurd, educated a sociologist and political scientist, and living in Sweden. Rasool has for years been involved in the Swedish debate on this issue. He has taken part in several studies of suppression of women among Kurds, women’s status and role within Islam and has, through this work, also dealt with violence related to issues of honour (Izzat).

Anja Breien, film director and, most recently also author, having just released her first book, a photographic essay on the Kurdish woman ‘Kaniaw’ who embarks on a journey and, through travelling, dares to break bonds set by the traditional honour-based culture. In her book, Breien seeks to present a balanced view of Kurdistan and Kurdish culture. This also serves to explain why it remains so important also for large parts of the Kurdish diaspora to preserve ‘the Kurdish’. 

Terje Bjøranger, who directs the Norwegian Immigration Directorate’s competence team on forced marriage and honour related violence. Bjøranger will speak on Norwegian authorities’ effort to combat honour related violence, and share ideas on how the Kurdish diaspora can contribute to come to terms with this problem.
 
The meeting will be chaired by Hege Reiskou, who is a board member of RKR.
 
Each speaker will be given 15 minutes. After the four brief presentations, there will be a chance for the audience to ask questions and take part in the debate.

The meeting is sponsored by the Freedom of Expression Foundation.
 
For further information, please contact
Liv Kjølseth
 
Det norske råd for kurdernes rettigheter (RKR)
The Norwegian Council for the Rights of the Kurdish People 
 
Tordenskioldsgate 6B, 0160 Oslo, Norway
Tel + 47 22 47 92 30
Fax + 47 22 47 92 01
admin@kurdistan.no
www.kurdistan.no