Niels_Jacobsmall.jpgExecutive Director Maria Dahle and Project Manager Niels Jacob Harbitz will attend the sixth international conference on the human rights and refugees’ situation in North Korea, to take place in Seoul, South Korea, 14 – 16 February. -Our presence at the conference is to be seen as part of our preparations to co-host next year’s conference with the Egil Rafto Human Rights House in Bergen, says Dahle. (1-FEB-05)

Last year’s conference was co-hosted by the Human Rights House in Warsaw, so the Human Rights House Network is getting increasingly involved, not only in arranging these conferences, but in working more generally as well to improve the human rights situation in North Korea.

-Recognition from the MFA
The Egil Rafto Human Rights House in Bergen has followed the situation for years, and awarded the 2000 Rafto Prize to South Korean President Kim Dae-Jung, not the least for his efforts to bring human rights and democracy to the entire Korean peninsula. Now, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has recognised this work through covering the travel and accommodation expenses for two delegates from Bergen and two from Oslo to attend the conference in Seoul. HRH is grateful for this, and sees it as a first indication that Norwegian authorities not only appreciate the NGO community?s efforts to improve the human rights situation in North Korea, but welcomes the idea of hosting next year?s big annual event on the issue.