The Rafto Human Rights House will host an international conference on North Korean Human rights and refugees in Bergen in May. -Our partner, says Sverre Wilhelmsen, right, the coordinator for the conference, -is Citizens Alliance for North Korean Human rights, a South Korean NGO, who has launched annual conferences on the subject since 1999. The previous conferences have been held in Seoul (three times), Tokyo, Prague and Warsaw. (31-JAN-06)

This article is based on a news release by www.raftohuset.no. It has been edited for republication here by HRH / Niels Jacob Harbitz. Photo of Sverre Wilhelmsen: Niels Jacob Harbitz.

The organizers would like to bring together NGO activists, foreign-affairs officials, politicians, journalists, artists and international relations professionals to gather and share information and discuss possible solutions. This will also include reports from other door openers and bridge builders, within science, media, trade, arts and sports. During the conference, we wish to create a momentum for dialogue on how to improve the situation for North Korean human rights and refugees. It is significant that this conference now is being held in Scandinavia, because of the necessity to raise the awareness substantially within European democracies.

Through a plenary program and parallel sessions held at SAS Radisson Hotel Norge, we would like to invite to an open arena for reflection and communication from May 9th to May 11th.

For more information, please contact: nkconference@raftohuset.no