Parliamentary elections take place in Serbia on January 21st. It is expected that the UN Security Council will bring a decision on the final status of Kosovo shortly thereafter. The implications for human rights will be discussed at a seminar hosted by the Norwegian Helsinki Committee on February 1st at the Norwegian Human Rights House. (18-JAN-07)

Invitation from the Norwegian Helsinki Committee

Welcome to seminar:

Kosovo and Serbia
Human Rights in the Shadow of Nationalism and Final Status

TIME: February 1st 2007, 09:30 – 12:15
VENUE: Norwegian Human Rights House, Tordenskioldsgt. 6b, Oslo. 2nd floor

Parliamentary elections take place in Serbia on January 21st. It is expected that the UN Security Council will bring a decision on the final status of Kosovo shortly thereafter.

In Serbia, the Kosovo issue has repercussions on the political scene, with nationalist parties high on the polls. The dissolution of Yugoslavia started in Kosovo, and is likely to end there. Yet, there is a real risk that the final chapter of its history will also be one marked by violence or a mass exodus of minorities.

The political societies of Kosovo and Serbia and the international community aim at different solutions for Kosovo and the brunt of their attention goes towards such overall political issues. Not enough regard is paid to human rights issues on the ground.

What can be done to bring back a focus on human rights? Which are the main human rights problems in Kosovo and Serbia, and how should they be understood? What do the election results in Serbia mean to the Kosovo final status process, to the human rights situation and to the future of Serbia?

CONTRIBUTORS
Kai Eide, Political Director, Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. I 2005 Kai Eide was the “Special Envoy of the UN Secretary-General for the comprehensive review of the situation in in Kosovo

Sonja Biserko, Chair of the Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in Serbia

Julie Chadbourne, Kosovo Representative of the Norwegian Helsinki Committee.

Chadbourne was prior to employment with the NHC the human Rights Watch representative in Kosovo

Bjørn Engesland, Secretary General, Norwegian Helsinki Committee.

For further details, click here.