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The Rafto Foundation for Human Rights has issued an appeal to the Chinese authorities and encourages people and organizations who care about the human rights issues to show their support to 2004 Rafto Prize Laureate, Rebiya Kadeer and her family. The appeal urges the Chinese government to put an end to the reported harassment of Rebiya Kadeer´s family as a reaction to her peaceful human rights activities. If you wish to support the action, print out the appeal, sign it and post it by air mail to the Chinese authorities. Thank you! (20-JAN-07)

2006 saw the emergence of a series of worrisome trends, concludes the US based freedom of expression and human rights monitoring and lobbying organisation Freedom House. Among the most troubling trends, says Freedom House, is a growing ´pushback´ against organizations, movements and media that monitor human rights or advocate for he expansion of democratic freedoms. (20-JAN-07)
 

There is more discussion of climate change taking place in the UK than ever before. At the same time, challenging the dominant view on climate change is fast becoming taboo. Academics and lobby groups who argue that the dangers and extent of climate change are being over-exaggerated are being labelled ‘climate change deniers’ and have, in some cases, been directly compared to holocaust deniers. There have even been calls to make the denial an offence, equating the questioning of scientific theory with a crime against humanity. For many, this has been seen as preemptive censorship and a hindrance to rational debate. Furthermore, there are worries that the public is being given access to only one side of an ongoing debate. (19-JAN-07)
 

The Norwegian Helsinki Committee´s adviser on the Balkans, Ole Benny Lilleås, right, will observe the parliamentary elections in Serbia on Sunday 21 January. The elections are the last before the process to decide on the status of Kosovo will be brought to its conclusion. The nationalists have scored high on the opinion polls and an election result reflecting that may not only affect the decision on Kosovo, but also the human rights situation in both Serbia and Kosovo. (19-JAN-07)
 

The 30th September shooting incident on the border between Tibet and Nepal, when Chinese border guards killed at least two Tibetan pilgrims / refugees and brought many others back to the People´s Republic of China, has now also inspired a song, by the American singer-songwriter Chris Pumphrey. You can listen to this song, and also look up numerous related articles here. www.humanrightshouse.org´s own coverage of the incident can also be looked up below. (19-JAN-07)
 

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)
 

Can sports foster reconciliation between conflicting people and states? What conditions need to be present in order for sports to be employed in reconciliation work? Can sports play an independent role in terms of reconciliation in situations where other alternatives have failed? These are the questions this project will analyse and attempt to find an answer to. An opening seminar will be held at the Rafto Human Rights House in Bergen on Friday 26th of January. (17-JAN-07)

Mrs. Kesang Takla, the representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama for Northern and Central Europe, paid a visit to Republic of Poland on 10 – 12 January 2007. Mrs. Takla arrived in the Republic of Poland at the invitation of the parliamentary Polish-Tibetan Team and the Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights. (16-JAN-06)

JUSTICE? Those who wield the most power choose to torture their opponents to the point where the oppressed are driven to voice their dissent and strike back. Gotcha! – «The Terrorist.» Right, released Tibetan nun Phuntsog Nyidron, who visited the Human Rights House in Oslo in December. (16-JAN-07)