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Western Sahara: Strong demand for Norwegian commitment
14 Norwegian youth and student organisations on November 6th sent a letter to Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Jonas Gahr Støre in which they demand that Norway takes a more active and leading role in the search for a solution to the conflict in Western Sahara. We believe that it´s time that Norway demonstrates a much clearer support for the Sahrawi people´s struggle against occupation and oppression, the letter reads.
The 2008 Rafto Prize awarded to Pastor Bulambo
The 2008 Rafto Prize for Human Rights was awarded to Pastor Bulambo Lembelembe Josué from the Demorcratic Republic of Congo tonight, 2 November, in Bergen, Norway.
The Democratic Republic of Congo: Leaving the past – shaping the future
When: Friday, 31. October 2008 09:00 – 16:00 To: Friday, 31. October 2008 Where: Bergen, Radisson SAS Hotel Norge, Bergen Host: The Rafto Foundation for Human Rights More info: rafto.no/?page=28
School pupils get seminar on HR in Burma
On Tuesday 21 October, the Bergen International Film Festival and the Rafto Foundation for Human Rights, will organise a movie and discussion seminar for pupils of secondary schools in the Bergen region. The focus will be on human rights violations in Burma and two movies will be used to illustrate the struggle of the citizens of Burma with their government.
Rafto Laureate 2008 brings hope to eastern Congo
The 2008 Professor Thorolf Rafto Memorial Prize is awarded to Pastor Bulambo Lembelembe Josué, right, for his dedication to end the plight of the people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). (25-SEP-08)
Western Sahara human rights defender wins 2008 RFK Human Rights Award
Aminatou Haidar, right, is to be presented with the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award for her campaign on behalf of the self-determination of Western Sahara and against government abuses and disappearances of prisoners of conscious. The ceremony will take place in Washington, D.C the morning of November 13th, in the Russell Senate Office Building´s Caucus Room. (16-SEP-08)
State company reported for buying goods stolen from Western Sahara
Yesterday, the Association of Saharawis in Norway and the Norwegian Support Committee for Western Sahara (NSCWS) jointly reported the Norwegian fertilizer giant Yara to the police for breaking the Norwegian Penal Act’s paragraph 317, on dealing in stolen goods. Yara has imported 16.800 tons of phosphate from Western Sahara, occupied by Morocco. The state owned company has paid Moroccan authorities for the phosphate, knowing full well that, as an occupier, it does not belong to Morocco, but is instead to be considered stolen goods. (30-AUG-08)
Roundtable Talk on Poverty and Human Rights
The Rafto Foundation in association with the Bergen Summer Research School is holding a roundtable between activists, academics and policymakers on 10 August. Poverty and human rights violations are the issues to be addressed. Special attention will be given to the particular case-study of the “untouchables” or Dalits in India to illustrate how human rights violations can be directly connected to people being stuck in poverty. (05-AUG-08)