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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)

Chinese authorities continue to fabricate accusations against the Uyghurs in general, and against Rebiya Kadeer in particular. In a press release on January 9, The Uyghur American Association states that there is no substance to the claims from the Chinese government of the existence of active terrorist groups among the Uyghur population. “We oppose all forms of violence,” says Rebiya Kadeer, right, president of the UAA. read the full press release below. (10-JAN-07)
 

To commemorate the 58th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Sahrawi Association of Victims of Grave Human Rights Violations Committed by the Moroccan State (ASVDH) organized a sit-in on December 10, 2006, in Dcheira Square, opposite the Hotel Negjir, in the city of El-Ayoune. The non-violent demonstrators were attacked by a large number of Moroccan security elements armed with sticks, when the Sahrawi activists approached the place of the sit-in. (15 DES 06)
  

In late October the Rafto Foundation, together with the Norwegian Students´ and Academics´ International Assistance Fund (SAIH), Norwegian Refugee Council and 30 other Norwegian organisations initiated a campaign to urge Moroccan authorities to immediately return the passport of Sidi Mohammed Daddach, the 2002 Rafto Prize Laureate and former Saharawi prisoner of conscience. The campaign was a success and November 23, Daddach had his passport returned after three and a half years. (06-DEC-06)
  

The Rafto Foundation has today received information through the Uyghur Human Rights Project (UHRP) that Alim Abdureyim, the youngest son of the 2004 Rafto Prize Laureate, Uyghur human rights defender and former prisoner of conscience, Rebiya Kadeer, was sentenced on Monday November 27 to seven years in prison on charges of tax evasion, and fined RMB 500,000 (USD 62,500). Rebiya Kadeer visited Bergen, Norway on the occasion of the Rafto Foundation´s 20th Anniversary in the beginning of November.(29-NOV-06)

The Rafto Foundation in cooperation with the Norwegian School of Economics and Business Administration (NHH) invites to the open symposium on “Human Rights and Economic Development”. The symposium takes place on Thursday, November 23 from 9:30-16:00 at NHH. (09-NOV-06)

On the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the Rafto Foundation, a declaration was presented by the Rafto Laureates who were present in Bergen: Vo Van Ai on behalf of Tich Quang Do, Lidija Jusupova, Rebiya Kadeer, Paulos Tesfagiorgis, Shirin Ebadi, Ian Hancock, ECPAT, Peter Molnar, Leyla Zana, Trivimi Velliste and Jan Hajek on behalf of late Jiri Hajek. (09-NOV-06)
 

The Rafto Foundation is glad to announce that many former Rafto Laureates will attend the historical event that is to take place this weekend in Bergen. The event wants to celebrate the work the Rafto Laureates has performed during the last 20 years. The guests include Trivimi Velliste from Estonia, Leyla Zana from Kurdistan/Turkey, Palermo Anno Uno from Italy, Ian Hancock representing the Romani people, Shirin Ebadi from Iran, Paulos Tesfagiorgis from Eritrea, Rebiya Kadeer from Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region and Lidia Yusupova from the Chechen Republic. (02-NOV-06)
   

Yoduk Story, a musical depicting life in a North Korean consentration camp, premiered in Washington on Oct. 5th. In an article on Oct. 6th, The Washington Post describes it as an “energetically performed musical” comparing it to “Jesus Christ Superstar” and “Les Misérables” and “a large-scale Passion play/moral plea.” Yoduk Story will be set up in Los Angeles on OCt 19-22.  The Rafto Human Rights House has contributed to the production of the musical, and is working on a documentary about the project. (08-OCT-06)