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The Rafto Prize to Daddach gives legitimacy to Saharawi people’s struggle
Erik Hagen is a member of the Norwegian Support Committee for Western Sahara. He was arrested on April 5
by Moroccan security forces in the capital of Western Sahara, l’Ayoune, and deported to the
neighbouring country of Mauritania. Hagen was in the Moroccan occupied territory to interview
human rights activists and former political prisoners, among them Sidi Mohammed Daddach,
who two years ago was awarded the Rafto Prize for his lifelong struggle for an independent
Western Sahara.(20-APR-2004)
Ten years since the massacres in Rwanda
On April 6th, a meeting was held in the Rafto House in commemoration of the genocide in Rwanda. Astrid Arne, anthropologist and former aid worker in Burundi, and Laurent Sinamenye, a Rwandan student living in Norway, gave lectures. (20-APR-2004)
The Palestinian Refugees (1948-2004)
In 1948 more than 900,000 Palestinians were forced to leave their houses,
by a deliberate mass expulsion of Palestinians from their homeland.
Today, there are more than 5 million Palestinian refugees in the world,
out of a population of 9 million Palestinians in total. (20-APR-2004)
Wednesday Dialogue – “Iran”
Wednesday 10th March 2004. 19:00 –22:30.
Raftohuset hosted Mr. Kjetil Selvil and Dr.Uichol Kim in the monthly Wednesday Dialogue, which was titled
“Past and Prospects for the Iranian Reforms-Movement” (22-MAR-2004)
Iran – 25 years of tyranny, terror and divinity
Iran became an Islamic republic in 1979 after the ruling shah was forced into excile. Today, 25
years later, many Iranians long for political change. Exile Iranians in Bergen marked the
occasion on a seminar at the Rafto Human Rights House where the prospects for democracy
were discussed. (FEB-2004)
The rights of the Dalits in India
In India, Dalits are subject to flagrant violations of human rights and dignity. Last week at “Wednesday Dialogue” in the Rafto Human Rights House, the situation of Dalit was in centre of discussion. Dag Erik Berg from the University of Bergen was invited to talk about the human rights situation of Dalits in India. (15-FEB-2004)
International war children survey in the making
The War and Children Identity Project, a member of the Bergen Human Rights House, is
currently collecting new and updated information about the situation of war children all over
the world. More accurate information will be added to previously published reports, and a
database for comparative studies of the situation worldwide will be established. (09-FEB-04)
Water – a fundamental human right
Norwegian Church Aid, whose Bergen office has just moved into Raftohuset, will carry out their
annual information and fundraising campaign on March 23rd. This year, the focus will be on
the fundamental right to water. Read what Jannike Hachvaag Grieg, the local project co-
ordinator, has to tell about it. (28-JAN-04)
Mehdi Zana visits the Rafto Foundation
Mehdi Zana, for 40 years among the most prominent writers, politicians and spokespersons
for the Kurds, recently visited the Human Rights House in Bergen. Zana, the husband of the
Kurdish MP and Rafto Prize Laureate of 1994 Leyla Zana, is widely respected for his
advocacy for a non-violent path to Kurdish independence and respect for his people´s cultural
rights. (13-JAN-04)