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On the International Women Day, the Iranian writer Siba Shakib visited Bergen as the guest of the Norwegian Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Committee and the “March 8th Initiative” in Bergen. Siba Shakib is the author of a book on Islamic Republic of Afghanistan entitled ”Where God Cries”. The book is a story of an Afghan woman, Shirin Gol, and her experience during the different regimes of Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. (22-MAR-2004)

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 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)

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)

 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)
 

 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, 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)

 From January 1st 2004, Norway has ratified a new law concerning the treatment of drug
 abusers. The new law entitles drug abusers to ordinary patients´ rights, equal to those of any
 other patients. Egil Rafto House Foundation will focus upon the treatment of drug abusers
 from a human rights perspective. (28-Dec-03)

Last autumn, the Department of comparative colitics at the University of Bergen and the Rafto House Foundation co-taught their course in human rights observation. Tanja Clifford, regional coordinator and human rights education officer for Amnesty International Norway sat through all three parts of the course; human rights in a historical perspective, human rights and good governance, and human rights and realpolitik. (28-DEC-03)