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Four candidates for presidential elections in the Republic of Belarus in 2010 – Aliaksei Mikhalevich, Uladzimir Niakliayeu (right), Andrei Sannikov and Mikalai Statkevich – are still in custody along with campaign leaders, relatives and party leaders and activists, Human Rights Center Viasna, partner of the Norwegian Helsinki Committee, reports. Several of the prisoners have been severely beaten and in need of medical attention which they are denied.

SLUG invites to a seminar to launch the report “Debt at the expense of human rights” that looks at how debt servicing goes beyond health care, education and other services that all people, according to their individual and universal human rights, are entitled to. The report’s author is Line Madsen Simenstad from SLUG.

The Turkish / British author and former head of International PEN Writers in Prison Committee, Moris Farhi, holds the lecture “The Courage to Forget” in which he asks whether we have the courage to forget about wars and conflicts. Interview with Norwegian journalist Christian Borch and debate after the lecture. Tuesday 15 February at 19:00, the House of Literature, Amalie Skram.

2nd Biennial War Crimes Conference: Justice? Whose Justice? Punishment, Mediation or Reconciliation aims to explore themes surrounding judicial roles and responses to war crimes – past, present and future – and also responses to such initiatives, from victims/victors, interested agencies and commentators, including the UN, NATO and various local, regional and international NGOs.

The third Human Rights Human Wrongs documentary film festival opens in Oslo Wednesday 2 February. Screening approximately 25 films, all properly introduced, made part of a thematic programme or in other ways set into a meaningful context, the festival lasts until Sunday 6 February. HRHF is part of the team behind the festival, and will host several guests during the five days it lasts.

Numerous human rights organizations, including the Human Rights House Foundation, addressed Belarusian President Lukashenka with a letter, condemning the brutal crackdown on peaceful protesters, detentions and battery of journalists, human rights defenders and opposition candidates during the 19 December post-election rally in Minsk.

International and Russian human rights organizations, including Human Rights Center Memorial, the Civil Rights Defenders and the Norwegian Helsinki Committee have sent a letter to the President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe expressing concern with the lack of effective implementation of its resolution 1738 (2010) on Legal remedies for human rights defenders in North Caucasus.

By barring Liu and his wife from collecting the award, coming down hard on his supporters and muzzling debate on the subject, China’s actions have highlighted the human rights plight at home. Tibetans show their support to Liu Xiaobo and for his release.

On the International Human Rights Day, 10 December, 12 international civic and human rights organisations start a joint online petition at www.belarus-petition.org. The human rights defenders urge the acting President of the Republic of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko and the 19 December 2010 newly elected President to respect and guarantee human rights in the Republic of Belarus.