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This Wednesday, Human Rights Human Wrongs film festival’2010 begins in Oslo. Co-organized by the Human Rights House Oslo, the festival is strongly based around important HR issues, through a variety of styles of films and inclusive debate with inspiring guests. First on the schedule is the Danish movie “Burma VJ: Reporting from a closed country” (screenshot on the right).

The Norwegian Helsinki Committee examines Kazakhstan’s commitments considering the protection of tolerance, justice, freedom of speech and assembly during its chairmanship in the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). The Committee also analyses what Norway can do to make Republic of Kazakhstan conscious about their responsibility and to improve situation in these areas.

This week the Norwegian Helsinki Committee presents its report on Nakchivan at the winter session of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (PACE). NHC’s Berit Lindeman and Vugar Gojaev accompanies the 2009 Rafto award winner Malahat Nasibova from Nakhchivan and her husband. Ane Bonde of the Human Rights House Foundation is also part of the delegation.

According to Inger Lise Husøy, Director of Norwegian Burma Committee, the international sanctions against Burma are weak and uncoordinated. She says that time is not ripe for a suspension of the sanctions policy toward Burma (Republic of the Union of Myanmar), but contrary – sanctions should include oil and gas. At the same time she is more liberal concerning the import of clothing from Burma (Republic of the Union of Myanmar).

-The Norwegian Helsinki Committee welcomes this important move, says Secretary General Bjørn Engesland. – Protocol 14 simplifies the procedures of European Court, adds Deputy Secretary General Gunnar M. Ekeløve-Slydal. – But it may not solve the problem of the precarious human rights situation in the Russian Federation and lack of trust by its citizens in domestic institutions and remedies.

According to Inger Lise Husøy, Director of Norwegian Burma Committee, the Burmese juntaleader’s message ‘to make the correct choices’ during the upcoming elections this year should be considered as a threat to Burmese voters. ‘The regime is first and foremost concerned about keeping control and protecting itself,’ – says Husøy.

26 year old Hla Hla Win, who worked for the Burma radio and TV station Democratic Voice of Burma (Republic of the Union of Myanmar), has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for unlawful use of video equipment. She becomes the 13th journalist who is imprisoned in Burma (Republic of the Union of Myanmar). – It’s chilling that someone is convicted for telling facts, said Aye Chan Naing, an editor of the independent radio and TV station based in Oslo.

Danish cartoonist Kurt Westergaard, right, was attacked at his home outside Aarhus in the evening 1 January by a man of Somali origin. “This episode shows once again how fragile freedom of speech has become in our society and how important it is that we are stuck on the defense of the right to freely assert their voices”, says Norwegian PEN’s leader, Anders Heger.

HRH in Oslo celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2009 and moved to a new building. Living in peace and in safety, the eight organisations of the House had multiple initivatives this year in different areas mostly dedicated to human rights abroad. They also served as coorganisers of campaigns and forums. Find a summary of our partner NGOs’ activities in 2009 herein.