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The Belarusian presidential candidate Alexander Milinkevich arrived at Oslo Airport Wednesday afternoon together with his wife Inna Kulej and political advisor Andrej Kuselchuk. He was welcomed by Berit Lindeman from the Norwegian Helsinki Committee (NHC), right, representatives from the Human Rights House Foundation and the youth devision of the liberal party “Venstre”. Milinkevich is invited to Norway by NHC and will have official meetings with the Norwegian authorities during his 3 days visit. (19-APR-06)
 

The Council of Europe’s Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) has published today the report on its fourth visit to Norway in October 2005. The report has been made public at the request of the Norwegian authorities. (11-APR-06)
 

Hina Jilani, right, the UN Secretary General´s Special Representative for Human Rights Defenders, once again visited the Human Rights House today summing up the achievements as her second and last term is coming to an end later this year. -Throughout my six years in this post, I have concentrated on meeting human rights defenders, said Jilani. Their security and working conditions remain lacking. Even the UN itself repeatedly ignores the particular problems of human rights defenders. (03-APR-06)
 

On 29 March the Norwegian Human Rights House in Oslo organised a demonstration with the slogan “Russia: Support human rights, don’t undermine them.” The demonstration, which was attended by some 60 people, took place in front of the Norwegian parliament where Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov, right, at that moment had a meeting with the parliament’s president. (30-MAR-06)
 

The annual meeting of the Norwegian Helsinki Committee (NHC) is deeply concerned about the critical situation for human rights in the Republic of Belarus 19 March. When thousands of demonstrators took to the streets protesting against the unfree nd manipulated elections, President Lukachenko’s regime reacted with mass arrests and violence. (27-MAR-06)
 

As the October Square in Minsk, where demonstrators have kept their protest vigil around the clock since the 19 March elections, was, emptied by force earlier today, a similar camp immediately took shape outside the Norwegian Parliament, in solidarity and to keep the momentum of the protests up. www.humanrightshouse.org will be back with further news and background on the camp and its consequences. (24-MAR-06)
 

In a letter to Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg, HRH, Norwegian PEN and the Norwegian Union of Journalists call on the Norwegian government to take all possible measures against the Belarusian authorities. The past few days Belarusian police has arrested more than 250 people that were taking part in the protest that are taking place on the October Square. Among them are several journalists. (23-MAR-06)
 

The Norwegian Helsinki Committee has released its annual report on the Norwegian human rights situation. -The worst violations in 2005 happened in relation to the handling of refugee cases. Once again, Norway does not act in accordance with UNHCR’s recommendations. -We are particularly concerned about the consequences for the Chechen refugees that are being returned to the Russian Federation, says deputy Secretary General Gunnar M. Karlsen, right. (17-MAR-06)
 

Under the name Belarus16,  a unique coalition of 15 organisations, of which 13 were youth organisations, on 16 March voiced solidarity with the opposition in the Republic of Belarus by organising a rally in the centre of Oslo. During the demonstration, people were reminded of the fact that the political situation in the Republic of Belarus, which is as close to Norway as for example Belgium, is a European problem. Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Kjetil Skogrand said he is doing everything he can to liberate the people of Republic of Belarus. (16-MAR-06)