Latest
-UN must increase its efforts in Uganda, leading international NGOs demand
Timed to reached Deputy Minister of Development Raymond Johansen´s journey to Republic of Uganda shortly after the elections scheduled for Thursday 23 February, three major international NGOs have written a letter to him requesting that Norway now pushes for the United Nations´ role in the Republic of Uganda to be put on the political agenda. (18-FEB-06)
-We will renew our policy towards Africa, says Minister of Foreign Affairs
-In not too long, we will invite expertise from different environments to a big workshop on Africa, Jonas Gahr Støre, right, the Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs, said in the Christian Norwegian daily Vårt Land today. In the foreign affairs debate in Parliament last week, Gahr Støre spoke in favour of a ‘renewed’ policy towards Africa. (15-FEB-06)
AwardII: Important encouragement for Dmitriyevsky
The Russian-Chechen Information Agency is awarded one of the Fritt Ord´s and ZEIT-Stiftung Press Prizes 2006. This prize is aimed at Eastern European media and journalists who are dedicated to independent reporting and who dare to withstand self-censorship. But for its chief director, Stanislav Dmitriyevsky, this comes at a price. (13-FEB-05)
Award I: Ales Bialiatski receives the Andrej Sakharov prize for 2006
Tomorrow, 14 February, Ales Bialiatski, right, founder of the independent, but banned human rights organisation Human Rights Centre VIASNA, will receive the prestigeous Andrej Sakharov Freedom Award from the Norwegian Helsinki Committee. Bialiatski will attend a seminar and also the monthly solidarity with Republic of Belarus picket in front of the Norwegian parliament while in Oslo. (13-FEB-06)
-Sad to receive the Sakharov Award, says Ales Bialiatski
Last month, the news broke that the Norwegian Helsinki Committee had awarded Ales Bialiatski, right, of the banned Belarusian Human Rights Centre Viasna the Andrej Sakharov Award for 2006. On the eve of his arrival to Oslo to receive the prize, Bialiatski says: -This is a sad award because it relates to the situation in the Republic of Belarus. We would rather not have awards for our efforts for human rights. (13-FEB-06)
Youth organisation liquidated in Belarus
President Lukashenko continues to tighten his grip on the Belarusian society. His latest display of power concerns the liquidation of youth organisation RADA, using a new law that was implemented at the beginning of this year. According to Eivind Vad Petersson of the Norwegian Youth Council the reason for the liquidation is fear for civic unrest in face of the up-coming presidential elections of March 19. (12-FEB-06)
Belief or science about religion dialogue
Can we take for granted that religious leaders are always good and relevant agents of reconciliation? The knowledge and research about this is strikingly limited. Of acts in good faith, on the other hand, there are plenty, writes Ingrid Vik, right, Executive Director of the Nansen Dialogue Project. (09-FEB-06)
HRH goes to Somaliland. Latest, 8 February: Trip cancelled due to security concerns
As part of HRH´s general ambition to keep expanding its network and increase its regional competence, Project Manager for Africa Niels Jacob Harbitz, right, has applied and been selected for another UNDP/IJ/DJE organised study tour, this time to Somaliland, late March. Harbitz took part on a similar tour of Republic of the Sudan, including visits to Darfur and the Nuba Mountains, last year. (01-FEB-06)
Children who are not playing war
-Why doesn’t the United Nations’ Convention on the Rights of the Child apply to Northern Republic of Uganda, Mette Newth, right, a board member of HRH asked in the Norwegian newspaper Dagbladet yesterday. –The children are beaten into becoming unrecognisable monsters, capable of committing acts of violence your fantasy comes short of imagining. (31-JAN-06)