Norwegian Helsinki Committee Annual Report 2012 Annual Report 2012

Norwegian Helsinki Committee Established in 1977

The Norwegian Helsinki Committee (NHC) is a non-governmental organisation that works to promote respect for human rights, nationally and internationally. Its work is based on the conviction that documentation and active promotion of human rights by civil society is needed for states to secure human rights, at home and in other countries.

NHC bases its work on international human rights instruments adopted by the United Nations, the Council of Europe, the Organisation of Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), including the 1975 Helsinki Final Act.

The main areas of focus for the NHC are the countries of Europe, North America and Central Asia. The NHC works irrespective of ideology or political system in these countries and maintains political neutrality.

How we work

Human rights monitoring and reporting Through monitoring and reporting on problematic human rights situations in specific countries, the NHC sheds light on violations of human rights. The NHC places particular emphasis on civil and political rights, including the fundamental freedoms of expression, belief, association and assembly. On-site research and close co-operation with key civil society actors are our main working methods. The NHC has expertise in election observation and has sent numerous observer missions to elections over the last two decades.

Support of democratic processes By sharing knowledge and with financial assistance, the NHC supports local initiatives for the promotion of an independent civil society and public institutions as well as a free media. A civil society that functions well is a precondition for the development of democracy

Education and information Through education and information about democracy and human rights, international law and multicultural understanding, we work to increase the focus on human rights violations. Our aim is to influence both public opinion and governments in human rights matters.

International processes As with our educational work, the NHC seeks to influence governments and international organisations through participation in international processes, meetings and conferences to make human rights a priority.

Editor of the Annual Report: Head of information Berit Nising Lindeman Cover photo: Svetlana Gannushkina, Lyudmila Alexeyeva and Lilya Shibanova at NHC’s Andrei Sakharov Freedom Award. Photo: Anders Nielsen.

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PERSPECTIVES:

In January 2013 NHC released the report Democracy and Human Rights at Stake in Hungary: The Viktor Orbán Government’s Drive for Centralisation of Power. It is our second report on Hungary in less than a year.

With reference to a number of recent legislative changes, policy decisions and key appointments by the Prime Minister Orbán and FIDESZ, the main government party, which have resulted in what has been termed a “FIDESZisation” of important state institutions, like the judiciary, the NHC concluded that:

“Current developments in Hungary remain of great concern. It seems that old patterns and habits are returning. It also shows that twenty years of democratic rule are not enough to internalise democratic values to such a degree that a party with a supermajority (over 50 percent) in the Parliament is able to resist temptations to centralise power and expand its reach, illegally into the future.”

After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the pull effect of the European Union, with its powerful econo- mies, meant that human rights values and democratic principles were almost universally accepted in Europe. With the financial crisis in the EU, and the rise of the Chinese and Russian economies (which have provided millions of people with higher living standards), this process is stalling.

The “strong hand” is making a comeback in some European countries, notably in Russia, and right-wing populism has become a factor in some of the economies that have been hardest affected by Europe’s financial troubles. The Hungarian example shows that, even within the EU, democracy cannot be taken for granted.

In conjunction with these developments, xenophobia and intolerance have sometimes been tacitly accepted by governments and society. Roma, asylum seekers and certain other groups remain especially vulnerable. In Norway, too, it is important to remind the public and the authorities that these groups have human rights.

In some grave cases, discrimination has government support. Recently adopted laws in Russian cities have banned the “promotion of homosexuality” and similar provisions are being discussed in the Ukrainian parliament. The legislation is aimed at improving birthrates, or so it is claimed. In reality it is legally sanctioned discrimination, and an attempt at waging “moral” war on liberal values.

On a recent visit to Budapest, I discovered the extent to which our critical report is being discussed – among officials, in media and civil society – as part of a larger on-going public debate about democracy and relations with Europe. This debate rallies counterforces in support of Hungarian democracy, and makes it “unlikely that Hungary will join the club of autocratic regimes”, as we noted in our report.

It's not only in Hungary where lively public discussion gives hope. Today, frank exchanges of opinions and information characterise internet debate and social media even in semi-authoritarian states like Russia.

Freedom of information is a main defence against backsliding on democracy and human rights in times of social and economic turbulence. This is a problem for the world's autocrats. It is an opportunity for central European institutions, however, like the Council of Europe and, especially, the EU, and also for the international non-governmental human rights movement, including organisations such as the NHC.

Bjørn Engesland, Secretary General Annual Report 2012

The nhc Secretariat

Staff abroad:

Bjørn Engesland Aage Borchgrevink Veronika Vimberg Lillian Solheim Secretary General. Senior Advisor, focus on Project manager of the Project manager, EEA Adela Galešic´ Georgia. Partly on leave human rights education grants project. Regional co-ordinator in 2012. programme (from May). of Human Rights Schools in the Western Balkans, Sarajevo.

Gunnar M. Ekeløve-Slydal Ilya Udmelidze Project co-ordinator, Deputy Secretary Ole B. Lilleås Csilla Czimbalmos Natalia Estemirova General. Focus on Senior Advisor, focus Project manager of the Documentation Centre. Russia, Central Asia, on Western Balkans. human rights education Naida Huskanovic Turkey and Rwanda, Co-ordinator of the programme (On leave Regional co-ordinator international criminal Norwegian NGO from June). for “Build Bridges, Not courts and justice. Forum for Human Walls” project, Sarajevo. Rights, UN Human Rights Council. IT ­management.

Usam Baysaev Project co-ordinator, Natalia Estemirova Olga Shamshur Fernanda Documentation Centre. Meirgul Kudabayeva Zubillaga Nilsen Project officer, Russia, Belarus and Natalya Administrative officer, Head of administration, Central Asia regional responsible for office Inna Sangadzhiyeva Estemirova Documentation Centre. representatives office, management and Project manager, focus Almaty. finance. on Russia and Belarus. On maternity leave most of 2012. Aleksandra Sidorenko Project co-ordinator, Natalia Estemirova Documentation Centre Ivar Dale Berit Nising Lindeman Regional representative, Elena Saenkova Head of information. Central Asia, Almaty Project co-ordinator, Senior Advisor, focus on Enver Djuliman Office. Murmansk office. Belarus and Azerbaijan, Head of the human election observation. rights education programme.­

Lene Wetteland Anders Nielsen Advisor and Programme manager, Information Advisor. Mina Skouen focus on Central Asia Responsible for the EEA Project manager of the and Armenia. grants information human rights education portal www.ngonorway. programme. org

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Organisation Content

The organisational components of the NHC are the annual meeting, the board and the council. The annual meeting is our highest decision-making body, and consists of members of the council and the board. The board holds monthly meetings, where decisions relevant to NHC strategy, principles and financial matters are made. The Secretary General heads the secretariat, and is responsible for the daily operations of the NHC. norwegian Helsinki Committee 2 Board Perspectives 3 The NHC secretariat 4 Chairperson: Ragnhild Astrup Tschudi Organisation 5 Human Rights Advocate with a special focus on Russia and Eastern Europe.

Vice Chairperson: Julie Wilhelmsen i the year 2012 in retrospect 6 Research fellow, Norwegian Institute of International Affairs. 2012 – Norwegian Helsinki ­ Hauk Lund Committee 35 years’ anniversary 6 Executive director, Hauk Lund Consulting A/S. The Sakharov Freedom Award 2012 7 Eirik Moen Anniversary seminar: Democracy Secretary General of the International Democrat Union. challenged – How to counter Kari Schage erosion of democratic rule? 8 Management consultant, Resources Global Professionals.

Sylo Taraku ii activities, by country 6 Head of Unit, National Directorate for Immigration. The Russian Federation 9 Belarus 11 Ragni Ramberg Ukraine 13 Lawyer at Østgård Wikasteen. South Caucasus 14 Inger Skjelsbæk Armenia 14 Senior Researcher and Deputy Director at the Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO). Azerbaijan 15 Georgia 17 Ole Benny Lilleås Staff representative. Central Asia 18 Western Balkans 22 Hungary 24 Council

President: • Grethe Fossum • Pål Erik Plaum III Human Rights in Norway 25 Kristin Clemet • Bjørn Cato Funnemark • Victor Roddvik Vice President: • Steinar Gil • Jan Tore Sanner IV Human Rights Education 28 Anne Marit Bjørnflaten • Jacub M. Godzimirski • Per Saxegaard • Trine Skei Grande • Anne Julie Semb • Frode Bakken • Fredrik Grønningsæter • Marianne B. Skou V natalya Estemirova • Trond Bakkevig • Bernt Hagtvet • Guro Slettemark Documentation Centre 32 • Peter Batta • Hans Morten Haugen • Lars Petter Soltvedt • Morten Bergsmo • Anne Holt • Atle Sommerfeldt Vi co-operation and • Tor G. Birkeland • Morten Høglund • Bjørn Stordrange International ­processes 33 • Helge Blakkisrud • Torbjørn Røe Isaksen • Michael Tetzschner • Kjell Magne Bondevik • Knut Kloster jr. • Annette • Bernt Bull • Berit Kvæven Trettebergstuen VII Eea grants 36 • Nils Butenschøn • Arne Liljedahl • Magne Ove • Juni Dahr Lynngård Warsinski-Varsi Viii information 38 • Ole Drolsum • Eigil Nansen • Kåre Vollan • Bente Erichsen • Mette Newth • Maria Warsinska-Varsi • Arne Fjeld • Manuela Ramin • Svein Wilhelmsen IX finances 38 • Dankert Freilem Osmundsen • Stein-Ivar Aarsæther Annual Report 2012

I The year in retrospect

❯❯

2012 marked the 35 years since the founding of the In the same way as the dissidents forming the Norwegian Helsinki Committee in 1977. We cele- Moscow Helsinki Group in the seventies, many brated the anniversary in Oslo in October together Russians do not accept the situation today, and in with many of our partners abroad and friends in March, during the Presidential elections and after, Norway. We organised a jubilee seminar, a cere- thousands took to the street in protest. Among the mony where the Russian NGO Golos received the protesters you could still find members of the Sakharov Freedom award and a large reception to ­original Moscow Helsinki Group. Russia – and the which our friends in human rights activism were selection of a Russian organisation as a winner of invited. the Sakharov Freedom Award in 2012 – marked the continuation of NHC’s work. The beginnings of NHC, with a concentration of attention on events in Moscow, then the capital of the Soviet Union, were reflected in our 35-year anniversary celebrations. Sadly, even though the Soviet Union ceased to exist a long time ago, the The birth of the promotion of democracy and human rights in Helsinki Movement

2012 – Norwegian Helsinki Russia is still needed, and even more needed than From its beginnings, NHC consisted of only a we had hoped for when the Communist Party was few idealists working in solidarity with the thrown out of power more than twenty years ago. members of Moscow Helsinki Group in the On the contrary, the concentration of power under then Soviet Union, established just one year Vladimir Putin, and the restriction of civic activity earlier. The group included democracy fighters

Committee years’ 35 anniversary or dissent during his third term of presidency, Lyudmila Alekseyeva, Yuri Orlov and Andrei increasingly show signs of an authoritarian rule. Sakharov’s wife Yelena Bonner, all later to be so famous. Eventually 44 Helsinki Committees were established. The goal of the Helsinki movement was to persuade governments, and especially the government of the Soviet Union, to implement the commitment to human rights it had made in the Helsinki documents in 1975, a part of the Conference of Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE). The move­ ments’ legal validity was based on the provision in the Helsinki Final Act, Principle VII, which establishes the rights of individuals to know and act upon their rights and duties. In signing the document, the Soviet Union wanted legiti­ macy from the western states for the com­ munist regime in Eastern Europe and to exert influence in Western Europe, whereas the western states, including the USA and Canada, aimed at closing down the "Iron Curtain" in Europe through an increased focus on and respect for human rights. Later, the signa­ tories changed the cooperation from a Conference to an organisation: the Organi­ sation for Security and Cooperation in Europe, OSCE.

6 Ine Marie Eriksen Søreide. in Russia. organisation The is known for systematic, which nationwide conducts election observation Golos ("Voice") is only the independent organisation presenting award. the Chairperson Ragnhild Tschudi Astrup said when choice and areal voice in their own affairs,” NHC orlatersooner will result in Russians having areal “We of Golos believe friends and its that efforts the authorities.” the fierce from attack dwindling and organisations like are ours under suitable time for us, when Russian is democracy recognitionThe and important at comes avery honour to receive Sakharov the award. Freedom organisationthe she leads, saying: “It is agreat Lilya Shibanova accepted award the on behalf of Russia. in democratic values and through fair free elections to promote awardthe outstanding for efforts its 35 years' anniversary on 23 October. Golos received also marked Norwegian the Helsinki Committee Sakharovthe Award Freedom at aceremony which RussianThe Association 'Golos' with was presented Bjørn Engesland, Grigory Melkonyants, Lilya Shibanova andNHCchairperson Ragnhild Astrup Tschudi. Evgeniy Zhovtis. the handsthe dictatorship of the of Belarus. serving afour and ahalf- year prison sentence at Ales Bialiatski, 2006recipient, the who is currently at ceremony.present the his focused He on speech received his award, and wasnow at last able to be recipient, wasimprisoned when inhe Kazakhstan Evgeniy Zhovtis, 2010 the Sakharov Award Freedom ­government. Ine Marie Eriksen Søreide, well as the from as of Foreign Norwegian of the Affairs Parliament, Chairgreetings the from Standing of the Committee violations public. the from Golos received warm interactive website that on could upload reports employed technology and modern published an collaboration Gazeta.ru, newspaper with the they organisation played role an important when, in presidentialthe election on 4March 2012, the tion to Duma 2011 elections on 4December and inelectoral Russia. processes Particularly in rela efficient and sophisticated of monitoring methods by granting the S the granting by mainly country, home their in persecuted the to support direct for used T imprisoned. or persecuted are conscience, and S A of consent and support the with Committee, Helsinki Norwegian Previous S Previous ❯ ❯ ❯ ❯ ❯ ❯ T Andrei S ❯ ❯ ❯ ❯ ❯ ❯ he A he akharov himself, to help people who, because of their opinions, beliefs beliefs opinions, their of because who, people help to himself, akharov T S M Elisa A S K the and Zhovtis Evgeny Herzegovina R he first award was granted to Charter 77 in 1984 in 77 Charter to granted was award first he liaksandr Bialiatski from the Human R Human the from Bialiatski liaksandr ergei K ergei G vetlana ights and the R the and ights ndrei S ndrei usayeva from Chechnya and A and Chechnya from usayeva ovalyov from R from ovalyov ward laureates include: laureates Award Freedom akharov ward was created in 1980 by the the by 1980 in created was Award Freedom akharov annushkina from the M the from annushkina akharov akharov Freedom Award. Freedom akharov ule of L of ule ussia aw azakhstan I azakhstan Freedom Aw emorial Human R Human emorial nternational Bureau for Human Human for Bureau nternational mor M mor Norw ights Centre, ‘Viasna’, in Belarus in ‘Viasna’, Centre, ights - asovic from Bosnia from asovic e gia he fund's assets will be be will assets fund's he n ights Centre in R in Centre ights Bjørn Engesland. Lyudmila Alexeyeva and ard He

The SakharovF reedom lsi

Award 2012 nk i Committ - ndrei ndrei ussia ee 6 •7 Valentin Stefanovich. Bialiatski. human rights defender Ales Adam Bialiatski, sonof imprisoned Annual R GunnarEkeløve-Slydal eport 2012 SoniaBiserko and Brigitte Dufour, Evgeniy Zhovtis, Anniversary seminar: Democracy challenged – How to counter erosion of democratic rule?

with day NHC celebration. the the after issuesThese were discussed at aclosed session NHC means and how we can develop together. each and other to discuss what cooperation with This gave forall them arare opportunity to meet organisationspartner abroad to celebrate with us. We had invited our from than more 30 guests it wasduring Cold the War. “ Not always popular. today But important as ­injustice and repression. Your work is impressive. ­violations, prejudice and ignorance, against hard-fought victories against human rights human rights achievement. campaigns Of and society, monitoring elections on and reporting Eideactor” continued. “35 years civil of supporting NorwegianThe Helsinki is Committee such an tomorrow. who want people abetter ments, to see us, of individuals, because civil society, govern meta-level, above us. No, of happen because they and spread the of democracy, not happen on do a all changes, these including human rights progress Asia and ArabSpring. the let’s And not forget that collapse Soviet of the Union, rise the of China and occur: Cold end of the War, fall Berlin of the wall, ber, but long enough for dramatic changes to “35 years, enough of us for to short remem most duringments NHC’s the 35 years of activity: he reminded audience the achieve of the of some lenges to worldwide. democracy Nevertheless, seminar and outlined many current of the chal Foreign Minister Eide the Barth opened Espen backslide. democratic Hungary and discussed ways to overcome the negative development in of democracy Russia and 23 October. seminar The examples took the from for our well-attended anniversary seminar, also on prominentmost voices in Europe and Central Asia We were proud to gatherof the some together - - - - Svetlana GannushkinaandLyudmila Alexeyeva. Shibanova. Golos representatives Grigory Melkonyants, Anna Vasilevich andLilya Norwegian Ministerof Foreign Affairs EspenBarth Eide 8 Norwegian Helsinki Committee 8•9

Activities, by country II

The NHC has a strong national and international commitment, with widespread activities in many countries. Our main focus is the human rights challenge in Eastern Europe, but we also aim to be active human rights defenders in our own country, Norway. Through our expertise and the wide-ranging networks of our staff we follow developments closely, take action on urgent matters and have an extensive range of project activities.

2012 was a turbulent year – never in modern The Moscow Centre of the Carnegie Endowment history have so many Russian citizens participated characterised last year’s developments as Russia’s in demonstrations and protests against abuses by awakening. On 15 February NHC arranged a the authorities. seminar entitled “Presidential Elections in Russia – a New Spring?” discussing the changes the year The protests were triggered by independent reports could bring. However, the Russian authorities met

of fraud in the Duma elections on 4 December the awakening of Russian civil society with several F ederation 2011. They intensified in the period up to the measures to regain control. After Putin started his Presidential elections on 4 March 2012. Evidence third term as President on 7 May, a series of of widespread falsifications surfaced during both restrictive laws were passed, resulting in fewer elections. Before the elections, civil initiatives, such demonstrations and tougher working conditions for as Citizen Observer and the NHC partner, the independent media and civil society organisations. Association Golos, mobilised tens of thousands of ordinary people across Russia to act as election In early June 2012, Russia's lower house, the State

observers. An unprecedented number of citizens Duma, adopted amendments to what is known as The Russian took part in observation at polling stations during the Law on Rallies. The amendments introduced both elections. The Presidential elections could also harsher penalties for organising and participating be followed via the Internet, streamed from cameras in unsanctioned demonstrations. Slander was re- at polling stations across Russia. Both approaches introduced to the Criminal Code. A series of allowed the observers to document, by photo and amendments expanding the scope of Criminal video and through traditional observations, Code provisions on high treason, espionage, and ­numerous violations of the election regulations. disclosure of state secrets were also adopted. The amendments to the Law on Information adopted Both elections were criticised by the Organisation in July 2012 allowed the authorities to shut down for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) for websites alleged to contain “extremist ideas”. unequal campaigning conditions which clearly This raised serious concerns of censorship through favoured United Russia and Vladimir Putin. How­ abuse of the law. ever, the OSCE also noted the enhanced involve- LEFT: GOLOS press center on ment and awareness of citizens as contributing to Still, the gravest limitation on freedom of association presidential election day some improvements. was introduced with the so-called Law on Foreign RIGHT: Demonstration in Moscow post-election day. Annual Report 2012

Lilya Shibanova and Nicolay Petrov at the seminar “Presidential Elections in Russia – a New Spring?”

Panel discussion with Lilya Shibanova, Nicolay Petrov, Ine Marie Eriksen- Søreide and Bård Vegar Solhjell

Agents which was adopted in July 2012, two The Law on Sanctions against Individuals Violating months after the inauguration of President Putin. Fundamental Human Rights and Freedoms of the The law imposed regulations on non-commercial Citizens of the Russian Federation deeply divided organisations or non-governmental organisations the Russian society in 2012. Adopted in December (NGOs) receiving financial support from abroad, 2012, the law established sanctions against US including restrictions on their activities, the creation ­citizens involved in violations of the human rights of stricter reporting standards and government and freedoms of Russian citizens and also banned oversight and the establishment of administrative US citizens from adoption of Russian children. punishments (including fines of up to one million The law prohibited support from US citizens and rubles) and criminal liability (up to four years in institutions for Russian civil society initiatives. The prison) for violations of the new rules. The law Russian law was a response to the US Act known as requires NGOs to register with the Ministry of the Magnitsky Act, signed into law by Barack Obama Justice as “foreign agents”, a term well-known on 14 December 2012. The Act obliges the President among the Russian public from the cold war to establish a list of Russian citizens involved in the period. The use of this label caused a public Magnitsky case or responsible for grave human outcry. Duma legislator and bill co-sponsor rights abuses. Those on the list will be denied a Alexander Sidyakin stated that the Association visa to the US and their assets in the US frozen. Golos was to be directly targeted by the law. Magnitsky, a Russian business lawyer contracted On 6 May 2012 between 20,000 and 50,000 by the American company Hermitage Capital, CEO of Hermitage Capital Management Bill Browder at the people participated in demonstrations against the investigated and reported on a $230 million tax hearing on the Magnitsky case inauguration of Vladimir Putin as President in the refund fraud, which had the involvement of at the House of Literature. Bolotnaya Square in Moscow. The police broke Russian tax authorities and law enforcement bodies. up the demonstrations, and about 500 people Magnitsky was arrested by the same law enforce- were arrested and dozens injured. Criminal cases ment representatives who were involved in the against the participants in the protest were initiated fraud, and died in pre-trial detention in November under the articles of the Criminal Code that cover 2009 due to abuse and medical neglect. "appeals to mass disturbance" and "use of violence against a government representative". Some of Another emblematic case, which acquired those arrested have already been charged. Those ­unprecedented international media attention, was imprisoned in the “Bolotnaya case” are seen as the Pussy Riot trial. On 17 August 2012, three new political prisoners in Russia. members of Russian feminist punk band Pussy Riot were convicted of hooliganism motivated by

NHC cooperated with the following partners and projects in 2012 ❯❯ Analytical Centre Sova: extending the ❯❯ Interregional Public Organisation ­countering human rights violations monitoring and awareness-raising on “Committee Against Torture”: ­preventing by law enforcement agencies problems of hate crimes and hate speech. torture, improving national mechanisms ❯❯ “Nevolya” magazine: raising the ❯❯ Glasnost Defence Foundation: monitoring for the European Court of Human Rights ­problems of the penitentiary of media rights violations in the Russian ❯❯ “Migration and Law”, a programme of ❯❯ Caucasian Knot webportal (Moscow) Federation the Memorial Human Rights Centre: legal ❯❯ Mashr (Ingushetia): making lawyers ❯❯ Regional Civic Organization in Defense protection for asylum seekers and available to the victims of human of Democratic Rights and Freedoms migrants rights abuses «GOLOS»: In-depth developing and ❯❯ Memorial HRC (Ryazan): support for the ❯❯ Memorial (Moscow – North Caucasus): implementing a methodology for civilian human rights web-portal www.hro.org monitoring of the human rights situation control of the deputies in Northwest ❯❯ Public Verdict: strengthening Russian in North Caucasus and preparation of regions of Russia regional human rights NGOs in cases to be submitted to the ECHR

10 and procedural safeguards to ensure fair trial. trial,the pointing to violations of speech of freedom Russiaprotect against Vladimir Putin. NHC criticised main cathedral, calling for Virgin the to Mary years imprisonment for performing in Moscow's religious hatred, and each wassentenced to two ises of “Viasna”.ises 26 On November bailiffs accom also confiscation confirmed the prem office of the down onturned 24 January. decision court The and ahalf-year sentence, and his appeal was Center “Viasna” remains in prison, serving afour Ales Bialitaski,partner Head of the Human Rights related to events in 2011. Our close friend and events, while prisoners have three convicted been still in prison, related of them most 2010 to the By year end of the the 12 political prisoners were Belarus withrestrictionson movement. her strict asylum in United Kingdom, but his wife remains in Later in year the Andrei Sannikov received political time had experienced serious health problems. paign manager Dzmitry Bondarenko, who by this dential candidate Andrei Sannikov and his cam prisoners released, among on 14 them April presi nate 2012. We political some were to see pleased 2010 inand arrest December continued to domi repressionThe following mass demonstrations the politicians and human rights activists. police against actions cases and court opposition wereThere also several instances of repressive laws, in particular Law the on Foreign Agents. nationally restrictive adoption the of these about concern in NHCThe expressed Norway and inter NHC’s opinion events unfolded. as Russianfrom the elections, frequently asking for Norwegian media were relatively actively reporting elections in Moscow, in cooperation with Golos. NHC also visited Russia to follow presidential the Peace, and Lilya Shibanova, head of GOLOS. Carnegie of the Centre Endowment for International Nikolay Petrov, asenior researcher at Moscow the at of Literature, House the Oslo. speakers Guest were “Presidential in Elections Russia –aNew Spring?” MarchOn 4NHC organised seminar the Ac tivities ------Domestic observers concluded that observers Domestic election the Parliamentary elections were held on 23 September. for pardon, were executed and two the on 17 March. flawed. President Lukashenko finally aplea refused friends’two guilt and their to be trial wasreported 200.about were around There serious the doubts Minsk in 2011, which killed 15 and people injured sentenced bombing to for death ametro in central 26,both had convicted been in November 2011 and Kovalyov and achildhood friend, Dmitri Konovalov, to refrain Vladislav carrying from out. them new executions place took calls despite repeated 282 executions have carriedIn out. March, been moratorium penalty death and on the since 1990 Belarus is only the European still country with no organisation’sthe regular activities. of Viasna are staff The defiantlyoffices. upholding panied by police confiscated and finally sealed the minorities, forthcoming in spring the of 2013. Russia and Ukraine that violate rights the of sexual on developments in areport to draft NHC started Similar legislation wasintroduced in Duma. the propaganda of homosexuality towards children. St Petersburg and several cities other banning including astring of restrictive laws in passed against rights restrictionson the of sexual minorities, During year, the NHC engaged in several actions NHC’s 35 Andreithe Sakharov Award Freedom 2012 at the r 23 Associationmedia. the October On Golos, cated to Anna Politkovskaya to free on threats 8we held our October On annual seminar dedi third anniversary Magnitsky. of death Sergey of the Parliament in November, to commemorate the round-table discussions organised in British the Russian Government”. NHC in also part took “The Magnitsky Files: Organised Crime Inside the screening case, one the about anew documentary a public hearing in of Literature House the in Oslo, USthe and Europe. 27 On NHC arranged September ­campaign, asking legislation for Magnitsky-type in Magnitsky to the NHC continued support its epresented by its leader by Lilya its ­epresented Shibanova, received th anniversary celebration. anniversary seminar 2012. the Anna Politkovskaya and BjørnEngeslandat portal theCaucasianKnot Shvedov from theweb Aage Borchgrevink, Gregory Novaya Gazeta, NHC’s Elena Kostychenko from the Anna Politkovskaya Bjørn Engeslandat Norw seminar 2012 e - gia n

He

Belarus lsi nk i Committ ee

10•11 Annual Report 2012

Thorbjørn Jagland at the conference “Action on Belarus”.

Yuri Zisser, Adam Globus, Tatsiana Reviaka and Natalia Radzina

“Action on Belarus” at the House of literature. process was marked by serious violations of the dominated much of our activity and concern in principles of democratic and fair elections. The 2012 and NHC issued or supported several statements election took place in an atmosphere of political concerning events in Belarus. In February we issued persecution and repression of the opponents of the recommendations for the Norwegian Foreign government; this political environment, as well as Minister’s Belarus strategy and we also made a the limitations on the creation of election commis- ­recommendation to the strategy of the European sions and campaigning had a negative effect on Bank for Reconstruction and Development (ERBD). the freedom to make an informed choice. Non- transparency of vote counting procedure made it At the beginning of the year three Norwegian impossible to state that the election results reflect organisations, Human Rights House Foundation, the will of the Belarusian people. Norwegian PEN and NHC, joined forces to move the situation in Belarus up the agenda. We organ- Andres Herkel, PACE Special The European Union (EU) upheld and somewhat ised an ambitious conference on 22 March called Rapporteur on Belarus. increased the sanctions against officials representing “Action on Belarus”. The conference included many the regime. The sanctions include refusal of a visa high-profile speakers, including Council of Europe to EU territory and freezing of any assets they may Secretary general Thorbjørn Jagland, Council of have in European banks. A ban on trade with a Europe parliamentary assembly rapporteur on selection of Belarusian companies has been Belarus Andres Herkel, Norwegian State Secretary imposed, and the EU sanctions are supported by Torgeir Larsen, Chief Editor of www.Charter97.org Norway. The reaction from the EU caused a diplo- Natalia Radzina, Tatsiana Reviaka of Viasna, and matic crisis between Belarus and the EU, first on many others. The conference was very well 28 February when the EU and Polish representatives attended and raised a string of issues related to to Belarus were asked to leave. In solidarity, members facts, challenges and possible future action. of the diplomatic representatives of the EU member

Torgeir Larsen, Norwegian State states were temporarily recalled for consultations. In the wake of the conference, the cooperating Secretary. Diplo­matic relations between Sweden and Belarus NGOs challenged the government to raise Belarus were seriously strained again in August when, in a even higher on the agenda of Norwegian foreign Swedish publicity stunt, hundreds­ of teddy bears policy. In April we launched a new campaign to were dropped by plane over Belarus with a message move the World Ice-hockey championship of democracy attached to them. Belarus swiftly planned for Minsk in 2014 to another host country, reacted on 8 August by ordering the Swedish again in cooperation with many other NGOs. A embassy to be closed by the end of the month. website, www.minsk2014.no, was established with The financial crisis seen in 2011 continued in 2012 the slogan “Don’t play with the dictator”. but became less urgent. On the fringes of the Oslo Freedom Forum in May, Andrej Kim, blogger and NHC staff could not travel to Belarus in 2012 as Bjørn Engesland gave a presentation about the youth activist we have been denied entry by the authorities. political prisoner Ales Bialiatski. In September we participated in the mass movement to congratulate Activities Ales on his 50th birthday, in prison. In December The intensified repression of Belarusians, including we marked the international human rights day on against many of our friends, contacts and partners, 10 December by greeting all political prisoners in

12 homophobia. Kiev The parliament has proposed Adding worrying to the an came upsurge trends of problem at audience the at football the stadiums. xenophobia the where huge to as wasreferred to highlightopportunity situation the in Ukraine, 2012 football championship gave awelcome EU cooperation in connection EURO with the of HumanCourt Rights. rare The positive Ukraine- is nowcase up for consideration by European the appeal options were exhausted in Ukraine and her prior Timoshenko’s election to wasnot met. the conditionanother important by out EU set the Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko still in jail, and faira free former election Withthe process. have shelved Ukraine been after failed to conduct and an association agreement atto appear present for bilateral Prospects reversed. Ukraine-EU trade conclude that democratic in progress Ukraine has led international monitor observation OSCE to leaders were prevented running from has for office of money in election that and the fact the opposition of abuseof power,spread cases excessive the role win with over 30 percentvotes. of the wide The through Parliamentary the to election in October President’sThe Regionbullied Party way its of censorship andwere cases frequent, reported. on journalists Index.Freedom Attacks in 2012 revolution, dropping ten positions Press down on the since of speech in Orange the of terms freedom has had less and country free, year worst as the the International organisations evaluate Ukraine in 2012 Ukraine’s human rights and democratic processes. 2012 adownslide represented regrettably for in media the on Belarus issues. asked speakers to be at seminars experts and as act website. NHC were representatives frequently prisoners in Belarus on YouTube and on the documentaries current about and formerpolitical Throughout year, the we regularly published mini- in Minsk mass arrests the on 19 December. Belarus and marked anniversary two-year the of - of Ukrainian citizens. for democratic the and stable aspirations support years, and for OSCE of committing the to aclear citizens’ poor despite its rights in record recent states, different OSCE the member tions between of taking aunique chance to build and trust rela Kiev with amajorpresents challenge. For Ukraine, and CooperationSecurity in Europe (OSCE) 2013The chairmanship Organisation of the for during an official visit to Oslo in November. with Ukraine’s Prime Minister Mykola Azarov to raise deteriorating the human rights situation and Foreign Minister Eide Barth urging Espen them to Primewrote aletter Minister Jens Stoltenberg Inon a statement staff. to November embassy we withtogether Norwegian LGBT NGOs passing picket in frontUkrainian of the Embassy in June, police. bills, draft the about NHC protested in a count on adequate police the from protection parade, the to attack and organisers the could not 1,000 aggressive counter-demonstrators prepared parade in May had cancelled to be nearly because against is activists widespread and Kiev the Pride ment iflaw the into comes force in 2013. Violence their may activists face up to five years’ imprison dissemination. Ukrainian LGBT organisations and ­positive media coverage, and information other 10290 are likely to criminalise public activity, vague in form; its bills number 8711 and number Lithuania and Hungary. Although impermissibly inadopted several Russian cities, Moldova, propaganda”. law The is similar to laws already legislation intended to“homosexual ban so-called Norw e gia - - n He Ales Bialiatski. Happy 50thbirthday to Yulia Tymoshenko. Oslo. outside theUkrainian embassyin banning “homosexual propaganda” Protesting againstnewlaw Ukraine lsi nk i Committ ee

12•13 Annual R Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly eport 2012 Vanadzor Office.

Armenia second largest party decided to reject its promise decidedits to reject largestsecond party tion elections, were the aconcern. the After electoratethe overall with compared the popula counting. Again voters’ the lists, and number the of fraud on Election Day, and inconsistencies with the intimidation elections, the before various forms of ofand widespread were bribery stillthere reports voting of the technicalcertain process, aspects Despite new Electoral the that Code addressed national vote since 2008 elections the and unrest. 5MayOn 2012, Armenia voted in all- first the judicial system remained low. in 2008, and public’s the in trust political the and deaths following disputed the Presidential elections determined details the unrest that of the ledto 10 Toin court. date noindependent investigation has with indifferencemet and impunity for culprits the and in military, the and accusations are of torture Torturement. and abuseis rife in police stations stration of justice still abrake as act on develop authorities, corruption admini and adependent Similarly, despite reforms and promises by the provided due to their lack of experience and skills. capable of making adequate opening of the use journaliststhe and mediawere still outlets not economicthe situation remained achallenge, and for independent more coverage,an opportunity political discussions. However, though media had ensured for election campaign the seemed and for 2012. of assembly and freedom of speech Freedom preparations for Parliamentary the elections in May wasadopted,Code in time for implementation in reform wasunder way. In May 2011 anew Electoral somewhatreduced in 2012. extensive An police number of administrative that followed cases had already decriminalised been in 2010, and large the time ally Russia Eurasian on the Union. Libel had ship and with Cooperation Agreement, long- was in negotiations EU the with on aPartner both praise reforms and for lifting its of restrictions, and In 2012, Armenia received much international Caucasus South Armenia Republican Party of office for the YerevanA campaign electioninMay. Polling station Parliamentary in Yerevan in RIGHT: LEFT:

­ - - ­ torture preventiontorture and situation the in closed in Armenia. main The focus organisations of the is aches towards an improved human rights ­ Armenia of appro awide and spectrum represent Institute. All players are central civil to the of society Vanadzor, Caucasus Institute, and Civil Society Helsinki Committee, Helsinki Citizen’s Assembly gramme: Armenian Helsinki Association, Armenian pro through support democracy the are supported organisations five with the partner NHC meets that January, May, and November. During such visits the NHC visited Armenia times in three 2012 –in Ac environmental issues. issues. environmental results year, in past the in particular with regard to ­demonstrations and actions have ledto certain are still fairly rigid, though anumber of civic rolesthe of women and young in people society by to and as counter demonstrators. Expectations still subject to harassment and insult passers- from by police,was protected participants but the were of Yerevan.march through streets the march The and women’s rights later organised adiversity A few human rights organisations focusing on LGBT publicly even of parliament. by amember supported and subsequent vandalism, and culprits the were gay the known as bar, wassubject to fire-bombing ostracism. In May DIY bar the in Yerevan, also LGBT are also persons subject to harassment and of HumanEuropean Court Rights judgments. for evasion military draft from call-up, despite than 50 Jehovah’s remained Witnesses imprisoned soldier back to Azerbaijan. Also in 2012, more sentenced for murder the officer of an Armenian heated when Hungarybecame extradited an Azeri Nagorno-Karabakh remained tense in 2012, and over 1915 the genocide and Azerbaijan over coolThe relationship with neighbouring Turkey “alternative” party, rather than an opposition party. Republican Party, and has taken aposition an as to enter into acoalition governing with the tivities situation ­ - 14 modern face of Baku.modern Lives for Azerbaijanis, which were torn down to make for the room of citizens who were forced of out their homes, city werethe renovated, of it at some expense the like mythical the bird of phoenix. the Large parts hall and concert the projects Hall –Crystal –rose in May 2012. capital The saw massive construction event costly ESC most the to in host prepared history Eurovision Songwon Contest in 2011 and Azerbaijan of showreason business. Azerbaijan’s to the entry under arare public spotlight in 2012 for unlikely the Caucasian South The Republic of Azerbaijan came rights dialogue administration on the of justice in submitted recommendations EU’s to the human of hate crime against LGBT in people Armenia, and NHCThe also issued incidents astatement on the local and international activists. civil in country, society the with together other authorities to ensure secure working conditions for a joint statement urging support Armenian the police and authorities inadequate. NHC The signed unpleasant and consecutive the from the response was physically harmed, experience but the was associates and None at of the office. stones the eggs wassurrounded, threw office and protestors angry afilmabout screening depicting Azerbaijan. The an from enragedattack crowd following adispute Citizen’s Assembly Vanadzor wassubject to an 16On April, Helsinki NHC cooperation the partner well religious as minorities and journa ­institutions, administration of justice and police, as ­listic skills. and Ali Kerimli. Olga Shamshur August wasconvicted to four and half years in and illegally crossing and in borders protected accused of calling for mass disorder on Facebook independent journalist on 18 arrested April, was consistently to do. refuses Faramaz Novruzoglu, an intimidating into her stopping publication, which she intimate video recording, following at attempts was publicly humiliated by publication the of an Famous investigative journalist Khadija Ismayilova His murderer is still at liberty. during abrutal knife four attack days earlier. 23 November 2011 injuries the from hesustained Journalist and writer Rafiq Tagi died in Baku on Huseynov, shot dead in 2005, still enjoy impunity. responsibleThose for of death editor the Elmar Two murders of journalists are still not solved. unfounded civil are independent journalists. cases A continued harassment for target arrests, and rights violations continued relentlessly. eyesthe of Europe were on Azerbaijan, human the however, did not improve and that despite fact the elections,the despite technical improvements. field the from and issued astatement condemning barely threshold. made the it past NHC The tweeted votes,the and remaining the and blocks parties ruling Republican alarge secured majority Party of multiple voting and inconsistent voters’ lists. The intimidation noted observers at polling the ­ Institute and their monitoring “ambulances”. The organisation withtogether partner Civil the Society monitored anumber of polling stations in Yerevan variousmet in actors civil the field society and during parliamentary elections in May. NHC The in NHCThe waspresent Yerevan weeks for two FoundationHouse Norway. Yerevan in cooperation Human with the Rights and NGOs in other NHC cooperation partners Norwegianthe Ministry of Foreign and Affairs adelegationorganised ameeting between from organisation Civil Institute. Society NHC The also in country the acommon statement with partner Norw stations, e gia n He Armenia. Rally for theRepublican Party of Azerbaijan lsi nk i Committ Khadija Ismayilova ee

14•15 Annual Report 2012

Members of Musavat party on hunger strike demanding release of political prisoners.

prison. Six journalists were charged and are awaiting Human rights defenders and lawyers defending court decisions, among them Hilal Mammadov opposition activists lost their licences or were and Avaz Zeynalli who both risk 12 years’ imprison­ ­harassed in other ways. The Human Rights House ment if convicted. In June, the Supreme Court in Baku remained closed. released Bakhtiyar Hajiyev, a social media activist who had been serving a two-year prison sentence In the exclave of Nakhchivan, the most serious and was the target of an NHC campaign. Five repression of ordinary people continued to be imprisoned journalists were also pardoned on ­documented. We are also increasingly concerned 27 December by President Aliyev ahead of the about the tightening of religious freedoms, including Musavat Party leader Isa Gambar. World Azerbaijanis Solidarity Day that was cele- criminalising religious literature that has not been brated on 31 December. Among the pardoned on state-approved. 27 December was also human rights defender Vidadi Iskenderov. Overall, the existence of a high Activities number of political prisoners in Azerbaijan continued Throughout the year, the NHC issued a number of to attract much of the attention focused on the statements concerning the situation in Azerbaijan, human rights situation in Azerbaijan. In mid 2012 most notably in connection with the cases of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly imprisoned journalists and political activists. Several rapporteur for political prisoners in Azerbaijan of those were issued through the International Christoph Strässer released his report, setting the Partnership Group for Azerbaijan (IPGA) which NHC

Director of the Institute number of political prisoners at around 85. To a joined for advocacy purposes. IPGA also issued a for Peace and Democracy large extent based on the work in Azerbaijan, the thorough report on freedom of expression – Running Leyla Yunus Parliamentary Assembly also adopted a benchmark Scared – playing on the title of the Azerbaijani definition of political prisoners in October. winning song of the ESC the previous year.

Several attempts at organising protests in Baku NHC made a significant advocacy effort in and other cities in the country were stopped, ­connection with the European Song Contest in often by use of violence and mass arrests. The Baku. The goal of the efforts was to counter the most spectacular incidents were in Baku during massive propaganda show that the government the week of the Eurovision Song contest when the of Azerbaijan rolled out and to make the human police broke up protests, arresting dozens of the rights situation in the country known to an audience participants in of a large European press corps. otherwise without knowledge about Azerbaijan. Local organisations in Azerbaijan were very active

NHC friends Rasul Jafarov and Anar Mammadli at Sing for Democracy rally in Baku.

Protester arrested by force and protester taken away by police.

16 changes and administrative decisions by the power, wasnot agiven. Anumber of legislative That in elections the ended apeaceful transfer of witchhunt. political a and National the Movement have warned against well-founded, international the both community chargesthe are serious appear and in cases most while­committed were they in power. Although placedbeen under investigation for alleged crimes formerNationalSome Movement officials have of strained relations with President Saakashvili. Ivanishvili Prime Minister, became in form the Political polarisation remained, however, after Post-Sovietof the Caucasus. Georgia’s democratic position most the corner as Bidzina Ivanishvili. This achievement consolidates coalition Georgia’s Dream, by headed billionaire President Mikheil Saakashvili, opposition to the rulingthe National by Movement, headed 2012 resulted in apeaceful transfer of power from ParliamentaryThe elections in Georgia on 1October musicthe contest wasasuccess, massive the commendable and although interest in our efforts, leading upcontest to itself. the media The showed a Baku in May and during waspresent days the – for interested journalists. NHC also travelled to “Fra glitter til (“From gitter” glitter to prison bars”) we also organised an information seminar – available to journalists who travelled to Baku and Foundation, information materials were made Journalists Association and Human Rights House International Norway, Norwegian PEN, Norwegian of this Togetherpart joint with effort. Amnesty and many international other organisations were providing legal free aid, running an infor Human Rights, on aimed athree-year project at and Caucasian the for Centre Conflict Studies and in country, the Georgia Human the Rights Center NHCThe continued to work with our main partners Ac their or overturned. sentences reduced have unfairly been triedand sentenced, may have released, while anumber of prisoners, who may issues. political Some prisoners have already been resolve of country’s some main human rights transfer The of power ourmayof partners. them mainthe human rights groups in Georgia, some a coalition of civil groups, society which included A force that challenged authoritarian practices was wasviolencethere in towns. some beaten during campaign, the and on election day Nationalthe Movement’s version. Journalists were in favour statemedia, of the which mostly reported opposition’s campaign and restricting information at­government impeding targeted seemed the localthe and press also abroad. extent to some monitoringThe results were ­ decisions were justified, criminal none of the cases. this. 15reflected Of monitored civil trials, only two repression and sentences handed the down broad public attention and were result the of ­ Democracy. Several had monitored of the cases in Azerbaijan, through Institute the for Peace and monitoring­supported of 24 civil and criminal trials withNHC, funding Norwegian the from MFA, widely European to the audience. exposed ­corruption and human rights violations were also tivities published widely in Norw ­mation political e gia n He Crystal Hall. Olga Shamshuroutsidethe Tblisi. Georgia lsi nk i Committ ee

16•17 Annual Report 2012

program based on the webpage humanrights.ge, As Georgia is a member of the International monitoring human right violations and conducting Criminal Court, the NHC has argued that the ICC international advocacy. should assume a more proactive role and try to ascertain whether results are feasible, given the lack A delegation consisting of our partners and a of progress from the two parties. The third report was prominent journalist visited Oslo in September, presented to the ICC Office of the Prosecutor during in order to inform the MFA and Parliament about the annual assembly in November. During the the election process and other human issues. autumn of 2012, the ICC changed the language in Ucha Nanuashvili, former head of the HRC, was its description of Georgia to saying that the OTP is appointed Georgia’s new Public Defender “checking whether genuine national proceedings are (Ombudsman) by Parliament in December. The being carried out in [Guinea, Colombia and] Georgia.” Public Defender is arguably the most important human rights institution in Georgia. The NHC has In Tbilisi, in November 2012, we also had meetings focused on the lack of investigations after the war with senior officials in the new Georgian government, of 2008, in which grave violations of humanitarian including the head of the legal affairs committee in law were committed by both sides, Georgia and Parliament and the Chief Prosecutor, arguing that Russia, in the form of war crimes and crimes Georgia should refer the case to the ICC, as is its against humanity. In November the NHC released right under the Rome statute. The new government the third report in a series documenting a lack of has stated that it will reassess the investigation file, will and ability to investigate crimes, this time with but at this stage it is unclear what this will mean Ucha Nanuashvili and Simon Papuashvili. a focus on the Russian side. in practice.

Central Asia

The Norwegian Helsinki Committee has been struggling to get by in the cities and villages dotting devoted to the promotion of democratic principles Central Asia’s vast landscape. In addition, a growing and human rights in Central Asia for a number of scepticism about so-called non-traditional religions years. The NHC Representative Office was estab- in the region has led to repressive legislation that lished in the region in 2006 and is, with its two bans unregistered religious activity and forces staff members, located in Almaty, Kazakhstan. many religious believers underground instead of Through monitoring, fact-finding, publishing of contributing to society. reports and other written materials, advocacy work in the region and on the international level, as well The focus of the Norwegian Helsinki Committee, as through our popular Small Grants Programme, human rights, is an area that unfortunately saw Lene Wetteland speaking on freedom of religion to students at we seek to be an active and positive addition to the more setbacks than major steps forward in the the OSCE Academy in Bishkek. vibrant human rights community in Central Asia. course of 2012.

While the ongoing integration of Central Asia into The success of Kyrgyzstan as a democratic leader the global scene involves rapid change on many in the region after the April 2010 revolution is vital levels, certain areas are still left behind. It is not not only to the country itself but to the future of unusual for the population to be without electricity the region as a whole. Positive developments can and gas during severe winter frosts. Bureaucracy, serve as an example to neighbouring countries, too, retains much of its post-Soviet legacy, as do while failure could be a serious destabilising factor the attitudes of some government officials and key for the entire region. While Kyrgyzstan is markedly

Maxim Ryabkov, Indra Øverland and decision-makers. National economic indicators are better on transparency of the government, involve- Gunnar Ekeløve-Slydal. not always consistent with the reality of those ment of civil society in decision-making and recent

LEFT: Anniversary of the Kyrgyzstani ombudsman.

RIGHT: Gunnar Ekeløve-Slydal at anniversary for the Kyrgyzstani ombudsman.

18 Norwegian Helsinki Committee 18•19

election processes than its immediate neighbours, serious problems remain, especially in the south of the country. The violent clashes that took place in the provinces of Osh and Jalalabad in June 2010 are still a highly sensitive topic, both at government level and in the population. The legal aftermath has been overly focused on persecuting the Uzbek part of the population, which remains under-­ represented in law enforcement and the political elite. Instances of torture and ill-treatment are still evident, and the difficult fight against corruption has but begun.

The Kyrgyzstani parliament In Tajikistan, violence broke out in the Gorno- building in Bishkek Badakhshan Autonomous Province, a mountainous While working through an ambitious programme area bordering Afghanistan, after the head of the for planned future achievements both on the local security services was murdered. Media access domestic and international arena, the year was barred while large numbers of government ­paradoxically saw several major steps backwards troops were moved into the region, leaving the real for Kazakhstan in the area of human rights. numbers of casualties a matter for speculation – Following the tragic events in Zhanaozen in ranging wildly from twelve to one hundred. During December 2011, when at least 16 strikers were shot and after the military operation, Tajik authorities and killed by government forces, the authorities blocked a number of news sites and social media, cracked down on selected opposition leaders effectively leaving the population in Tajikistan and such as Vladimir Kozlov of the Alga political party, the outside world without information about sentencing him to seven-and-a-half years’ imprison­ events as they unfolded. Throughout the year, no ment for his alleged involvement in the strikes. Union leaders Yessenbek Ukteshbaev official responsibility was taken for the shadowy Soon after, the offices of Alga were closed down and Ainur Kurmanov. decisions to block popular social media like by the authorities, which followed this by raising Facebook, Twitter and YouTube as well as the charges of extremism against independent and websites of the BBC and numerous other western opposition media outlets such as the Golos and Russian news agencies – apparently due to Respubliki and Vzglyad newspapers, as well as unwelcome “criticism of government policy”. StanTV and K+ television channels. Officials in This was another indication that the Tajik authorities Astana have sought to portray the process as fair were disconnected from the realities of the infor- and necessary. Yet, by the year’s end, pro forma mation age and, more importantly, disrespectful of trials were wrapping up, leaving Kazakhstan with a the right of Tajik citizens to freely access information. bleak media scene, a lack of real political pluralism Vladimir Kozlov

The Pamir valley, Tajikistan. Annual Report 2012

and widespread disillusionment about These considerable challenges to human rights and Kazakhstan’s commitment to human rights. democracy in Central Asia run counter to the fact that a strong civil society has developed in all five Uzbekistan remained one of the worst human republics since independence. While working rights violators in the world in 2012. No notable ­conditions vary sharply from country to country, a improvements were made in the course of the network of human rights defenders exists across year, as innumerable human rights defenders, the region, seeking to shine a light on ongoing ­journalists and religious believers continued their human rights abuses and to participate in inter­ lives in prison, while still more members of its national processes to improve the situation in their marginalised civil society and journalistic scene home countries. found it necessary to flee the country to escape persecution, torture and imprisonment. Uzbek ACTIVITIES AND PROJECTS security services continued to seek the extradition The NHC carries out monitoring work on ongoing of political refugees from neighbouring countries human rights violations in Central Asia, produces such as Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, as well as reports and public statements on current events making threats against Uzbek asylum seekers in and broader topics, contributes commentary to Russia. While international human rights organisa- regional and international news outlets, participates tions do not have access to Uzbekistan, foreign in seminars, round tables and conferences devoted Mutabar Tajibayeva, Lene Wetteland businesses do. The infamous daughter of President to human rights in Central Asia and produces and Tika Tsertsvadze Islam Karimov, Gulnara Karimova, emerged as a ­recommendations for stakeholders at the inter­ central figure in the probes into Swedish Telia­ national level. Sonera’s business deals in Uzbekistan, underlining the risks involved when making investments in In the course of 2012 we made a number of state- repressive regimes. Uzbekistan is likely to fight ments on specific areas of concern in the Central back against criticism and sanctions in 2014 as Asian republics, such as ongoing trials, media western states attempt the seemingly impossible – and religious freedoms, women’s rights, elections, to balance its commitment to human rights with labour rights, freedom of movement, and the the importance of access to Uzbek land routes general situation as regards human rights and during the announced military withdrawal from democracy in the Central Asian region. In June, Afghanistan, and the potential new ownership of the NHC published a major report on the tragic Mutabar Tajibayeva at NHC and NOAS the military equipment. events in the south of Kyrgyzstan in June 2010, seminar on human rights in Uzbekistan. “A Chronicle of Violence” together with Memorial Turkmenistan is still one of the most closed Human Rights Centre and Freedom House. ­countries in the world, and while the vast proven Presentations on the report were held in Bishkek, gas reserves in the country means that both Vienna and Brussels. The report was the most ­businessmen and diplomats frequent the capital comprehensive and detailed report about the Ashgabat, international human rights organisations events to date, and a massive undertaking for both have no access. A new media law proposed in NHC and Memorial. 2012 should in theory make Turkmenistan the most liberal country in the CIS region for journalists We produced and submitted recommendations to to work in. However, paper reform does little to lift important international reviews and missions, such the absolute government control on the flow of as the UN Universal Periodic Review on Uzbekistan information inside the country, the complete lack and Turkmenistan, the Turkmenistan review of the of political freedoms and the highly dangerous UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimi­ environment for civil society activists. Being one of nation against Women, during the OSCE Human the few countries in the world to practise exit bans Dimensions Implementation Meeting in Warsaw, on its own citizens for undisclosed reasons, to the High Representative of the EU for Foreign President Berdymukhammedov’s Turkmenistan Affairs and Security Policy during her visit to rightly shares the bottom of the global democracy Central Asia, and during the review of the EU From the Zhanaozen court case, indexes with Chad and North Korea. Central Asia Strategy, as well as to the Norwegian Kazakhstan Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Seminars were organised throughout the year, including on labour rights in Kazakhstan, the ­situation in the south of Kyrgyzstan and on human rights in Uzbekistan. We also hosted working groups on human rights in Central Asia throughout the year. A two-day seminar was organised in Almaty on the future of the International Criminal Court (ICC), with participants from all five Central Asian republics as well as international experts.

20 Norwegian Helsinki Committee 20•21

Union leaders from Kazakhstan at seminar in Oslo and panel discussioin

Nursultan Nazarbayev, Kazakhstan

In addition, we contributed to a large number of civil society. Already in its sixth year, the NHC conferences organised by our partner organisations Small Grants Programme for Central Asia is open to in Central Asia and in Europe and participated in applications from experienced non-governmental advocacy meetings with diplomatic staff, inter­ organisations, as well as to new and promising national organisations and government officials. additions to the existing community. Through funds contributed by the Norwegian Ministry of In the course of the year, visits were made to Foreign Affairs, as well as additional funds for several cities and towns in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan Kazakhstan provided by the National Endowment and Tajikistan, where we met local human rights for Democracy, the Norwegian Helsinki Committee organisations, representatives of religious minority supports projects across the region. In 2012, we groups and representatives of the authorities. We focused on projects devoted to human rights edu- were present during the trials of the Zhanaozen oil cation and NGO capacity building in Kazakhstan, strikers in Aktau and during the trial of Kazakhstani torture prevention and legal aspects of the June opposition leader Vladimir Kozlov, as well as 2010 aftermath in Kyrgyzstan, freedom of the during court hearings in Almaty on the closure of media in Tajikistan as well as projects on women’s opposition newspapers and other media. In some rights both in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. A full list instances, NHC provided urgent assistance to of grantees for the period is available on our ­refugees from Central Asian countries, including website. visits to prison facilities. We also served as expert witnesses in Central Asian asylum cases before Participants at roundtable on ICC ratification. Norwegian courts, and provided migration services with up-to-date information on human rights issues in Central Asia.

Together with the Oslo Centre for Peace and Human Rights, Stefanus Alliance and Forum 18, we continued our focus on freedom of religion or belief in Central Asia. A delegation visited Kyrgyzstan and met stakeholders and representa- tives of religious minorities there, collecting infor- mation and recommendations for an updated report and forthcoming visits with decision makers.

Throughout the year, we provided commentary on human rights issues in Central Asia to news media in the Central Asian region, as well as to interna- tional news outlets. In addition to our own day-to- day work on the ground and in international forums, the NHC provides important support to Annual Report 2012

Western Balkans

Developments in the Western Balkans in 2012 continued at an uneven pace with considerable variation between countries, in a region pulled between the goal of EU accession and the lure of identity politics. The main political concerns in the region are relations between Serbia and Kosovo over political and territorial issues related to the independence of Kosovo, the ethno-political dead- Sonia Biserko and Aage Borchgrevink at book launching at the lock that is holding back Bosnia and Herzegovina House of Literature. as well as internal political relations in Macedonia. Some of the main human rights concerns relate to hateful rhetoric against minorities used by the the rule of law, impunity for past war crimes and ­candidates from many parts of the country. human rights violations, and minority rights. Cases of forced resettlement of Roma people to Throughout the region the LGBTI-community areas with insufficient infrastructure, with indica- remained at risk of discrimination and hate-crimes. tions that this was successfully used as bait for In several places LGBTI organisations have reported voters, called for serious concern. NHC considers an increased number of violent attacks. The few cases that the treatment of minorities and individuals and reported to the police were insufficiently, or not, groups who are different from the majority would investigated at all. Belgrade Pride 2012 was banned be the litmus test of the new government’s pledges allegedly for safety reasons, like in 2009 and 2011. to modernize Serbia. Parades in Split and Zagreb, and a series of small- scale demonstrations in Belgrade, Skopje and Tirana In 2012 NHC continued to work with our partner, took place despite massive opposition from religious the Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in communities, citizens’ initiatives and politicians. The Serbia, in a project cooperation to encourage the Serbian ambassador Milan Simurdic´ at seminar on cultural heritage in the premises of the magazine Kosovo 2.0 were attacked country to face up to its past and honestly analyse Western Balkans. when launching an issue covering, inter alia, same its present predicament to promote human rights. sex sexuality. NHC reacted to ­specific incidents In a further attempt to encourage Serbia to face up and called on the authorities to secure the exercise to its violent and nationalistic past the NHC pub- of freedom of assembly and expression, as well as lished a book written by Sonja Biserko, the chair of to systematically prevent and prosecute hate crimes the Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in and discrimination. On 23 January NHC organised Serbia, called “Yugoslavia’s Implosion – The fatal the seminar The politics of Cultural Heritage in the attraction of Serbian Nationalism”. On 20 Western Balkans: Destruction, Reconstruction and November the book was launched at our seminar an Ongoing War of Symbols in Oslo. in Oslo, “Serbia, stuck in the past or proving EU worthy of a peace prize?” Violence and threats Serbia had elections at both national and local against journalists were reported from both Serbia levels on 6 May 2012. The result gave major politi- and Bosnia and Herzegovina. In Serbia, concerns cal changes as Tomislav Nikolic, a former staunch were expressed over lenient sentencing in such nationalist involved in the war events, who has cases. The media structures of Serbia and Bosnia now turned into an opposition politician with a remained in place, mostly unreformed, with private focus on people’s more daily needs, became and public owners meddling in editorial policies. ­president. Following lengthy negotiations, Ivica In Macedonia, media freedom deteriorated over Dacic, a former Milosevic aide, became Prime the year. Following a tax evasion case, a major TV Minister. In the run-up to the elections, NHC station and three newspapers were shut down. hosted a seminar in Oslo providing background Changes in public broadcasting management and

Polling station in Novi Pazar. and future perspectives to a Norwegian audience. the broadcasting oversight body opened the door for direct governmental influence, according to

Serbian election poster. NHC was present in Belgrade in the days before observers. the elections and observed voting in and around Novi Pazar, the centre of the Bosniak community In Bosnia and Herzegovina conflicts continued to in Sandzak. The campaign took place in an define the politics and stall the development of the ­atmosphere of fierce competition between the country. Even though a new state government based main Bosniak parties. Among the irregularities we on a broad coalition took office in January, leading found that not all respected the secrecy of the vote political figures continued to call into question and that the incumbents exploited public resources funda­mental issues regarding the existence and to unduly influence local media. Overall, NHC nature of the state. This further undermined the expressed concerns about the nationalistic and capacity of institutions to deliver in fields that are

22 Norwegian Helsinki Committee 22•23

concerned about the continued marginalisation of the RAE (Roma, Ashkali, Egyptian) minorities, the taboos regarding war crimes and severe short­ comings in the rule of law. Especially in the north of Kosovo, freedom of expression is severely cur- tailed by threats and violence against individuals.

In a prominent war crimes case at the ICTY, former Kosovo Liberation Army Commander and former Kosovo Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj was NHC’s Enver Djuliman with Svein Mønnesland at the marking of the acquitted in a retrial. The retrial was ordered by genocide in Srebrenica. the ICTY Appeals Chamber which found that the Trial Chamber had failed to take sufficient steps to pivotal to human rights and rule of law. The need “counter the witness intimidation that permeated Police cells in Vlora, Albania. to change constitutional provisions on the ineligi- the trial”. The lack of efficient witness protection bility of minorities to certain positions continued to and support is an impediment to war crimes justice be unresolved, and the independence of the courts in all the countries of the region. is a concern. BiH leaders attempted to reduce the overall independence of the judicial system by Detractors of the ICTY put the acquittal of Haradinaj ­stifling the main body responsible for judicial in context, comparing it to an unrelated case against administration and oversight, the High Judicial and Croatian generals Ante Gotovina and Mladen Prosecutorial Council. The outcomes of war crimes Markac in which the two were acquitted on appeal cases were frequently brushed off as allegedly for bombardment of civilian targets during the 1995 biased against ethnic groups, not just by politicians military operation “Storm” against Serb breakaway but also by the media, religious communities and republics in Croatia. The dominant discourse on these among significant parts in the populations. Our cases was according to the pattern of “heroes” and regional human rights education projects were “enemies” and allegations that ICTY is “anti-Serb”. also added to our promotion of reconciliation at different levels in the country. In Macedonia there were widespread concerns about the level of corruption and lack of trans­ During the year, cases against war-time Bosnian parency of governmental institutions. Over recent Serb leaders Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic years the gap between ethnic Macedonians and finally got under way at the International Criminal ethnic Albanians, a minority making up about one Court for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY). NHC third of the population, has widened. The government ­followed the cases and provided interviews and has pursued an assertive line and carried out a background information to Norwegian media. large-scale renewal of the capital, Skopje, making extensive use of symbols favoured by the ethnic Important concerns regarding Albania remain the majority. The use of Alexander the Great in this strength and independence of institutions that context has only exacerbated the conflict over the should provide checks and balances on the execu- country’s name with neighbouring Greece, a tive, including courts, electoral administration and ­conflict that has blocked Macedonia’s EU and the parliament. The way the government reacted to NATO integration since 2008. investigations into the killing of four demonstrators back in 2011 gave rise to serious concern, which From Split Pride 2012 NHC underlined during a meeting with the prose- cutor general in 2012. During a visit in June, working in tandem with the Albanian Helsinki Committee for Human Rights (AHC), NHC observed the conditions of arrestees at Police Commissariats in Vlora and Gjirokaster and visited two border-crossing facilities. AHC sent written reports to authorities and is following up concrete concerns about conditions in cells that were observed during the mission.

In Kosovo, inter-ethnic tensions have eased some- what. EU-sponsored talks between Belgrade and Pristina about “technical issues” continued to help defuse some of the acute tensions on the ground. Despite fears of the contrary, the change of govern- ment in Belgrade did not alter this trend. NHC is Annual Report 2012

Hungary

Under Viktor Orbán's premiership, and thanks to Fidesz' supermajority in the Parliament, an unprecedented number of legal reforms have taken place in Hungary. At the beginning of January 2012 a new media law came into force in Hungary, to widespread attention and criticism in Hungary and internationally. Some of the largest demonstrations since the end of the cold war were held in Budapest, journalists went on hunger strike and international organisations and institutions expressed grave concern.

However, the new media law was only one of Hooligans at demonstration in Budapest many legislative changes in Hungary since Fidesz NHC’s Bjørn Engesland, Csilla Czimbalmos and Lillian Solheim at came to power after a landslide victory during the fact finding mission in Hungary 2010 election. Fidesz received more than half of with stakeholders in the country, as well as by the votes from an electorate that was deeply studying available reports and articles. During ­disappointed with the ruling socialist government meetings in Budapest and Oslo, NHC met repre- after a number of corruption scandals and growing sentatives of the government party, opposition economic problems. Because of the electoral parties, non-governmental organisations, system, which combines single-seat constituencies ­academics, diplomats, and media representatives. and seats by proportional representation, Fidesz obtained a two-thirds majority in the Parliament. A first outcome of these efforts was a report pub- lished in February 2012. The report, “Democracy Victor Orbán gained a strong mandate to take charge at stake in Hungary – The Orbán government’s of the Hungarian state as the new Prime Minister, constitutional revolution” describes how Viktor

Former head of the roma a state suffering from increasing debts and a stag- Orbán’s government has been centralising power, community in Gyöngyöspata nating economy, as well as a range of other chal- undermining the independence of courts and explains how far rights extremists group was patrolling the village lenges. Reforms were clearly needed. The qualified putting media freedom under pressure. The report majority (over 50 percent) enabled the government concluded that, during the last year, Fidesz had to push through a wide range of legal reforms in weakened institutional checks and balances and the course of 2010 and 2011. These included a compromised the independence of central institu- new Constitution, the previously mentioned media tions. The report presented a number of recom- law and reform of the justice sector and the elec- mendations to the government of Hungary and toral system. The government claimed that they European institutions. had been given a popular mandate to finally get rid of the communist legacy and complete the regime A follow-up visit was made in June to meet addi- change of 1989. Critics argued that the new laws tional government and NGO representatives in were moving Hungary away from the principles Budapest. In Gyöngyöspata, a village which was and practice of liberal democracy. the scene of extreme right demonstrations against Roma a year earlier, we met representatives of the Due to the concerns over the speed and scope of Roma community to hear more about their situation

LEFT: Kids playing in the village the legislative reforms, the Norwegian Helsinki and the growth of extreme right groups. Gyöngyöspata. Committee decided to reach a better understanding

RIGHT: Journalists on hunger of the legal and political developments in Hungary In October 2012, an updated expanded draft of the strike outside the headquarter of by conducting a number of meetings and interviews report was discussed with a group of Hungarian a Hungarian TV-channel. human rights organisations. They also elaborated on how the many legislative changes, the financial crisis and the political environment affected their work.

The Norwegian Helsinki Committee published its second report in January 2013, and remains critical of the reforms, although some concessions have been made due to criticism by European institutions and Constitutional Court rulings. The NHC will ­­continue to monitor developments, and in particular the outcome of new legislative initiatives intro- duced in early 2013 that give rise to new concerns.

24 Norwegian Helsinki Committee 24•25

Human Rights in Norway III

In 2012, the NHC was active on a range of human rights issues in Norway, including human rights in prisons, Norway’s obligations under the UN treaty bodies, re-organisation of a strengthened National Institution for Human Rights, minority and refugee issues, discussions on establishment of a National Preventive Mechanism, the human rights situation of illegal residents, proposals for introduction of a chapter on human rights in the Constitution, proposing human rights policies to political parties, etc.

Refugee protection NHC regularly provides briefings for election issues observers heading to missions in areas where Given our knowledge about the human rights the NHC has key competence. Secretary General ­situation in the countries in which we are active, as Bjørn Engesland is a member of the board of the a human rights organisation we have a responsibility Centre for Human Rights, and NHC is also a to give some assistance to asylum seekers from member of the advisory board of the NCHR/ some of these countries who are in need of National Institution for Human Rights. ­protection in Norway. We agree to intervene in a limited number of cases where intervention may be ­valuable and necessary to receive protection Human rights in the from Norway. We provide information to asylum Constitution and future lawyers, the immigration services and other authori­ties, National Institution for both generally and in specific cases. In 2012 the Human Rights NHC continued to support asylum lawyers with The NHC remained active on issues related to information related to cases of asylum seekers, in the future organisation of Norway’s National particular from the North Caucasus, Azerbaijan and Institution. NHC argued that a separate Human Central Asia. A number of decisions in individual Rights Commission should be established, taking cases at the appeals board of the immigration over the role of being Norway’s National Institution authorities (UNE), and in first and second instance from the NCHR, being set up and given sufficient courts, have been based on or referred to informa- resources to become fully Paris Principles- tion and testimony from the NHC. Although we do compatible and able to ensure full respect for not have regular consultations for asylum seekers, human rights in Norway. we experience a constant stream of applicants to our office, which shows there is an unmet need for The NHC also argued that Norway’s National assistance. Preventive Mechanism, which has to be established when Norway ratifies the Optional Protocol of the UN Convention against Torture (OPCAT), should The Norwegian Centre be a part of this new institution. However, the for Human Rights ­government preferred a different solution. The NHC cooperates with the Norwegian Centre for Human Rights (NCHR) on a range of issues. The NHC took part in discussions based on a In 2012, the NHC cooperated with the NCHR on ­proposal from a Parliament-appointed committee arranging meetings with representatives of the to amend the Constitution, including a chapter Romani/Tater people of Norway. The NHCR is on all categories of human rights (civil, political, functioning as a secretariat for a government- economic, social and cultural). The NHC supported appointed commission to investigate past policies the proposal, arguing that listing human rights in related to this national minority, and to propose the Constitution will increase their prominence in measures for the government to strengthen the legal and political matters. The NHC participated protection of the human rights of the group. in a hearing organised by the Standing Committee on Scrutiny and Constitutional Affairs of the Norwegian Parliament on 16 April, where we Annual Report 2012

­promoted these points of view orally and in writing and by responding to questions from MPs. Later in the year, NHC gave input on these issues to the programme committees of the political parties represented­ in the Norwegian parliament.

Norwegian NGO Forum for Human Rights and focus on the United Nations For many years, NHC has been hosting the ­secretariat of the Norwegian NGO Forum for Human Rights. In February, the Forum issued general recommendations to the government of Norway regarding human rights priorities at the United Nations and recommending action on Kazakhstan, Russia, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Sudan and five thematic areas, including, inter alia, ­discrimination and persecution on the grounds of religious belief, caste and sexual orientation. The recommendations are widely distributed within the Foreign Service and are believed to efficiency and openness. The then Minister of have had an impact on Norway’s priorities and Foreign Affairs, Jonas Gahr Støre, promptly actions at the UN as it represents the collective responded to the letter on behalf of the government priorities of many civil society organisations and invited the NGOs to a dialogue meeting. By (NGOs). The document was presented and the end of the year the government had proposed ­discussed at a meeting with the Ministry of to the parliament to ratify and implement the Foreign Affairs. OPCAT appointing the Parliamentary Ombuds­ person as the National Preventive Mechanism In August the Forum sent an open letter to the under the protocol. This proposal was criticised by Government of Norway addressed to the Prime NGOs, both on the basis of substance as not fitting Minister, expressing regrets that several issues the task and on the basis of procedure, as there regarding Norway’s international human rights had been only limited dialogue or advance

Gene Sharp meets obligations were not handled with the customary ­exploration of alternatives. Norwegian Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre.

Gene Sharp receives a standing ovation at the Human Rights Human Wrongs 2012 (Photo: Tom Henning Bratlie).

26 Norwegian Helsinki Committee 26•27

The UN Committee against Torture (CAT) examined The festival was built around four themes: Status th th NHC’s Anders Nielsen at the Norway’s combined 6 and 7 report in October- Illegal, Nonviolent Revolutions, Business and opening of the Human Rights November, in Geneva. NHC was part of a delegation Human Rights, and Battle for Justice. The aim of Human Wrongs 2012. of Norwegian NGOs there. NHC delivered a joint the festival is to generate and stimulate debate on Panel debate on the situation of statement on behalf of the delegation, took part in known and lesser-known human rights issues, raise paperless refugees (Photo: Tom Henning Bratlie). answering questions from interested Committee awareness on human rights violations, demonstrate members and in informal lobbying activities. NHC the importance of human rights documentary film- had coordinated and edited a joint alternative making and provide a platform for activism and report issued to the Committee the previous year. further engagement. Again, all these goals were CAT issued concluding observations highlighting achieved: 13 films from 8 countries were screened, many of the issues raised by Norwegian NGOs, among them 8 Norwegian premieres and one including the use of solitary confinement, the ­pre-premiere. In addition, 7 panel debates, one use of police cells, children in prison, Norway’s Q&A with renowned non-violence activist Gene National Institution for Human Rights and the use Sharp and various talks took place, giving room of force in mental health care, among other issues. for discussion and a perspective for all the films. In a number of meetings with the authorities NHC The festival also hosted 13 international guests, has called for efficient follow-up of the concluding who participated in debates and discussions. observations of the CAT, but the issue remains These included Gene Sharp and Rasul Jafarov from open at the end of the year. the Azerbaijan Human Rights Club, who debated the potential of non-violence as a weapon against NHC was re-elected to serve as Secretariat of the brutal dictatorships, with the ongoing Arab upris- Forum for two more years and performed this task ings as backdrop. The festival also featured­ a panel throughout 2012. debate moderated by Berit Lindeman of NHC on the situation of paperless refugees who are living almost without human rights. Human Rights Human Wrongs documentary In addition to the official festival programme, the Film Festival festival included school viewings of the films Human Rights Human Wrongs, Scandinavia’s “5 Broken Cameras” and “Imagining Emanuel”, only film festival dedicated to human rights, was which deal with the issue of paperless refugees, arranged for the fourth time in Oslo in 2012. when the students got to meet director Thomas The event took place at Parkteatret and Litteratur­ Østbye and the main character Emanuel Agara. huset from February 7 to 12. As before, the NHC co-organised the festival together with Oslo Human Rights Human Wrongs managed to attract Dokumentarkino and the Human Rights House an audience of about 2,550 people, with an Oslo. average of 104 people on each showing, setting a new record. Media coverage was extensive. Annual Report 2012

IV Human Rights Education

Human rights education is an important pillar of the NHC’s work. Our primary goal is development of democratic societies where people actively participate in the advancement of human rights culture, where the achievement of individual rights goes hand-in-hand with international standards, and where conflicts are resolved through open dialogue, securing a peaceful coexistence.

Our human rights education programme focuses on four main areas: 1. Monitoring human rights education, with the aim of influencing the commitment of the individual states in this area; 2. Human rights education as a means to developing strong civil society and free media; 3. Human rights education as condition for attainment of individual rights, and individuals’ capability and opportunity to actively participate in social life; 4. Work to rebuild trust and reconciliation after conflicts, in order to secure lasting peace and peaceful coexistence.

In Norway, the cooperation with Buskerud mitigating the conflict in intercultural relationships. University College and Drammen municipality has We also addressed violence against women and been continued. In September we organised a hate crimes against those belonging to sexual and two-day seminar for around 100 employees of the gender minorities. The training sessions focused Introduction Centre for Refugees in Drammen. specifically on common regional challenges, such as the failure of institutions in handling gender- Our education materials are included in the related problems, the legacy of sexual violence manual for teachers, “The right to choose – Ideas during the conflicts, and to secure – rather than for education programmes on forced marriages hinder – the right to freedom of assembly and and similar topics”, published by the Norwegian expression based on membership of a group. At the Directorate for Integration and Diversity. end of the year we managed to bring participants from the region to Mitrovica, Kosovo, to draw In 2012 we continued our international education attention to the root causes of the recent unrest activities through seven existing programmes. In and conflict. The thematic focuses of the regional addition, we have contributed with our knowledge schools were also reflected in the youth projects and experience in many relevant activities carried implemented by our 12 youth groups in the region. out by other organisations and institutions. We consider the most substantial result we have achieved to be the long-lasting impact we have on Western Balkans active youth participation in society. More than two-thirds of our participants remain active within Human rights education for civil society a year after participating in our Active Citizenship schools, which is an impressing number compared As part of the regional programme Human rights to averages concerning the youth population in education for Active Citizenship: more than 400 general, estimated at no more than 2 percent. young people received training in human rights, intercultural understanding, non-violent communi- Our long-term efforts to influence the institutional cation and youth activism in 2012. commitment to human rights education is pro- gressing, despite reluctance from the institutions to In addition to the human rights schools at local level, deal with topics such as transitional justice, war we directed the focus at current events and human crimes, sexual and gender minorities and more. rights issues and regional human rights schools, with We organise joint events, advice on curricula and participants from all the republics. We addressed participate in discussions about how to improve the increasing ethnic tension and the potential for the civic education programmes in the region.

28 Norwegian Helsinki Committee 28•29

Students in Novi Pazar. Conference in Novi Pazar regarding universities and their role in peace building.

The role of the universities in North Caucasus peacebuilding Our programme for intercultural understanding and The pilot project ”Intercultural understanding and human rights in Chechnya, Ingushetia and North human rights” that we started in 2011 in Bosnia Ossetia has been implemented in cooperation and Herzegovina has resulted in a three-year with the Civic Assistance Committee since 2009. regional programme uniting universities and In 2012 we provided various training for 76 young ­non-governmental organisations in Serbia, Bosnia people and 27 police officers, and our participants Conference in Mostar on universities and and Herzegovina and Kosovo. The Buskerud have carried out projects which have included peace building. University College is also part of the programme. approximately 700 children, youth, students and The aim of the programme is to open a dialogue others. on the role of the universities, to teach staff and students in peacebuilding, which would result in An issue which has been repeatedly addressed is concrete actions to be implemented in cooperation corruption within education institutions. Other with the authorities. The participating universities recurring themes relate to the need for non-violent are, because of the geopolitical context they arenas, such as youth clubs, movie screenings and operate in, politicised, ideologised and ethnicised. social projects. Dissemination of information about Besides, courses related to human rights are human rights, as well as training for young people ­generally seen as futile and problematic, since and children about human rights, remains important they introduce controversial issues and they to the participants. ­question the status quo. As a part of our work on intercultural dialogue, we Last year we succeeded in establishing a network have carried out joint activities between Ingush of partner universities, as provided for in the pro- and North-Ossetian youngsters from the ethnically gramme and to implement the planned activities. divided areas in the outskirts of Vladikavkaz. Workshop. We did this despite the fact that two universities withdrew from our cooperation for political reasons. We established the study in intercultural understanding and human rights for full-time and part-time students in four universities. We took up topics like education and nationalism, nationalism and history learning, nationalism and language, ­literature learning, self-victimisation in education and more. We organised an exchange of students and teaching staff among universities. We also organised two open conferences about the role of the universities in peacebuilding in Mostar and Novi Pazar. University libraries with literature on human rights and intercultural understanding were established. The programme also has its Facebook-page: https://en-b.facebook.com/ Build.Bridges.Not.Walls. Annual Report 2012

We aim to help these Through the training sessions over 350 young young people to estab- people gained knowledge about democratic ideals, lish relationships with universal values, tolerance and political participation; each other and we 40 activists were trained to monitor and prepare believe this contributes an alternative report to the UN Committee on the to understanding and a Rights of People with Disabilities; over 30 activists positive development took part in the training of human rights monitoring. in the stalemate between these ethnic In 2012, a lot of effort was put into how to cover groups. human rights in the media and which tools to use in human rights campaigns. The specific focus was During 2012 we intro- on different minorities, investigative journalism, duced police officers in security implications and journalists' rights as well

Enver Djuliman and Mevlud Dudic´, principal of the university of Novi Pazar, Ingushetia as a target as means of protection. Over 100 journalists took at the opening of the human rights corner in the university library. group. In cooperation part in the seminars. A seminar for lawyers on the with the Ombudsman European standards for the protection of human institution, we discuss, rights and fundamental freedoms was organised among other pressing as well. issues, the problem of torture and forced New useful teaching materials were developed, ­disappearances in the translated and published. The participants in our republic. Along with seminars are actively using their networks for our work with young sharing knowledge and experiences. As part of a people and teachers, study trip, a group of human rights activists visited this work will be a human rights monitoring NGOs in Norway as well ­priority for the coming as Norway’s penitentiary system. Studying human rights and multicultural understanding in Novi Pazar. years. Belarus South Caucasus A three-year project was completed in December At the end of 2012 we started a new EU and 2012. Our target groups have been young people, Norwegian MFA-backed programme, the teachers, activists and journalists, but we also “Coalition for Rebuilding of Trust”. It is a project involved women and law enforcement officials. designed by NHC and six partners from Armenia, Through human rights schools, seminars and Azerbaijan and Georgia. It aims at addressing round-table discussions we contributed to the problems caused by past wars that have left scars ­dissemination of knowledge about human rights in in the troubled region that is the South Caucasus. the authoritarian Belarusian society. We also sup- It seeks to empower and assist civil society organi- porting the translation and publication of relevant sations and individuals to address root causes of human rights-related handbooks and materials. the conflict and contribute to the establishment of tolerance and understanding, which is perceived Over 140 journalists participated in different edu- as the only means of guaranteeing in the long term cational, solidarity and capacity-building activities, respect for human rights and peace in the region. as well as in public discussions about the legal Marion Kipiani, the citizen of Austria permanently status of Belarusian freelance media workers. based in Tbilisi, was chosen for the position of In 2012 the focus was on promotion of media regional coordinator for the programme. campaign activities and the development of the Belarusian freelance journalists’ web-section at www.baj.by. Distance training courses were also Ukraine very popular among young as well as experienced NHC’s cooperation with UHHRU in the framework journalists. In November, the 10 best-qualified of the three-year project “Let Us Understand Human ­participants from the previous three years were Rights-All Ukrainian Educational Programme” ended invited to Oslo to attend training by local media in December. The project's goal was to contribute and human rights experts, and to visit the editorial to Ukrainian society’s having access to relevant offices of leading Norwegian media outlets and education in human rights, and to encourage the offices of human rights watchdogs. ­citizens’ positive engagement in societal issues. Training programmes for activists, young people, Several important publications were printed in teachers and school administrators, journalists, 2012. For example, COMPASS (Council of Europe’s lawyers, police and prison officials were organised manual of human rights education for young via a broad network of our cooperation partners. people), a brochure “Family violence is not a private affair”, study materials for journalists, etc.

30 Norwegian Helsinki Committee 30•31

Human rights school for people working in penitentiary facilities in Ukraine.

Training sessions to increase women’s knowledge of their rights reached their audience, and more women are able to detect where the rights are impaired, know where to apply for help and ­protection, and educate others around them. Also, the Territorial Social Welfare Centres (TSWC) are more capable of, and active in, rendering ­professional assistance to those in need and in making recommendations on how to act in ­specific situations of violence. Human rights school for Belarusian and Ukrainian youth Law enforcement-themed seminars were in in Krim. demand in 2012 as administrative repression is the main way of persecuting activists in Belarus. As a result, activists are becoming more aware of workers, law enforcement officials and people the need to know their rights and effective ways of working with disabled people. acting in emergency situations. Several follow-up training sessions were organised for alumni from New in 2012 is that we organised, in cooperation previous years as well. In addition, alumni with the regional NGO "Renaissance of Russian ­communicate via social networks, share opinions, culture" and the Northern Federal University advise each other, elaborate joint projects, etc. Lomonosov in Arkhangelsk, an elective course in Human rights education activities will be continued human rights. Lars Petter Soltvedt, a professor from in Belarus over the next three years (2013-2015). Buskerud University College and a member of the Council of NHC, co-organises this section. The first semester was attended by 50 students and to Russia: The Barents our knowledge we are so far the only NGO to initi- project ate university courses on human rights in this part The Barents project, implemented in various forms of Russia. since 2000, involves cooperation between the non-governmental sector and the authorities in the In total, we have organised education for 100 young regions of Murmansk, Arkhangelsk and Karelia in people, 75 teachers, 100 journalists, 75 people Russia and Northern Norway. The aim of the who work with the disabled, 175 employees in project is dissemination of knowledge on human the Correctional Services and 150 police staff. rights, intercultural understanding and peaceful Evaluation questionnaires handed in by representa- conflict resolution by implementation of educa- tives of the target groups show that an overwhelming tional programmes directed towards young people majority now consider human rights education as and teachers, journalists, correctional services one of their priorities. Annual Report 2012

V NATALYA ESTEMIROVA DOCUMENTATION CENTRE: Keeping record of crimes and human rights ­violations in the North Caucasus

NHC continues its work on the Natalya Estemirova Documentation Centre (NEDC) which has been established to ensure documentation of grave abuses in Russian North Caucasus. The centre is a co-operative project with Russian and international non-governmental organisations.

The North Caucasus, and in particular Chechnya, Documents and material include witness testi­ Ingushetia, and Dagestan, remains a region where monies; videos; photographs; and other first-hand serious human rights abuses continue to take place records, as well as prosecution documents; court and where it is highly dangerous for human rights decisions; and other case materials. The Centre’s defenders to operate. A culture of impunity prevails, secure server has been set up and some of the with almost no accountability for the atrocities. partner organisations have digitised and secured What is more, some important documentation large parts of their archive. Partner organisations ­relating to the conflicts has already been destroyed held one annual meeting to coordinate their efforts or disappeared and, as time goes by, the risks of in 2011. A new meeting is planned to be held in such damage continue to increase, thus further April 2013. magnifying obstacles to ensuring accountability. Recently, the Centre has developed a cutting-edge Nine Russian and international human rights documentation system which has a capacity to organisations, which have extensively documented store and organise transferred archival information Natalya Estemirova. atrocities perpetrated during the conflicts in the in a way that allows its multi-purpose North Caucasus, agreed to use. Among its numerous functionali- compile and preserve documen- ties it allows the same document to tation from different public and be used both in order to map con- non-public sources in a compre- crete criminal incidents and to hensive and unified information develop a catalogue of missing or base. They delegated NHC to killed persons in the region. It

develop such an information NEDC enables setting individual incidents The Natalya Estemirova Documentation Centre base and ­establish the Docu­ and crimes into a larger context of mentation Centre in Norway as military conflict and attacks. It an inde­pendent organisation. The allows analysts to trace the organi- nd colleague Natalya rights defender and The Centre is named after our friend a Estemirova, an award-winning Russian humanHuman Rights Centre, va was abducted by Head of the Grozny office of the Memorial Centre was named after our friend zny, Chechnya. Her body sational units allegedly responsible one of the partners of the Centre. Estemiro unknown persons on 15 July 2009 in Gro was later found in Ingushetia. s the many cases she he Centre. It is our The files on Estemirova’s own case as well a rial to the spirit and and colleague Natalya Estemirova, took part in documenting will be preserved in t for the large-scale human rights hope that the Centre will be a worthy memo after serving many years r life to the struggle courage of Natalya Estemirova who, under extremely difficult conditions, gave he an award-winning Russian human for truth and justice. violations committed during the rights defender, who was abducted conflict. and killed in 2009 by unknown perpetrators.­ Categorisation of information according to the time the information was reported and geo- In establishing the Centre, the organisations explicitly graphical grids will allow cross-reference of different refer to international human rights and international facts and relate to the role of different individuals. humanitarian and international criminal law instru- This work is ­particularly important in order to ments as the basis for its activities. An underlying analyse the role of possible perpetrators and their principle is that a lasting peace in the North respective networks and institutions. The staff of Caucasus is impossible without justice, the establish­ the Centre provide support and quality control of ment of truth and the preservation of a factual history the work. of the armed conflicts of the 1990s and 2000s. This principle is clearly stated in the 22 September 2010 Oslo Resolution on establishing the NEDC.

32 Norwegian Helsinki Committee 32•33

Co-operation and VI International ­processes

The NHC is a member of several national and international networks of human rights organisations. Each year our representatives participate in a range of international meetings and conferences. We strive to be a key player among organisations and fora dealing with human rights issues, our goal being to influence international organisations and states to protect human rights and promote human rights issues.

Organisation for a separate meeting on the developments after the Security and Co- 2010 unrest in Osh between interested diplomats operation in Europe and NHC partners. (OSCE) OSCE Ministerial and Civic Human Dimension Solidarity Platform Implementation Meeting (HDIM) On 5 December the NHC and a range of other The NHC was present with two staff members at activists from Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia the OSCE/ODIHR’s Human Dimension Imple­ gathered at the OSCE Parallel Civil Society mentation Meeting (HDIM) in Warsaw. In our Conference in Dublin Castle on the eve of the interventions at the meeting we focused on the 19th OSCE Ministerial Meeting. The organisations, importance of an independent judiciary, drawing representing the Civic Solidarity Platform, adopted upon the examples of the Sergey Magnitsky case the Dublin declaration on Human Rights Defenders in Russia and the case against several opposition and a document outlining civil society recommen- members in Western Kazakhstan. We also drew dations to the delegates from OSCE participating HDIM in Warsaw.. attention to governments' obligation to facilitate states gathered in Dublin. US Secretary of State Photo: OSCE Piotr Markowski. human rights education, including by refraining Hillary Clinton received the documents during a from hindering participation by visa denial. separate meeting with some of the activists, and Together with the Netherlands Helsinki Committee also referred to the platform during her interven- and other European and Central Asian colleagues, tion. As did several others of the Ministers present, the NHC participated with a presentation on including the Irish Chairman in office Eamon freedom of religion or belief in a side event Gilmore and the Norwegian Minister of Foreign addressing the sober reality of the human rights Affairs, Espen Barth Eide. ­situation in Central Asia. The NHC also facilitated

OSCE 19th Ministerial Council in Dublin. Annual Report 2012

LEFT: In front of Palais de Nations in Geneva.

RIGHT: Demonstration at the International Partner­ Human rights dialogue HDIM in Warsaw. ship for Human Rights The NHC, represented by Secretary General Bjørn In 2011 NHC entered into a formal collaboration Engesland, has since 1999 participated in the with Brussels-based NGO International Partnership ­official human rights dialogues held by the for Human Rights (IPHR) to represent NHC in EU Norwegian government with China, Indonesia bodies and to serve as a two-way information and Vietnam. In 2012 Engesland participated in channel between EU and NHC. The agreement the dialogue meeting with Indonesia, participating ensures that NHC can have input to some of the in the working group for the police and the armed many relevant advocacy opportunities in the EU forces. The dialogue with China has been structures during the year. In 2012, through this ­suspended since 2010, due to the strong Chinese ­co-operation NHC has been informing the EU reactions to the granting of the Nobel Peace Prize institutions of its findings and concerns related to to the Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo. human rights issues in various countries and regions. The NHC provided input to EU processes The NHC holds that the dialogues remain important such as EU human rights dialogues with Armenia, channels to address human rights issues and Azerbaijan, and Kyrgyzstan. develop contacts. There are, however, limited ­possibilities in the dialogue set-ups with Vietnam Through joint initiatives with IPHR and other and China to assess any impact of the dialogue on partner organisations, it has called on the European the countries’ human rights policies. Union to capitalise on the negotiations for an Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement with Kazakhstan to advance concrete human rights International justice improvements. In connection with the five-year The NHC remained active on international justice anniversary of the EU Strategy for Central Asia, the issues, providing comments and viewpoints to the NHC and other groups have appealed to EU insti- media and taking part in seminars and discussions tutions and member states to place human rights at on issues related to the operation and set-up of the the core of its engagement with Central Asia to International Criminal Court (ICC), the two UN ad ensure an effective impact on the current status quo, hoc courts for the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda, marred by systematic violations. On EU internal as well as other international legal bodies, and matters, the report “Democracy and human rights ­universal jurisdiction issues under Norwegian law. at stake in Hungary” informed decision-makers in Europe about recent developments in the centrali- The NHC is a member of both the international NGO sation of power and threats to the independence coalition for the ICC (CICC) and the Forum for of the judiciary and media freedoms in this EU International Criminal and Humanitarian Law (FICHL), member state. and takes an active part in some of its activities.

34 Norwegian Helsinki Committee 34•35

During the year, the NHC cooperated with Georgian human rights organisations to collect and present material to the ICC on investigations into war crimes during the 2008 war between Georgia and Russia. The NHC published a report on the state of Russian investigations. The NHC continued a major project together with eight Russian and international human rights organisations to establish a centre for documenting international crimes in the North Caucasus. The NHC co-organised with CICC a meeting in May in Almaty for Central Asian NGOs on ICC-related matters.

The NHC Deputy Secretary General, Gunnar M. Ekeløve-Slydal took part as an expert witness in a trial in the Oslo city court of a Rwandan for ­participation in the 1994 genocide. Panel at the seminar “The Silenced”, a side event to the located in the Oslo Human Rights House which is Oslo Freedom Forum. Oslo Freedom Forum a member of the Human Rights House Network. The NHC remained a partner in organising the We are also a founding and active member of Civic Oslo Freedom Forum, an international conference Solidarity Platform, which includes 35 leading civil first organised in 2009 to gather activists from society organisations and is an international plat- across the world to speak about fundamental free- form for cooperation on advocacy in the OSCE doms and democracy issues. The main organiser area. In 2012, NHC was among the founders of is the New York-based Human Rights Foundation. European Platform for Democratic Elections The fourth Oslo Freedom Forum took place from (EPDE), uniting 14 leading NGOs with a focus on 7–9 May 2012 titled “Out of Darkness, Into Light”, election observation, and is a member of the EPDE with 38 prominent speakers from all over the steering committee. We are also members of the world. In addition to NHC, partners included International Partnership Group for Azerbaijan Amnesty International Norway, Civita and Plan (IPGA), promoting freedom of expression issues in Norway. Azerbaijan. In addition, we are members of the International Coalition for the ICC, the Forum for International Criminal and Humanitarian Law International networks (FICHL) and the Euro-Mediterranean Human NHC is a member of several international net- Rights Network and DARE – Democracy and works of human rights organisations. The NHC is Human Rights Education in Europe.

LEFT: Press conference at the Oslo Freedom Forum. Annual Report 2012

VII Eea grants

Through the EEA and Norway Grants, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway contribute to reducing social and economic disparities in, and strength­ ening bilateral relations with, EU countries in Central and Southern Europe. For the period 2009-14, the EEA Grants and Norway Grants amount to €1.79 billion and benefit NGOs, Launch event in Sofia. research and academic institutions, and the public and private sectors within 15 EU countries. Key areas of support are environmental protection and climate change, research and scholarships, civil society, health and children, gender equality,

justice and cultural heritage. Launch event in Tallinn.

Ten percent of the total EEA Grants are dedicated to support of civil society. A strong civil society is one of the cornerstones of a well-functioning Grants and NGO funds in the beneficiary countries, democracy. The Norwegian Helsinki Committee assisting in establishing contact and cooperation has since 2005 been responsible for coordination between non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and information towards Norwegian civil society in the beneficiary countries and Norway, and under the EEA and Norway Financial Mechanisms giving advice to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in and NGO funds, with a particular focus on bilat- matters related to Norwegian civil society. eral partnerships. The main areas of support Through this project the NHC cooperates closely include democracy, human rights, good govern- with the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, ance, anti-discrimination, reduction of social ine- the Programme Operators in the beneficiary qualities and gender equality. ­countries, Donor Programme Partners, the Norwegian embassies in the beneficiary countries The NHC is responsible for keeping Norwegian as well as the Financial Mechanism Office. civil society informed about the EEA and Norway

Launch event in Riga

36 Norwegian Helsinki Committee 36•37

Information meeting in Oslo. Programme operator seminar in Oslo.

In order to facilitate bilateral partnerships, informa- organisations represented during the launch tion meetings about the EEA grants were arranged ­conferences illustrates the diversity of the NGO in the six largest cities of Norway, attracting a wide sector in Norway. There is great interest in learning range of representatives from Norwegian civil more about the so-called Nordic Model of demo­ society organisations. The NHC also maintains cracy, where NGOs play an important role. NGOs direct contact with Norwegian organisations from the beneficiary states are very interested in seeking information about the EEA and Norwegian sharing experiences and developing joint projects Grants. A website portal is also maintained by with Norwegian counterparts. NHC to facilitate dissemination of information and search for partners. One of the main overarching themes of the ­NGO-fund is hate speech, and the Norwegian NGO funds were launched in several countries Helsinki Committee also coordinated the start of throughout 2012, and the NHC facilitated the an informal network of NGOs in Norway working attendance of potential Norwegian partner on the issue, as well as attending and recom­ ­organisations during launch conferences in mending speakers for training and conferences Estonia, Latvia and Bulgaria. The voluntary sector on the topic. NHC was also in the reference in Norway consists of 115,000 non-governmental group that planned a conference on the topic in and non-profit organisations, and the range of Budapest in November 2012.

Information meeting in Trondheim. Annual Report 2012

VIII Information

Media Contact articles on the website www.nhc.no, in addition to

20122010

• 21 REPORT As an independent human rights organisation, we other postings. On average, the NHC website had

Democracy at stake in Hungary consider it imperative to maintain high visibility 235 unique visits per day in 2012. The NHC also

the orbán government’s constitutional revolution and communicate our points of view to the general became more active on social media platforms like public, the media and directly to the Norwegian Facebook and Twitter. authorities. A significant aspect of

20102012 • the activities of our information department is 2 REPORT Publications A CHRONICLE OF VIOLENCE therefore to communicate the work of the NHC The events in the south of Kyrgyzstan in June 2010 (Osh Region) and its views to the media and the general public. The NHC published the following reports in 2012:

The NHC subscribes to a service from Meltwater ❯❯ Waiting for Russian Justice: The ineffective news that tracks media appearances. In 2012 the Russian investigation of crimes committed during

MeMorial hu rights centerMan NHC or its advisors were registered with around the August 2008 armed conflict between Russia

20102012

• 23 REPORT 500 hits in Norwegian electronic media. Here and Georgia Waiting for russian justice: ❯❯ the ineffective r it should be noted that this figure refers only to A Chronicle of Violence: Report details June of crimes committedussian during investigation the august 2008 armed conflict between russia and g eorgia e­lectronically published articles and reports. 2010 events in Kyrgyzstan Material in printed publications is not taken ❯❯ Democracy at stake in Hungary – The Orbán into account, but these represent a substantial government's constitutional revolution additional source of visibility. Additionally, NHC representatives are frequently used as commenta- The NHC was also part of the report published by tors and experts, and in debates on radio and TV International Partnership Group for Azerbaijan (IPGA), programmes. We have also been mentioned on “Running Scared: Azerbaijan’s Silenced Voices”. numerous occasions in Russian-language and other international media. NHC was the publisher of a book written by Sonja Biserko, Chair of the Helsinki Committee for The NHC has set the agenda on several important Human Rights in Serbia titled Yugoslavia's Implosion, human rights questions in 2012, and we are con- The Fatal Attraction of Serbian Nationalism. tinuing to be one of the most visible human rights organisations in Norway. All publications can be downloaded from the web page www.nhc.no, or ordered from the NHC information department on request. Web pages The information department communicates the work of the NHC through its own website, Membership Facebook, Twitter and publications. In the course As of the end of 2012, the NHC had 570 individual of 2012, the NHC published 107 relevant news members.

IX Finances

The total spending in 2012 was 36,4 million NOK The Norwegian Helsinki Committees donors are out of which project support for partners consti- primary the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, tuted 22,8 million NOK. Total income balance was the Freedom of Expression Foundation (Fritt Ord), 36,5 million. Open Society Institute, National Endowment for Democracy and the European Commission. Gifts, members contribution etc. provided an income of 225 613 NOK.

38 Norwegian Helsinki Committee 38•39

xx From a Sing for democracy rally in Baku, Azerbaijan

Kirkegata 5, N-0153 Oslo Phone: (+47) 22 47 92 02 – Fax: (+47) 22 41 60 76 www.nhc.no

07 Media