NORDEM 20 years This is NORDEM

NORDEM, the Norwegian NORDEM recruits, trains and NORDEM’s annual courses on Resource Bank for Democracy deploys qualified personnel to human rights, democratisation and Human Rights, is a civilian roughly 15 international organi- and election observation inte- capacity provider specialising in sations and operations that work grate both practical and aca- human rights and democratisa- in the field of human rights and demic perspectives. NORDEM tion support. democratisation. NORDEM aims also develops and conducts towards gender balance in specialised­ courses. NORDEM’s main objective is to recruitment and deployment. enhance the capacity of interna- The Organisation for Security and NORDEM supports several tional organisations and national Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), ­international mechanisms and authorities to promote democ- the UN and the EU are some of collaborates with a number racy and human rights. NORDEM’s main partners. of organisations that provide civilian capacity. In addition, NORDEM’s expertise includes NORDEM manages a standby NORDEM offers advice, supports good governance, democratic roster of approximately 250 the transfer of knowledge and institutions, independence of the experts who have completed experience and contributes to judiciary, judicial and legal more than 2,000 assignments research. reform, human rights, election since 1993. observation and election NORDEM is fully financed by the assistance. NORDEM publishes special Norwegian Ministry of Foreign reports and manuals. Affairs and is a programme at the Norwegian Centre for Human Rights at the University of Oslo. Table of contents

Foreword by Minister of Foreign Affairs Børge Brende ...... 3

Foreword by Director of the Norwegian Centre for Human Rights Nils A. Butenschøn ...... 5

The establishment of NORDEM – a conversation between Siri Skåre and Jan Egeland ...... 6

The establishment of NORDEM ...... 8

Democratisation and Statebuilding ...... 12

Elections: Observation and Support ...... 32

Afterword by NORDEM Director Marianne Kvan ...... 56

Photos by (from left) Leif Tomas Vik, South Sudan 2013, Bryant Jones, Mongolia 2013, Nicolay Paus, Senegal 2012

1 2 Photo: Bryant Jones, Mongolia 2013 foreword

Strengthening democratic values and promoting respect for human rights – key pillars of Norwegian foreign policy – are essential for ­achieving lasting peace and development throughout the world. The NORDEM standby roster has proved to be a valuable means of ­furthering these aims.

In 1993, the world was changing. The Cold War was over. It was a time of hope for a better future for millions of people who had been living under the yoke of dictatorship, but it was also a time of great uncertainty. New wars were already being waged in the Balkans. Norway was eager to support the fledgling democ- racies in former dictatorships and to strengthen respect for human rights world- wide. One way of doing so was to provide qualified personnel for international Photo: Thomas Haugersveen/ and regional organisations in countries undergoing a transition from war to Statsministerens kontor peace or from dictatorship to democracy. The Norwegian Resource Bank for Democracy and Human Rights (NORDEM) was established in 1993 as a standby roster of experts in the fields of democracy and human rights. It emerged as a separate project under what was then the Norwegian Institute of Human Rights, now the Norwegian Centre for Human Rights. The resource bank was a groundbreaking initiative. Over the past 20 years, NORDEM has carried out more than 2000 assign- ments. NORDEM’s expertise has been of great value to its partners, primarily the UN, the EU and the OSCE. On the international stage, the experts deployed by NORDEM demonstrate the breadth of Norway’s competence, and when they return, they bring back valuable experience from their assignments. In this way NORDEM brings benefits both abroad and at home. In 2013, the global patterns of conflict are quite different from those of 1993. Nevertheless, the need for democracy-building, institution-building, good ­governance and promotion of the rule of law and human rights remains as great as ever, and is in fact steadily increasing. NORDEM follows developments closely and is a dynamic, flexible mechanism that deploys Norwegian experts where they are needed most. It is a crucial instrument of Norwegian foreign policy. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has worked closely with NORDEM for the last 20 years, and I am confident that this cooperation will continue in the years ahead.

Congratulations on the success of your first 20 years.

Børge Brende Minister of Foreign Affairs 3 4Photo: Nicolay Paus, Senegal 2012 foreword

The Norwegian Centre for Human Rights (NCHR) year I was deployed by NORDEM as an adviser to is proud to celebrate the twentieth anniversary of the Norwegian election observers in the first elec- NORDEM, our largest and longest-running interna- tions in Palestine, and was the co-author of an tional programme. It was natural for the Institute ­analysis of these elections that was published for Human Rights (the name used up to 2003) to by NORDEM as a follow-up research report. The assume this responsibility in 1993 at the request of projects linked to Africa’s Horn and the Middle East the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. are two of many examples of the positive collabora- At that time we were a small, young and broadly tion and synergy created between academic and based institute working at the intersection of aca- practical work via NORDEM: practitioners in the demic and practically oriented human rights efforts. field need researchers’ insight into various geo- In the crucial phase that followed the Cold War, a graphical and thematic areas, while researchers number of the institute’s key staff members con- derive great benefit from the practical experience tributed as experts in various UN forums and in the and access to fieldwork that NORDEM projects Council of Europe. The desire to anchor human often offer. rights more firmly in the international order was In this anniversary report we want to present very strong, not least on the part of the Norwegian some highlights of NORDEM’s activities and initia- authorities. tives over the past 20 years. I am certain that the NORDEM became an important mechanism for need for such Norwegian pioneering efforts will be recruiting and training experts for international no less 20 years from now than it is today. assignments in the field of democracy and human rights. During the very first year NORDEM received 32 requests from international organisations, and 28 people were deployed to seven countries. The first assignment in 1993 was to monitor the referen- dum in Eritrea on independence from Ethiopia, and this was the starting point for comprehensive activities addressing human rights challenges in the Horn of Africa in the following decade. NORDEM’s mandate in the field of democracy and human rights was defined broadly and was related to the needs that immediately arose in the rebuilding of ‘the new democracies’ after the disso- lution of the Soviet Union. The need was particu- larly acute for competence in the organisation of free elections, democratic governance, legislation and the administration of justice, news media and human rights education. I myself became familiar with NORDEM’s work when I represented the Faculty of Social Sciences Nils A. Butenschøn on the board of the institute from 1996. In the same Director

5 Nordem turns 20

“Democracy and human rights are inseparable,” said Nelson Mandela. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993 – the same year that NORDEM was founded.

The world had witnessed many humanitarian crises. Could they develop and establish an emergency And Norway had built up an emergency prepared- preparedness mechanism providing personnel to ness that could supply humanitarian assistance international organisations? Kristin Høgdahl was a where it was needed. But with the break-up of the student at the centre at that time: former Yugoslavia and warfare in the Balkans at the beginning of the 1990s, it was quite clear to Thor- “When the request came, I was in the process of vald Stoltenberg, the Foreign Minister at the time, completing my thesis in political science,” says and to his State Secretary Jan Egeland, that there Høgdahl. “The Centre was smaller than it is today was also a need for a completely different kind of and there was no one who could take on the assign- competence: People who at relatively short notice ment from the MFA. So the management of the could be deployed to international operations to institute asked if I could head up the establishment work in the field of human rights and phase. There were many consultations with the democratisation. MFA: What did they envisage? What thematic areas would it be appropriate to support? What tasks The idea was conceived in 1991: Norway was to should the experts have?” establish a resource bank consisting of experts in democracy and human rights. Thorvald Stoltenberg Høgdahl soon became the first head of NORDEM launched the concept of NORDEM – the Norwegian and remained in that position until 2001. Today she Resource Bank for Democracy and Human Rights is acting head of the National Institution for Human – at a meeting in Oslo of the CSCE (Conference Rights at the Centre. on Security and Co-operation in Europe), the fore- runner of the OSCE (Organization for Security and Thorvald Stoltenberg wanted to put in place a Co-operation in Europe). ­community of professional and highly qualified experts. He left it to NORDEM itself to identify who The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) sent an enquiry should be recruited for assignments abroad. to the Institute for Human Rights (later the Norwe- ­Norway was scoured for experts in the following gian Centre for Human Rights) where the lawyers areas: elections, democratisation, free media, and human rights experts Asbjørn Eide and Torkel ­conflict resolution, the protection of minorities, Opsahl worked. They had established the centre rule of law, good governance, institution building, in 1987, and Eide was the Director up to 1998. political diversity and human rights training. The question that was put to them was:

6 The mandate was to recruit, train and provide NORDEM’s support activities have changed in line ­highly qualified personnel for institutions such as with this, moving from sending human rights the EU, the OSCE and the UN. In addition, NORDEM observers in a broad sense to providing mentors was to offer various types of training related to and institution builders – experts who reinforce the human rights and election observation. capability of the national authorities to provide security and social welfare to their own population The recruitment still primarily takes place in in keeping with international commitments. ­Norway, but also internationally. NORDEM looks for different kinds of competence depending on the In election monitoring the trend is reverse. Whereas needs of the organisations. The requests may come in the early years NORDEM personnel in interna- directly from the organisations; for example the tional missions gave advice and contributed to the UN may approach Norway, asking: “Do you have a conduct of elections, their role has predominantly French-speaking expert on witness protection who become to observe elections. Today there is a can be seconded to DR Congo for six months?” growing demand for support throughout the entire NORDEM searches its database looking for suitable election cycle: revising legislation, improving voter candidates. registration, establishing an electoral roll, educat- ing voters etc. In 1990s the NORDEM’s secretariat staff numbered three people. Today there are seven. Even though A judge to Kosovo. An election observer to the mandate has remained the same for ­Azerbaijan. A gender expert the DR Congo. Over 20 years, there have been operational changes in the last 20 years NORDEM has deployed more than line with the global conflict dynamics and the 2,000 experts to support the EU, the OSCE, the UN response of the international community. During and other regional organisations and international NORDEM’s 20-year history, the incidence of tradi- peace-keeping operations. And it seems the world tional wars and armed conflicts between countries still needs NORDEM. has diminished while conflicts within countries have increased. The result is that international opera- tions have developed from monitoring ceasefires and keeping the peace between countries to ­preventing conflicts and providing support in the transition from conflict to peace.

NORDEM – Norwegian Resource Bank for Democratisation and Human Rights 7 Siri Skåre is Director of international programmes at the Norwegian Centre for Human Rights. With experience from working in NORAD and in the Ministry of the Environment and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, she was one of the first to be sent on an election assignment for NORDEM (1993). Skåre was the Director of NORDEM from 2002 to 2010.

Jan Egeland is Secretary General of the Norwegian Refugee Council. He has, amongst other posts, served as UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Political Adviser for the former foreign minister Thorvald Stoltenberg, State Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Secretary General of the Norwegian Red Cross, and Director of the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs.

The establishment of NORDEM

How did NORDEM come into being 20 years ago? And how will NORDEM develop in the next 20 years? Jan Egeland and Siri Skåre meet to chat about the anniversary.

A large map of the world hangs on the wall of Jan Skåre: “At that time I was an election observer Egeland’s office at the Norwegian Refugee Council. through NORDEM. My first assignment was observ- This prompts the question: What did the world real- ing the referendum in Eritrea. The country had gone ly look like 20 years ago? At the time when Thorvald through many years of war and conflict with Ethio- Stoltenberg was Minister of Foreign Affairs, and his pia. Then there was a referendum, and Eritrea once State Secretary – Jan Egeland – came up with the again became an independent state. It was an idea of NORDEM? Egeland pours important event in global history, even though the a cup of coffee for his guest, Siri Skåre from the situation in the country gradually deteriorated Norwegian Centre for Human Rights, before he afterwards. The following year I was in South Africa answers: – another important event. Then I went to the ­Balkans on numerous occasions. This is merely “The Cold War was over, and there was room for what I took part in – lots more happened through- initiatives. When Thorvald Stoltenberg invited me to out the 1990s. But you mentioned opportunities: join the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1990, I noticed I’m thinking about the Copenhagen document from that there weren’t a lot of restrictions. There was 1990 where one of the obligations of OSCE states room for action, even though there was great was to accept election observers from other mem- uncertainty as well. The Cold War had ended, but ber states. The commitments the states estab- this was still a peak period for wars and crises. lished then would probably not be agreed to today.” At no time had the world seen as many armed ­conflicts as the year NORDEM was established. Just think of the Balkans going up in flames.”

8 “How did you actually get the idea for NORDEM, had said we were going to ‘stop being a passive Egeland?” money bag and be a proactive contributor’. And this proactive player had to make a move. I scratched “I came to Thorvald from voluntary organisations my head and ­wondered if we should create some- and was used to an action-oriented culture. After thing like NOREPS for demo­cracy and human rights. the Gulf War in 1991, when Kuwait was freed by, I asked Thorvald what he thought about the idea, amongst others, American forces, the Kurdish and he said it was brilliant.” ­refugee crisis showed that the humanitarian system was unable to react. Our contribution to strength- Skåre: “It was a dynamic time.” ening the international system was to establish Egeland: “It was indeed, because Thorvald was NOREPS, which offered emergency relief materials a very positive person. We decided to stop asking sent from Norway, and NORSTAFF (now NORCAP), ‘Can it go wrong?’ and instead ask ‘Can it be suc- which deployed personnel. Suddenly we had both cessful?’ Today we’ve perhaps gone too far in the materials and staff on standby for humanitarian direction of a society of audits and evaluations. purposes. It was characteristic of the times that the Are people again more scared of making mistakes OSCE, as well as other organisations, was very con- than of creating something completely new? I think cerned about elections and democratic processes. the answer may be ‘Yes’. So there are a lot of good At the end of 1991 we were going to host a large- ideas that never materialize. People rather ask scale OSCE conference in Oslo. The idea struck me ‘Can I be criticized for this? Where’s the statutory a few days before the conference: Shall we launch authority? Shouldn’t all this be put out to tender?’ something new? Present a Norwegian initiative? We

NORDEM – Norwegian Resource Bank for Democratisation and Human Rights 9 an existing budget – the money was there. What had happened before was that we sent a huge cheque to Geneva, Brussels or New York, and they did the job. Instead of this we then said ‘We can do this ourselves from Norway’.”

Skåre: “And the people NORDEM has sent out have come back to Norway with valuable competence. That’s also a significant effect of this type of work.”

Egeland: “Another thing is that there aren’t only Norwegians in NORSTAFF and NORDEM– interna- tional experts are sent out as well.”

Skåre: “Yes, although the experts in NORDEM are mainly Norwegian. But when we can’t find the com- petence in Norway, then we seek it internationally.”

And how long will a procurement process take – six Egeland: “I recommend that you do more of that months? If we’d had similar procurement regula- during the next 20 years. An important point is that tions 20 years ago we’d never­ have taken the initia- it’s the global community that is to implement the tive for what the OSCE needed – namely NORDEM.” standards. Most people agree with democracy, though I’d prefer to call it ‘people-oriented partici- “How has NORDEM been viewed outside Norway, pation in decision processes’. As we know, human Skåre?” rights are universally accepted – but they have to be universally implemented as well.” “These were the first stand-by rosters that were established in the world. It was unique. And it Skåre: “And finally, Egeland, are you proud of your remained so for a very long time. We were the role idea?” ­model for other countries for many years. A number of representatives came to visit us to see how Nor- “Yes. It’s great to be invited to this 20th anniversary way had set up its mechanisms. NORDEM became a celebration. At the time we thought we had to do sound and professional system that wasn’t part of something short term rather than just talking, but the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.” the concept and the project are still going strong. NORDEM exists today because competent people Egeland: “The credit goes to those who have built have managed it over the years. The credit goes to up NORDEM over the years.” them. Twenty years ago I thought it would perhaps be a five-year project, not that it would become an “You left it to the experts to manage NORDEM institution.” themselves, Egeland?”

“Yes. In the Ministry there are relatively few people and a lot of ongoing tasks. We bought the skills we needed from the Institute for Human Rights within

10 The first assignment – referendum for independence in Eritrea.

Siri Skåre and her observa- tion partner Albert, from former Zaire (now DR Congo), pictured during the UN observation of the Eritrean referendum on independence.

The international ­community received a warm welcome from the local population.

Interpreter, driver, Head of the local elec- tion committee and Albert pictured outside a polling station.

All photos: Private

NORDEM – Norwegian Resource Bank for Democratisation and Human Rights 11 Democratisation and StateBuilding

The Norwegian prosecutor Nina Grande works in the EU rule of law mission (EULEX) in Kosovo.

12 The Norwegian prosecutor Nina Grande works in the EU rule of law mission (EULEX) in Kosovo.

NORDEM – Norwegian Resource Bank for Democratisation and Human Rights 13 The Pathfinders Prosecutor Nina Grande and other NORDEM experts are helping Kosovo develop a state based on the rule of law.

Seated at a sidewalk café in Pristina, Nina Grande partially recognised by the ­international commu- sips her morning tea from a glass and watches nity. According to the Kosovo Agency of Statistics ­people hurry past. (KAS), Kosovo has 1.8 million inhabitants (2011). “How does it feel to be here in Kosovo?” The ethnic distribution is roughly as follows: “Good! My colleagues are generous and friendly. 94% Albanians, 2% Serbs, 1.5% Bosniaks and It’s interesting that we have different backgrounds, Gorani, 1% Romani and 1.5% Turks. “It takes some because the legal framework differs from country months to get to know the culture and to really find to country. I’m learning a lot.” out what’s what. I read a lot about the country before I came here, but the background to the war Plains surrounded by mountains. Along Kosovo’s is complex,” says Grande. new roads lie villages with orchards, green hills and old industrial areas. Today’s Kosovo borders on The country formed part of the Ottoman Empire Montenegro to the north-west, Albania to the up to 1913. At the end of World War 1, and with the south-west, the Macedonian Republic to the south collapse of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, a Yugo- and Serbia to the north and east. Kosovo is still only slav or Southern Slav state was founded called the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes. This took place on 1 September 1918, and Kosovo was part of The whiteboard in prosecutor Nina Grande’s office gives a this state. glimpse of the cases she is working on in Kosovo. The first Yugoslavia collapsed after being attacked by Germany and the other Axis powers in 1941. Kosovo was under Italian occupation during World War 2. A new Socialist Yugoslavia under Communist Party leadership emerged as a result of the resistance struggle during the war. In 1945 Kosovo was incorporated into the second Yugo­ slavia as an autonomous province within the ­People’s Republic of Serbia.

It started as an internal affair and developed into a major conflict that shook the whole of Europe. During the breakup of Yugoslavia, the Kosovo-­ Albanians wished to acquire the status of a repub- lic, but Belgrade wanted stricter control of the province.

14 EULEX supports Kosovo on its path to a greater FActs: EULEX: European integration in the rule of law area. EULEX Current mandate expires 14 June 2014 continues to concentrate on the fight against corruption and works closely Head of Mission: Bernd Borchardt with local counterparts to achieve sustainability and EU best practices in Headquarters: Pristina Kosovo. EULEX prioritises the establishment of the rule of law in the north. 2 250 international and national staff

The Pathfinders

Graffiti in the streets – the text reveals that EULEX is not popular in all quarters.

In 1989 the Serbian leader Slobodan Milosevic Serbia lost the formal right to govern Kosovo after revoked Kosovo’s autonomous status, and Kosovo the NATO bombing, and the province then came came under Belgrade’s direct control. Kosovo put in under international administration. The UN opera- place parallel – i.e. shadow – state structures. tion UNMIK was given responsibility for governing In 1996, in answer to increasing Serbian repression, Kosovo until a long-term solution to the deadlock Kosovo-Albanian separatists started guerrilla between the parties could be found. ­warfare against the Serbs. In 1999 NATO launched a military intervention in Yugoslavia to prevent On 17 February 2008 Kosovo declared itself an inde- ­Serbian forces from committing war crimes against pendent state. Europeans – with EULEX, the EU’s the Albanian civilian population. This was followed The EU’s rule of law mission – gradually took over by large-scale bombing by NATO, while at the same some of UNMIK’s areas of responsibility from 2009. time Albanians and Serbs continued their hostilities Today EULEX has approximately 2,250 national and on the ground and large groups of the population international employees in Kosovo. Their mandate is fled. to help the country establish a permanent and accountable legal authority that is worthy of a dem- ocratic, multi-ethnic state.

NORDEM – Norwegian Resource Bank for Democratisation and Human Rights 15 “Cases involving wartime killings and missing per- sons have made an impression on me. We may have found bullets, but how do you prove who owned the gun that fired the bullets fourteen years ago? Corruption is a major problem. There are still a lot of weapons in the area and it seems people don’t hesitate to use them. We also see cases of revenge killings.”

Grande sits in a NISSAN Pathfinder with EULEX license plates. In the back of the car there’s an unused bulletproof vest and a gas mask. She is driving north towards Mitrovica, one of Kosovo’s largest towns. During the war, corpses floated in the River Ibar. Nina Grande works in a mobile team and tries cases Today only the occasional household trash bobs up all over the country. and down in the water. At the end of the war, the town was divided; the river separates the northern part from the southern A separate Act gives the foreign judges and pros- part. Albanians are in the majority in the south and ecutors employed by EULEX the same formal pow- Serbs in the north. The situation has improved, but ers that local judges and prosecutors have. Nina it is still tense. There is a lot of crime in Mitrovica. Grande says: The Ibar Bridge that separates the two parts is “The Act regulates what cases we can work on guarded by police officers and soldiers. Serbia does – and when we can get involved. Since we are con- not recognize Kosovo’s independence, and the graf- sidered impartial, we are given the most sensitive fiti in northern Mitrovica clearly shows that EULEX is cases and ensure that they are heard. It’s difficult unwanted. When Grande is in Mitrovica she is not for the local public prosecutors to deal with some allowed to move around freely in the northern part of the cases due to political interference and accu- of town for safety reasons. She is obliged to stay sations of corruption.” mainly in the EULEX base in the south. If she has to attend court on the other side of the river, she is “About 1,700 persons are still missing after the war. driven there in an armoured vehicle. We’re still working on cases involving disappear- ances, but although we do the best we can, it’s Every so often the Norwegian prosecutor drives almost impossible to find answers after fourteen to Peja in the west of the country, a town set in years. Often we have to decide not to prosecute. beautiful surroundings at the foot of the Bjeshket e That’s difficult for relatives of the missing to accept. Nemuna mountains. But dropping these cases is also about being hon- Up two flights of stairs, past a secretary, and est with them.” Grande arrives at the office of Agron Galani, Chief of the District Public Prosecutors Office in Peja. They The EULEX Mission consists of a main office in Pris- discuss new incidents in Peja and developments in tina, and a large unit in Mitrovica in the north. Nina cases that are being handled jointly with local pub- Grande works in the ‘Prosecution Mobile Team’ that lic prosecutors. EULEX is withdrawing from some of is responsible for cases from the entire country. the cases they were working on earlier, and an

16 Nina Grande enjoys lunch with her national counter- part, Chief Prosecutor Agron Galani, in scenic surroundings near Peja.

increasing number of legal areas are being trans- “When will there no longer be any need for ferred to local public prosecutors. them?” “We have a lot of very good people ourselves, Chief District Prosecutor Galani is feared by crimi- but they’re not ready to take on cases where impor- nals in these parts. He maintains that crime rates tant, powerful people are involved. My guess is have fallen by 15 per cent over the last five years, we´ll need EULEX for another four years,” says and almost all murder cases are now being solved Galani, lighting a fresh cigarette. – largely due to help from the international experts. “It’s extremely important that people see that He is known as one of the best prosecutors in we’re actually doing something to combat crime ­Kosovo and is a member of the Kosovo Prosecuto- here in Kosovo. Yesterday, for instance, I arrested rial Council (KPC) – an independent body that two senior municipal officials. When people see ensures an overarching strategy for the country´s that everyone is equal before the law, they realise prosecuting authorities. that they can trust us.” On his desk stands a miniature version of Kosovo’s “How is the collaboration with the lawyers from flag. It is blue with a gold-coloured map of Kosovo NORDEM?” in the centre. Above this appear six stars – one for “The Norwegians have been active and helpful. each of the ethnic groups that live together. Their manner and approach creates positive com- Nina Grande also sees a small figure on the desk: munication with all the parties.” Lady Justice. She seems to fit right in.

NORDEM – Norwegian Resource Bank for Democratisation and Human Rights 17 The view from the outside - -

hat hat “The answer that to is not quite as encouraging, “It’s too early to say. It´s not easy a build to It´s too early say. to “It’s ill Kosovo be successful?” Kosovo ill W particularly important countries in where all actors thein political community try ‘take to the state hostage’.” function?” institutions Kosovo´s do “How but onthe other hand we must remember that eve rything has from be to built scratch W here. they’ve is achieved since impressive. 2008 And expertsNORDEM’s made a contribution. have From the beginning of this century they were deployed firstto theHousing andProperty Directorate(HPD) and then Property The the to Kosovo Agency (KPA). displaced Serbs were get to their properties back, but the cases were documentedandbadly difficult from back. way It was politically sensitive, and the Serbs had feel to confident that decisionsin prop erty cases The be would made solution impartially. was give to the practitioners legal to job from abroad.” “ democratic system a new in country that has emerged from a state with an authoritarian regime overturned from conflict that and a everything. A democratic form five in of government built isn’t years. The start has been promising, and there’s optimistic: Butstill the I’m population do. to a lot is and young theof country Kosovo is open its in theapproach to outside world.” -

osovo. osovo.

ell – of course we do that a certain to

“A local prosecutor public doesn’t or judge have “A “Between we were and faced 1999 1996 with an he Norwegian approach is different from that of others: we ask others: that of from is different approach The Norwegian questions and seek dialogue. We don’t just go in and push for results in and push for results just go don’t We seek dialogue. questions and Jan Braathu, the Norwegian says us,” that no one wants except K ambassador to “ Big changes rity – even for those of us who were protected by passports.diplomatic It was not pleasant see to how Serbian soldiers treated Albanians at Kosovo the checkpoints. That pressure terrible is no longer Serbsthere. Kosovo and other minorities a have better life than today they some did years ago. This doesn’t mean that it hasn’t been here difficult for Serbs, but they complain no longer about the security.” “Is it helpful that Norway sends experts the to country?” it easy retaliation here: can affect their families. Jan Braathu has on Balkan issues worked in the Ministry of Foreign AffairsHe 1996. served since as ambassador Bosnia-Herzegovina to before taking charge of the Norwegian Embassy Pristina in in The firstKosovo 2011. time he wentwas1996: to in There wasatmosphere a feeling of fear. of insecu an advantageSo it’s international have to experts certainin positions. And an example of what it’s we can contribute without imposing values our on them. W legislationextent, that is but Kosovo’s it’s international Having enforced, not Norway´s. experts counterparts local their provides here with new discussion partners, and this generates an important someone dynamic. it Plus, means there’s there who can withstand the pressure. This is 18

The view from the outside TheThe viewview ffromrom thethe oouutsidetside 19 - Braathu. – What they have to Kosovo, Mr. Jan Mr. to Kosovo, achieved Kosovo in is Norway’s Ambassador impressive. Norwe The a very says positive way, gian experts contribute in on and Human Rights or Democratisati ce Bank f NORDEM – Norwegian Resour

The view from the outside NORDEM er s i n th e fi l d

Feels a connection “I’ve always felt that I have a connection to the area,” says legal adviser Ermina Avdic.

Ermina Avdic normally works in the field of refugee and asylum law at the Immigration Appeals Board in Oslo. One of her colleagues tipped her off about NORDEM. Now she’s on her fourth week in Kosovo. “I’ve always felt that I have a connection to the area. My parents are from Montenegro. Even though I grew up in Norway, I was born in Judge Vidar Stensland has previously worked in Georgia. Macedonia. And my father worked Now he is based in Mitrovica in Kosovo. in Kosovo in the 1980s. In addition, I speak Serbo-Croatian.” “What’s it like working in the field of property law here?” Developing “It’s exciting to work on new sub- jects and legal areas. But I’m a bit professionally impatient. I have to tell myself that I need time to familiarise myself with “Getting to know a completely different system may give me the situation before I can accom- a much better understanding of the system at home,’’ says plish as much as the others who’ve Vidar Stensland, a judge in the criminal court in Mitrovica. been here for a long time.” He came to Kosovo four weeks ago and is still trying to find his bearings. The experienced judge has been allocated an office in The Norwegian lawyer the EULEX base in Mitrovica, as well as another further north. Ermina Avdic works He lives in Mitrovica and must adhere closely to the security as a legal adviser arrangements. Stensland also has experience from Georgia, but in Kosovo. more in an advisory capacity. Now, for the first time, he will work as a judge in another country. “I’m looking forward to working as a judge here, and to col- laborating with local colleagues. I will be dealing with more or less ordinary criminal cases, in addition to war crimes. My expecta- tions? Partly of a professional nature. Getting to know a complete- ly different system may give me a much better understanding of the system at home. For many years, I’ve lectured in criminal law at university, and I think this experience will be useful in teaching as well. Also, there’s the culture, a new environment and new colleagues.”

20 NORDEM er s i n th e fi l d

Toning down the warlike atmosphere “I made some mistakes in the beginning,” says Judge Tore Thomassen.

He came to Kosovo via NORDEM in 2011. And as The judge – who is also a theologian and has been he says himself: “I didn’t get the full picture at the a clergyman, in addition to having a military back- start.” He goes on to explain: “When it comes to ground and lengthy experience in the oil industry property cases, there’s a special procedure. There – has now learned that reality can actually be were a few judges who had taken over some cases worse than imagination: and had made mistakes by not following this proce- “For example, people have earned money by dure. I thought to myself: ‘Don’t all judges make selling the organs of people who’ve been killed.” mistakes – that’s why we have an appeals system.’ “Someone might seek revenge against you. I didn’t understand that they had done this deliber- Are you frightened?” ately to evade the special procedure. And that it “No, I’m old. I live an anonymous and cautious was corruption. It’s such a sensitive issue.” life. But there’s an abundance of weapons – includ- ing in the courtroom, where the parties often have Previously, Tore Thomassen served as a member armed guards. But I’m trying to tone down the war- of the Court of Appeals and of the Supreme Court like atmosphere little by little.” of Kosovo. Following a reform that took effect on “Are you learning anything?” 1 January this year, he ended up in the Appellate “I’m acquiring a totally different approach to our Court where he is one of three international judges. own legal and political traditions; I see how fragile “You have the most sensitive cases?” western secular liberal democracy actually is.” “Yes, a lot of them are related to war crimes, “Is it difficult to get people to testify?” corruption and people with power. The more every- “Yes, they’re offered immunity and protection, day crime is increasingly being transferred to local but people changing their testimony in court is a judges.” common problem. And to prevent undue influence, “Can you give some examples of cases?” we have to underline clearly in the decisions that “One was related to the war in the summer of the authorities must keep their distance.” 1999. People in a village that included fifteen Serbian families received threats. They had to gather in a house and were the victims of an attack by the ­Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) that lasted all night. In the morning, the Serbian families gave in and came out of the house. The women and children were sep- arated from the men. And the men have never been seen again. Charges were brought against some of those who took part in the attack.”

“There have also been a number of cases related to the assassination of Albanians who weren’t active in Judge Tore Thomassen the KLA. But it’s complicated. For many people the works in the Appellate defendants are war heroes. Just think about it: Court, where he is one After World War 2, Norwegians would never have of three international accepted that the members of the resistance move- judges. He is pictured here ment could be charged with war crimes.” discussing with colleague Nina Grande.

NORDEM – Norwegian Resource Bank for Democratisation and Human Rights 21 The view from the outside - - reconciliation and reconciliation hy do theyhy do that?” who died 2006. in Siv-Katrine Leirtrø’s office President Ibrahim Rugova Rugova Ibrahim President A picture of the legendary the partnerthe organisations she works with. In the background: Minority Issues one Kosovo, in of is located near Pajaziti the Zahir square Pristina. in She is pictured here with Adrian Zeqiri, Executive Director of the European Centre for “Maybe because they’re a bit sceptical the to “So it helps speak to the language?” “That’s invited obvious, peo to and then you’re provides funding for several projects. of the IMG The keywords democracy are human building, equality, gender rights, development, corporate education, youth, minorities, ­ Norwaydialogue. has also provided financial sup port for the development of a visa system Kosovo in adapted Schengen to requirements. “I get the impression that the foreigners who come a tendencyhere have just socialize to with each other W their in leisure time. But Kosovo-Albanians? by failing get to ‘dangerous’ knowto the caught local population, an in you’re bubble.” international homes, you establishple’s better contact and get learn to to have You knowto better. the culture listen.” - - - hen she’s out on the hen she’s e talk everyone to – also e get people to talk to each other,” says Siv-Katrine Leirtrø. Leirtrø. Siv-Katrine says each other,” talk to to people e get “The most important we thing do is getting peo “It’s important “It’s for me not be to too “preachy”. W ple to talk to each other. W talk to ple each to other. thatabout mind ‘people in Norway’s Keeping role. are just people’ is absolutely fundamental me to – this partI always make of approach.” my Ms Leirtrø has studied political science and com parative politics, and majored Serbo-Croatian. in She has extensively worked with questions related theto through Balkans the Ministry previously, of Foreign AffairsEuro in the and throughNORDEM she works as pean Monitoring Union Mission. Today, Management International the at Manager Project a seconded Norway through NORDEM. Group (IMG), I like people feel to I like free say to what they think. This country, my isn’t I can whenever leave I want says Siv-Katrine Leirtrø. W to,” streets of Pristina, almost everyone She greets her. speaks fluent Serbianlittle and a and hasAlbanian, for fourlived Kosovo in and years. a half People are just people are People “ 22

NORDEMThe viewer froms in ththee fioueltdside The view from the outside - 23 - - hat pros on and Human Rights or Democratisati ce Bank f “There are fewer and fewer Serbs Kosovo. in a national have strategy, there mustTo be two must children reconciliationand 2) parameters: 1) be born the in area. The policies adopted Serbia in withoutwill result a Kosovo in Serbs. W pects can when you have isolation you in live and solitude? How can three small municipalities sur vive isolation? in And there are no universities for people travel young they to our Serbia to here; have for higher education. They no future have prospects.” “Language you know what Kosovo, is In a problem. the have ethnic If we didn’t group people belong to. Stojanovic international community Kosovo…” in stubs cigarette his and lights a new “I don’t one. describe to able know just if I’m how important it is for them us have here been to … If it hadn’t for peo Siv-Katrine Leirtrø, like ple you might justas well discard the whole Ahtisaari plan.”

- - former govern by govern people NORDEM – Norwegian Resour The Mayor of Gracanica, e’re between e’re a rock everyday life the in Serb enclave. Bojan Stojanovic, vividly recounts

e’re a miracle. A miracle! Gracanicaa miracle. is one of e’re

W “ Bojan Stojanovic´s the stairwayIn Bojan Stojanovic´s Mayor to up office hangs a photographHillary him and of Clin a hard place a hard without the international today here municipalities be any wouldn’t there convinced “I’m of Gracanica. the Serb mayor Stojanovic, Bojan says ­community,” Between a rock and and a rock Between which is situated municipality, His ton. just outside Pristina, was established with line in 2009 in the Ahtisaari Plan. the smallest municipalities – but the it’s one that’s most says Stojanovic, talked about,” surrounded of cigaretteby a cloud Before smoke. he became he chaired the parliamentary committeemayor, for minority groups. was He born Pristina. in Now he relates: “Pristina wasn’t particularly enthusiastic about the idea of establishing Serbian our municipality. If it for weren’t the international Gra community, And existed we would canica have wouldn’t today. been have a much worse in position.” hasHe on his mind. a lot a fact“It’s that if Albanians choose could a Kosovo without Serbs, what that’s they pick. would The situation W easy. isn’t and a hard place. Between Pristina and Belgrade. Belgrade regards us as ‘Thaci-Serbians’ (Hashim current prime minister and leader Thaci, Kosovo’s Democraticof the Kosovo Party; former political Serbsleader of the the KLA). in whole of the ­ Yugoslavia have lost have Yugoslavia their identity as a ­ because Belgrade has been allowed ­ to control.” remote

The view from the outside The view from the outside

- - Foreign Affairs. When Petrit Selimi the Deputy Minister of his studies Norway, in he returned after completing ­established pessi «post the and a cartoon he is café. Today, He also established a newspaper mists», a network of youth NGOs. oreign Minister Minister oreign “Kosovo as“Kosovo a state fiveyears is only People old. He meetsHe us for a sidewalk at a hurried lunch res taurant Pristina. in Devouring a hamburger we while speak, heexplains: tax;pay schools. roads and built 120 we’ve But we need investment. And good advice. The Norwegian experts are hardworking. They also role play a key since they deal with the most sensitive cases.” - N mediator Thorvald Stoltenberg

e don’t need money, we need good advice,” says Kosovo’s Deputy F Kosovo’s says advice,” we need good need money, e don’t W Petrit Selimi in fluent Norwegian. Norwegian. Selimi in fluent Petrit and the Norwegian who Kai Eide discov diplomat “ It was former U The experts play a key role a key play The experts ered the multi-talented Petrit The teenager Selimi. received a grant attend to him allow to a Norwegian upper secondary school and university, and Petrit learned the Norwegian language. he Back Kosovo in founded a newspaper pursuing while his university studies. as worked He an adviser for Statkraft and And with connections his both to countries, Telenor. he has contributed Norway’s to understanding of he went 2008 into politics, In followingKosovo. in the footsteps of his father Today and grandfather. he is a deputy foreign minister the at age of 34. 24

The view from the outside T h e vi w f rom th e o utsi de T h e vi w f romNORDEM er s i n th e fi l d th e o utsi de Photo: Private

Photo: Private Magnus Forberg Andersen conducts training for local partners in South Sudan

The Belgian-Moroccan barrister Hanan Talbi has worked on cases in Burundi and DR Congo since 2010. Building a state Tools for governed by the protection rule of law “Even though the challenges are overwhelm- “I’m involved in developing tools that can be ing and the resources meagre, I do think we used by examining judges and other judicial have a positive influence on South Sudan´s practitioners in the Democratic Republic of overall development,” says Justice Officer Congo,” says witness protection expert Hanan Magnus Forberg Andersen. Talbi. Since February this year Forberg Andersen has The objective of the Belgian-Moroccan legal been assisting the authorities in South Sudan to practitioner Hanan Talbi is to strengthen the protect the civilian population through the gradu- capacity of Congolese institutions to protect al development of a state governed by the rule ­victims, witnesses and court staff during trials. of law – with a particular focus on combating NORDEM sent her to DR Congo to work in arbitrary detention. He is seconded to the UN MONUSCO, the UN peacekeeping operation there. operation UNMISS. He and a colleague are tasked MONUSCO´s mandate emphasises the protection with the UN’s work in this field in Warrap State, of civilians, not least with regard to sexual and which has 970 000 inhabitants. gender-based violence against women. Talbi “The number of illegal detentions has been works both on ensuring that protective measures reduced. By facilitating the creation of mobile are in place in selected high-profile trials which courts in the districts, we have strengthened the could set a precedent for other cases, and more administration of justice. These are some of our generally on capacity-building and advocacy. contributions,” he tells us. “We’re making progress, but it takes time,” There are numerous challenges: too few judges she says. and lawyers, overfilled prisons and police cells. She ran her own law firm in Brussels but felt she Electricity is a rare luxury, and the roads are would rather work on human rights issues. Initially impassable. Everything is in short supply – from she found a job as a lawyer in a humanitarian organ- printer paper to vehicles. On top of this there are isation, but she soon realised that she would prefer the security challenges: tension between Sudan to contribute positively to a country’s long-term and South Sudan, rebellious militias and internal process of change. So she contacted NORDEM. tribal feuding. But Forberg Andersen knows what “I feel very privileged. When we implement is required of a peacekeeper. The key words are protection mechanisms for victims, I can see the realism, patience, diplomacy and persistence. actual results of my work. I’m grateful for that.” Guts. And a focus on finding solutions.

NORDEM – Norwegian Resource Bank for Democratisation and Human Rights 25 NORDEM er s i n th e fi l d

Headed the investigation “Should we concentrate on those who had taken part in the killings and who were still in the country? Or on the people who had organised the murders but who were in Indonesia?” asks Chief Public Prosecutor Siri Frigaard. In 2002, she was deployed to Timor Leste.

“What strategy were we to adopt Before Frigaard embarked on legal when selecting cases for investiga- studies, she worked for a period of tion? It was a difficult choice,” says Siri time at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Frigaard. where she heard about NORDEM for the first time. Later she submitted her She arrived in Dili, the capital of Timor CV and was deployed on a number of Leste, at the beginning of January assignments. 2002. And as the “Deputy General Prosecutor for Serious Crimes,” she In addition to being Chief Public had the responsibility for leading the ­Prosecutor, Frigaard is currently Photo: Private work on investigating and prosecuting director of the Norwegian National crimes against humanity committed in Authority for Prosecution of Organised the period up to 25 October 1999 – and Other Serious Crime. She deals when the UN intervened and assumed with cases such as genocide, crimes control of the country. She was in against humanity and war crimes, as charge of a group of 134 experts. well as terrorism, data crime, online sexual abuse of children and organ- Frigaard decided to focus on hunting ised crime. down the perpetrators: “The indictment that attracted most When she looks back, the strongest attention was that of eight high-rank- impression she retains after a year ing officials, all of whom were in Indo- and a half in Timor Leste is this: nesia. These included Wiranto, a gen- “The surviving women who had lost eral and former minister of defence, their husbands and sons, who looked as well as Abilio Soares, a former at me with sad eyes that mutely asked ­governor of Timor Leste. But, to my the question: ‘Why is the person who great disappointment, Indonesia killed my loved ones not in prison?’” refused to cooperate. As of today, none of the eight have been put on trial. Nor is there any international pressure to achieve this.”

26 NORDEM er s i n th e fi l d

A healthier perspective “The judicial proceedings against the Derg regime progressed at a snail’s pace and had serious inadequacies in regard to human rights standards,” says business lawyer Frode Elgesem. He was in Ethiopia in the 1990s.

The trial against the former Ethiopian resources of the judiciary, which was head of state Mengistu Haile Mariam already understaffed and drowning in began in 1995. He played a leading role cases. It created a hopeless situation in the military coup that deposed Haile for the judicial system,” says Elgesem, Selassie in 1974. In 1987 Mariam who is currently a partner in the law became president; four years later he firm Thommessen. went into exile in Zimbabwe. Mariam and others in the Derg (the Ethiopian He was working on human rights Armed Forces Coordinated Committee) cases for the Office of the Attorney were charged with crimes against General of Norway when he was asked Photo: CF-Wesenberg/ humanity committed during the Red if he would join NORDEM’s standby kolonihaven.no Terror in the 1970s. NORDEM sent Frode roster. Elgesem to Ethiopia on several short assignments to observe the court pro- “Knowledge of the conditions that ceedings. The trials took place in the colleagues in countries like Ethiopia capital Addis Ababa and at local courts work under gives me a healthier in several other parts of the country. ­perspective on the everyday life of Norwegian lawyers. I’ve seen how “The fact that the judicial proceedings similar our thought processes are, progressed slowly and had major defi- and it’s exciting to be part of a com- ciencies was particularly serious since munity of legal practitioners who have it was highly likely that the prosecu- grown up and work under very differ- tion would seek the death penalty ent cultural and material conditions. against Derg officials. The proceed- It offers many opportunities for valu- ings claimed a large part of the able collaboration.”

Knowledge of the conditions that colleagues in countries like Ethiopia work under gives me a healthier perspective on the everyday life of Norwegian lawyers.

NORDEM – Norwegian Resource Bank for Democratisation and Human Rights 27 NORDEM er s i n th e fi l d

The Head of Mission “I feel I was doing something meaningful and that I achieved something, even though there is still a long way to go. It was a fantastic time,” says Ivar Vikki. He was one of NORDEM’s secondees to the OSCE for many years.

Russia, Armenia, Tajikistan, Georgia, Kazakhstan. In 2003 I was appointed head of the UN Human Ivar Vikki, who is now retired, has extensive experi- Rights Office in the Georgian break-away republic ence in countries that previously formed part of the of Abkhazia. Then for four years I was head of the Soviet Union. People have asked him how he could OSCE in Kazakhstan, followed by a year in Turkmen- bear to work abroad for so long – often under istan for Statoil where my main task was to estab- ­difficult political and social conditions. He replies lish a presence. After that I was head of the OSCE in that the many varied, exciting and challenging Tajikistan from 2009 until February this year.” assignments fired him with new enthusiasm each time. Quite simply, he feels he did something As opposed to several other missions which in meaningful. practice are purely project offices, the mandate of the mission in Tajikistan is to assess the political Although English Literature was the main subject of situation in the country. This became a balancing his second degree, he has spent almost all his act for Ivar Vikki: working life in the field of international relations. Initially in the intelligence service, where he chiefly “On the one hand I had to maintain correct and analysed politico-military issues. But he left the constructive relations with the host country author- service when the Soviet Union collapsed, and con- ities, while at the same time not losing sight of the tacted NORDEM to become an election observer: principles and commitments of the OSCE. It was difficult. As head of mission I had to be an actor in “I was deployed to the Balkans, Russia, Armenia the internal political arena but without our work and Georgia to observe elections. In 1998, after a being perceived as interfering with domestic affairs period as director of the Norwegian Refugee Coun- – which in practice would have completely para- cil in North Ossetia, I took the job of deputy head lysed our activities. So it was important to build of mission for the OSCE in Georgia. This became the confidence with the host country authorities. Then I largest mission in the Caucasus, with more than could also pass on notifications of concern directly 300 employees, including international observers to the relevant authorities – such as allegations of on the border between Georgia and Chechnya. police brutality against groups or individuals. And in several cases the authorities followed these up.”

28 NORDEM er s i n th e fi l d Photo: Private

“What achievements are you most pleased about?” party lines, with women from all parties. Also, the OSCE Border Management Staff College, which was “In Tajikistan it’s the work of promoting a free press established in 2009 and forms part of the mission through practical support measures. And the work in Dushanbe. Last year 600 students from more that was done through twelve so-called resource than 30 countries graduated from the college.” centres located around the country, training wom- en in rural districts. During the parliamentary elec- Still, for Ivar Vikki, it’s the memories from everyday tion in 2010 the women’s network was used to life that are most powerful. Meeting people, par- spread information on people’s voting rights, and ticularly out in the countryside. Always an open voter turnout increased in the areas where these door. Always an open mind. centres were involved. We set up a group across

…maintain correct and constructive relations with the host country authorities, while at the same time not losing sight of the principles and commitments of the OSCE.

NORDEM – Norwegian Resource Bank for Democratisation and Human Rights 29 NORDEM er s i n th e fi l d Photo: Pia Skjelstad Lahnthaler

Like a clenched fist “NORDEM changed my life,” says Ingunn-Sofie Aursnes, who is now director of the Norwegian Immigration Appeals Board.

People touring the white marble roof of the Oslo “More than 45 million have been forced to leave Opera House look tiny from up here. Beyond lies the their homes. So many people are on the move Oslo Fjord, smooth as a mirror. Standing by the around the world. And Norway – far from every- panoramic window, Ingunn-Sofie Aursnes lifts her thing, here at the edge of the North Sea – sees only gaze and looks out over the horizon. a fraction of all this. I’ve worked in many countries She was appointed director of the Immigration and I’ve had first-hand experience of the issues Appeals Board (UNE) a year ago and has just moved ­created by war and conflict. So what have I learned? into a brand new office. The framed photographs Well, we have to understand that what we call the from Afghanistan have yet to be hung on the walls. ‘immigration issue’ in Norway is in fact part of a She reflects: global pattern of migration.”

30 NORDEM er s i n th e fi l d

Over a ten-year period, NORDEM sent her on a In 1998 – three years after the Dayton Peace Agree- series of assignments. One of the responsibilities ment was signed in Paris and the Bosnia war had of the UNE is to rule on appeals from asylum-seek- officially ended – Ingunn-Sofie Aursnes was sent on ers whose applications have been rejected. How her first assignment. She was seconded to the OSCE does Aursnes use her NORDEM experience in prac- as an international adviser during voter registration tical terms? in Banja Luka in northwestern Bosnia-Herzegovina. “Working on attitudes is important in my job. “It hit me like a clenched fist – the refugees who In many of the cases we get, it’s a question of cred- had returned home after the ethnic cleansing. ibility. Some people don’t tell the truth. That’s just Afterwards I wanted to quit my job as Chief Admin- the way it is. And it’s a big challenge for our deci- istrative Officer. I couldn’t show any interest in sion makers. But even though UNE may conclude ­potholes in the roads of Jevnaker any more, though that the criteria for asylum have not been met in a I could understand that the people of Jevnaker given case, we still have to respect the fact that needed an administrative officer who did!” people have packed their belongings and left their homeland. That they make hard choices in their Aursnes was then 46. The youngest of her children lives. I’m not saying that my colleagues don’t have was 22 and the three others had already left home. this respect, but I talk about it a lot at work: That In addition she had, as she puts it, a husband per- we have to be careful not to become contemptuous fectly able to take care of himself.” of asylum-seekers. And it’s NORDEM that’s made me like this.” She was deployed to several countries in the ­Balkans from 1998 to 2008. Her work there included Ingunn-Sofie Aursnes has a degree in law and her building democratic institutions; human rights and work experience is mainly from public administra- ceasefire monitoring; and good governance. She tion. She has been a deputy judge. She headed the has also worked in South Africa, Serbia, Afghani- Municipal Administration Department and then the stan, Sri Lanka and Pakistan. Legal Department of the County Governor of Oslo “I learned a lot about people. I realised how and Akershus. She has been Chief Administrative easy our lives are here in Norway compared to else- Officer in Jevnaker Municipality and an adviser at where. A friend and colleague in South Africa put it the Norwegian Refugee Council´s Legal Aid Project. this way: ‘The most difficult thing a Norwegian goes She has worked for UNE as section manager at and through in life is being born – after that everything’s then as head of an appeals board. Last but not easy’. And that’s how it is for most of us in Norway. least, she has served as director of the County I’m also happy that I’ve made friends in other parts Social Welfare Boards, which make decisions in of the world. It acts as a corrective.” regard to child welfare and protection. “What have I contributed? These may seem like big words, but I felt I made a difference. With my She heard about NORDEM in 1998, while she was experience of Norwegian public administration as chief administrative officer in Jevnaker.: part of my luggage, I could hold my own. I knew “I was appointing a new Chief Municipal Educa- about access to public information, transparency, tion Officer, and I interviewed, and I interviewed division of power, the rule of law. The concepts and Jan Erik Larsen for the job. He told me he was on rights which Norwegian society is built on proved NORDEM’s roster and might be sent on election useful out there.” observation assignments. I said it was surely a good “On the other hand I also experienced great idea to have someone in the post who was prepared personal growth. I arrived alone in the places I was to be sent abroad on such assignments, and I hired sent to – I wasn´t part of a framework or in a rela- him. The following year he encouraged me to apply tionship as I am at home. There was only me, and to NORDEM. I did, and was accepted.” this helped me to grow as a person. Working for NORDEM made me a wiser woman.”

NORDEM – Norwegian Resource Bank for Democratisation and Human Rights 31 32 Hejdar Alijev (picture) was the ­President from 1993–2003. His son, Ilham Alijev, enters his third term of office after this year’s elections.

Facts about international election observation

International election observation entails observing the whole election process, including electoral laws, election administration, media, com- plaints mechanisms, voting, counting, tabulation, and announcement of results and follow-up in the post-elec- tion phase.

The experts in the “core team” arrive in the country six to eight weeks prior to the election day. Shortly after, teams of two and two long-term observers are deployed throughout the country. Close to election day the mission is strengthened with several hundred short-term observers that observe and report on the election procedures. Based on the reports received, an evaluation of the election implementation is prepared and announced shortly after the election day.

International election observation aims to evaluate election processes in line with international, regional and national standards for election imple- mentation and to provide recommen- dations in line with these in order to promote democratic development in the country concerned.

Elections: Observation and Support

NORDEM – Norwegian Resource Bank for Democratisation and Human Rights 33 Mission Azerbaijan It isn’t the election result that long-term observer Rune Hauger concentrates on, but the actual election process. He is also responsible for the short-term observers.

On 9 October this year presidential elections took “At an election meeting for the opposition party we place in Azerbaijan. Through the Office for Demo- saw a man going round taking photos of people. cratic Institutions and Human Rights, the OSCE sent I asked if he was a journalist. ‘No,’ he said. When more than 300 international election observers to I asked whether he was photographing or filming the country, which is situated in South Caucasus. those who were there he said he was photograph- Norway provided two long-term observers and nine ing the building. ‘So perhaps you’re an architect?’ short-term observers through NORDEM. The day I then asked. To which he said ‘Yes’ and left.” after the population had cast their votes, the OSCE There are some wry smiles among the meeting summarised the election in a press release sent participants. The head of the ODIHR election obser- from the capital, Baku: “The election in Azerbaijan vation mission, Tana de Zulueta from Italy, is attend- was undermined by limitations on the freedoms of ing, and listens to what is said. To her left sits Harald expression, assembly and association that did not Jepsen from Denmark, deputy head, and to the right guarantee a level playing field for candidates and the long-term observer coordinator – Masa Janjuse- significant problems on election day…”. vic from Serbia. Along with several other experts, these three form the mission’s ‘core team’. President Ilham Alijev received 85 per cent of the votes. The runner-up, Jamil Hasenli, received five per One long-term observer states: cent. As he entered his third term, Alijev thanked the “People tell us that the police write their names people for their support. He said that the presidential down at election meetings. Many of those we talked election in Azerbaijan were a triumph for democracy. to also claim that they’re filmed. It’s obvious that some attend the meetings just to observe people.” It is Saturday 5 October, and Rune Hauger is in a meeting room in Hotel Qafqaz in Baku. The interna- Another tells us about a journalist who was tional long-term observers are sitting around the knocked down. Others have also heard stories oval table. They have all delivered reports on their about journalists being beaten and imprisoned. One latest observations from the ongoing election cam- long-term observer reports on construction materi- paign, and the reports are summed-up. One of the als, bull-dozers and the like being set up as obsta- observers says: cles to stop people going to the opposition’s

34 Only a few days left until election day and the Norwegian election observer­ Rune Hauger (left) attends a meeting with the other long term observers in Baku.

election meetings. Others can confirm that they the political situation in the area and a list of polling have seen the same. But nobody has observed such stations – interviewing interpreters and finding driv- irregularities when it comes to the election meet- ers, and reading and answering e-mails. ings of the parliamentary party. “The working days have been long. And more intense than I thought they would be. But very Harald Jepsen summarizes: interesting. I now realize what a key role the long- ”We can now see from your observations that term observers play for the mission: we’re the eyes journalists are unable to do their job and that peo- and ears of the core team,” says Hauger. ple are prevented from moving around freely.” In addition to taking a Master’s degree at the Lon- Thirty international long-term observers have been don School of Economics and a Bachelor’s in social in Azerbaijan since 11 September. They were placed sciences at the University of Oslo, Hauger has been in teams of two. Each team is given responsibility an exchange student at the University of Sâo Paulo for an electoral area – and for a number of short- in Brazil. He has travelled alone in many countries term observers. Rune Hauger’s partner is from the and has studied several languages. Hauger is cur- USA and is called Genevra – ‘Ginny’ – Kingsley. rently working as an interpreter in Oslo. This is the Since September these two have lived and worked first time he has been a long-term observer, but he closely together in the town of Mingachevir, located previously served as a short-term observer during in the East Ganja electoral district. elections in Georgia and Armenia.

Their tasks include travelling around and observing It’s evening and quite cool for this time of year in election meetings talking to people to find out if they the capital, Baku – where the oil money is clearly have come to the meeting voluntarily or have been manifested by expensive cars, new architecture and forced to attend, talking to representatives of the elegant shops. Hauger walks past large pictures of various parties, observing the freedom of movement President Ilham Alijev and his father – the ‘nation’s of the media and journalists, inspecting polling patriarch’, previous President Heydar Aliiev (1923 ­stations, writing reports to the core team, preparing – 2003). He is heading for a small Indian restaurant briefing materials – including maps, information on that he has visited before.

NORDEM – Norwegian Resource Bank for Democratisation and Human Rights 35 Rune Hauger shows the short-term observers in which area they will be observing the elections.

He sits down. Orders a chickpea curry. Gets out his In the bus to Mingachevir, Hauger distributes infor- mobile phone and calls Ginny, who is at ‘home’ in mation packs, mobile phones and maps to the Mingachevir: short-term observers. They have now been teamed “Hello – everything OK? I have something to tell up. The bus journey, which takes between four and you: according to the election legislation, the five hours, provides the perfect opportunity to start observers should be able to move around freely in getting to know each other. the polling stations. But now I’ve heard they may be when the bus arrives in front of Hotel Kur in told to sit on chairs against the wall – and how can Mingachevir, passports are quickly collected and they get a good enough view from there? We must rooms allocated. Also waiting there are interpreters ask the short-term observers to be aware of this…”. and drivers with whom the teams are to collaborate closely during the next few days. The short-term observers flew in to Baku four days before the election. They come from Europe, the The two long-term observers have set up a tempo- USA, Canada, Russia and other countries that were rary office in one of the meeting rooms at the hotel. previously part of the Soviet Union. At Hotel Qafqas There is map of the region on the floor, with the they met the heads of the ODIHR and a number of areas of the different polling stations marked in speakers. They were also introduced to the long- different colours. On the table there is a PC, a fax term observers. On Monday 7 October they will at machine and a scanner, as well as marking pens, last travel to their electoral districts. mobile phones, a bag of chocolates, a teacup and a jar of peanut butter. “We’ve got a sort of turf war going on here: I make a mess and Ginny clears it up,” Hauger says. The meetings with the short-term observers are held in this room.

36 Interpreter Norana Alieva, the Norwegian-Albanian­ short-term observer Gent Ramadani from NORDEM and his observation partner Rudolf Rotter from Austria are planning which polling ­stations to visit.

Long-term observer Rune Hauger visits a polling station.

It’s the day before election day. The short-term Hauger’s mobile phone rings. An observer has observers are sent out to visit some polling stations noticed a voter with two ballot papers marked with and to get a feeling of the atmosphere. According to the same candidate. The person had answered, the country’s election legislation, the election cam- “Maybe they were just stuck together?” Several say paign must be called off 24 hours before election they have seen the same people vote a number of day. But today there are nonetheless rumours in times. Soon they hear about busloads of people Mingachevir that the parliamentary party is arrang- – 30 to 40 individuals – who go from one polling ing two election campaign meetings. Hauger asks station to another. Later in the day there are groups one of the teams to go and check whether this is the of more than a hundred. This is called ‘carousel case. When they come back, they report that they voting’. have not seen anything. Although the country’s election legislation states Election day, six o’clock in the morning. Fried eggs that all voters must show a form of identity before and pancakes with syrup have been served in the they cast their vote, people go straight in without dining room. A music video is being shown on the being stopped. The observers report this. TV: a super hero in black leather with the label ‘Azerbaijan’ on his sleeve jumps from the ground, “Our election observers basically report only what causing flames to shoot up. Hauger had a meeting they observe themselves, and we regard this as with a local representative for one of the candi- verified information. When it comes to reports from dates the day before: the local observers we have to check things more “His party doesn’t have an office in town after closely and make it clear in our reports to the core the building owner was pressured into breaking team that it hasn’t been verified,” Hauger explains. the rental agreement with them. Ginny and I met the politician in a tea-house. He told us that he felt under great pressure: He had been threatened. If he didn’t withdraw, he would lose his job.”

NORDEM – Norwegian Resource Bank for Democratisation and Human Rights 37 The voters turned out to cast their votes. Afterwards, the OSCE reported, based on the election observers’ reports, that the elections were marred by restrictions on the media, and alleged threats against both candidates and voters.

38 The voter registry is posted outside the polling station. To the right: A voter doing his civic duty. After the elections, President Ilham Alijev rejected all claims of fraud.

The phone rings. A local observer has been put campaign we received a lot of reports of people under pressure to withdraw. The reason is possibly being apprehended. But it was never easy to verify. that they know he will not just sit still and accept People were always released quickly – before we election fraud. even managed to set out to check. I think the deten- Reports come in that the ballots in the ballot tions were primarily made to frighten people,” says boxes are in suspiciously symmetrical piles. One of Hauger, and receives yet another phone call: an the short-term observers has taken several photos. observer is being thrown out of the polling station. Hauger urges the others to do the same. “Try to insist on staying. Say you’ve been invited by the authorities,” Hauger says. He is notified that leaders of institutions that are financed by the authorities – such as schools and The polling stations close at nine o’clock in the even- factories – are telling students and employees to ing, and the counting starts. One of Hauger’s team vote for a particular candidate. If they don’t, they rings: more votes have been registered in one record are threatened with losing their jobs or student than there are voters. While the observers stand and admission. Others report that there are policemen watch, a calculator is produced to find out how much very close to the polling stations. According to is missing. Then names are put into the electoral roll election legislation, the police should keep at least so that everything apparently tallies. Even more to a hundred metres away. write about in the reports that will be sent to the core team in Baku – who in turn will analyse and Somebody rings to say that two people are about to summarise everything that the 345 observers have be arrested. Can the OSCE come? Hauger contacts seen during the past weeks and days. two short-term observers and asks them to go to the polling station. When they get there, they report that And there are still many hours left of election night the trouble has calmed down. “During the election in Azerbaijan.

NORDEM – Norwegian Resource Bank for Democratisation and Human Rights 39 The Norwegian- Albanian NORDEM observer Gent Ramadani, interpreter Norana Alieva and the Austrian election observer Rudolf Rotter have just completed a visit to a polling station on election day.

40 NORDEM – Norwegian Resource Bank for Democratisation and Human Rights 41 Supreme Court Justice and Head of the Election Commission of Zimbabwe,­ Justice Ritah Tambudzai (right), brought election expert, researcher and women’s activist Joyce Laetitia Kazembe to Oslo to take a closer look at the Norwegian elections.

42 The View from the outside

NORDEM – Norwegian Resource Bank for Democratisation and Human Rights 43 The View from the outside This year election experts from Zimbabwe came to study the Norwegian parliamentary election that took place in September. Zimbabwe’s Electoral Commission, led by Mrs. Justice, observes that Norwegians are extremely trusting. And somewhat naïve.

One of the many foreign delegations that visited NORDEM recruits, trains and deploys election Norway in connection with the parliamentary elec- observers to observers to missions around the tion in September this year came from Zimbabwe. world. But sometimes the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Justice Ritah Tambudzai Makarau, Supreme Court asks NORDEM to host international delegations that judge and Chairperson of the Judicial Services come to Norway to study the local or parliamentary Committee, was appointed by President Mugabe to elections in our country. Project Coordinator in NOR- the post of Chairperson of the Zimbabwe Electoral DEM, Anne Sofie Molandsveen, has special responsi- Commission. Early in September she made the jour- bility for the election observation work. She tells us ney to Norway to observe how Norwegian elections that Norwegian authorities regularly invite delega- are conducted. She was accompanied by her Vice tions from countries where democracy is emerging. President, Joyce Laetitia Kazembe – researcher, The aim is to show that also established democra- women’s rights activist and election expert. The cies can benefit from a view from the outside. And Commission’s legal secretary, Dominico Chidakuza, the hope is that Norwegian transparency will be also joined them on their trip to the north. reciprocated. “It was the Norwegian ambassador who invited us, and we are grateful for the invitation,” says Jus- “This is the first time I’m following an election out- tice Ritah Tambudzai Makarau, who prefers to be side of Africa. Even though the process in Norway is called Mrs. Justice. in many ways similar to the one we have at home, we ”And you can just call me Joyce,” smiles her experience the election in Norway as different. This colleague, Joyce Laetitia Kazembe. is because our two societies are different – largely because we don’t have the same trust between the Mrs. Justice continues, “What strikes me the most parties, the electoral system, the police and the is the high degree of trust the Norwegian people powers that be,” Mrs. Justice explains. have in their electoral system.” “Yes, let me use the word ‘civilised’ about your system,” Joyce adds, nodding. The doors of Oslo City Hall are about to close and the counting of the ballots may begin. (From left) Researcher Joyce Laetitia Kazembe, Justice Ritah Tambudzai and legal secretary Dominico Chidakuza have a good over- 44 view of the process. The View from the outside

NORDEM – Norwegian Resource Bank for Democratisation and Human Rights 45 Touring a polling station; the ballot system is explained.

46 The international delegates are briefed on the Norwegian Coffee break. The delegates from Zimbabwe discuss the election system in Oslo City Hall. Norwegian election system.

Delegations from Nigeria, Iraq, Turkmenistan and “I’ve been to Norway three or four times before, Zimbabwe are sitting in the City Council chamber in though this is the first time I’m present at an elec- Oslo City Hall. Their days have been hectic: they have tion in Europe. But I’ve followed a lot of elections in met Norwegian election experts, researchers, jour- Africa and I’ve seen brutality in a number of coun- nalists and representatives from political parties. tries. The Norwegian electoral system seems very healthy,” says Joyce, filling her cup with freshly- Right now they are being given a review of the Nor- brewed coffee. wegian electoral system by Asbjørn Ausland, Senior Adviser at the City Hall. One of the delegates raises “Yes, but the fact that it’s based on trust to such an a hand: “What about those who can’t get to the extent can also be risky. When everybody thinks polling station for one reason or another?” that everything functions so well it may lead to ­apathy. People must make sure that they don’t “If they file a request we can go to their homes so become complacent,” says Mrs. Justice. that they can vote there. I’m also often asked ‘What about prison inmates?’ The answer is that we go to “Complacency may be a danger to democracy itself?” them as well. Those who are in prison haven’t lost their right to vote. But of course it’s a bit difficult for “Participating in an election means that you want to them to get out to do it.” change something. The threat to western democ- racy is that it is doing so well that there are no long- The delegates chuckle. They are told that there will er any controversial issues. People just can’t be be a break. The Zimbabwe delegation gathers in the bothered to vote.” corridor outside the City Council chamber, where coffee and rolls are being served.

NORDEM – Norwegian Resource Bank for Democratisation and Human Rights 47 (From left) Joyce Laetitia Kazembe, Dominico Chidakuza and Justice Ritah from Zimbabwe agree that ­Norwegians’ trust in their ­election system is almost moving. What strikes me the most is the high degree of trust the Norwegian people have in their electoral system.

“Norway has no independent electoral commission. It’s a good rule: people who are going to vote The Ministry of Local Government and Regional must be allowed to think in peace.” Development is responsible for the elections. In addition Parliament itself approves the election “In Norway the polling station committees are result. What do you think about that?” members of political parties. What do you two think about that?” The delegates from Zimbabwe roll their eyes: “It’s really unique. That people are going to vote for the “Politicians can only work at the polling station same body that will approve the election! It would because there’s such great trust in the system. be better to give the legal system that responsi­ That’s unusual too,” says Mrs. Justice. bility. Like we do.” It is approaching nine o`clock in the evening. The “What do you think of the distribution of delegates from Zimbabwe are sitting in the canteen mandates?” area in Oslo City Hall where they have a good view of the main entrance and therefore also of the vot- “That’s absolutely unique to Norway as well,” ers who come rushing in at the last minute to cast says Joyce. their ballot. At the stroke of nine the guards will close the doors to make ready to start counting the “Yes – that one vote counts more than another ballots. One of the guards looks at his watch and depending on where you come from. But I realise walks towards the large door to lock it. Two young that there are good reasons for doing it this way. men come rushing into the polling station – one And I agree. Remember: democracy is about fair- wearing a bicycle helmet. But the guard stops ness. And as long as it’s about fairness it’s not them. He says it is past nine o’clock and refuses wrong. Unique, yes. But the good thing is that the them admission. A discussion arises between the majority accepts this,” says Mrs. Justice. guard and the man wearing the helmet, but the guard does not give way and the young man has to “Outside the polling station today you’ll see people leave. Mrs. Justice and Joyce shake their heads as from the different parties handing out ballots even they watch the incident. though the election campaign strictly speaking is over. How do you feel about that?” “It’s often a problem to get young people to vote. This will hardly give the young man inspiration for “We also have to stop when the election campaign the future,” says Mrs. Justice. is over, but people hand out campaign material anyway. But we have a rule that says they cannot come within 300 metres of the polling station.

NORDEM – Norwegian Resource Bank for Democratisation and Human Rights 49 NORDEM er s i n th e fi l d

Witness to the revolution

Arild Stenberg was a long-term observer during the election in Tunisia. He experienced the Arab Spring.

“I felt that the people of Tunisia more than any- Tunisia, the town of Sidi Bouzid, 17 December 2010: where else were set for a new start. They’d gotten The street vendor Mohamed Bouazizi sets fire to rid of the dictator, and, perhaps even more impor- himself in protest against the police confiscating his tantly, also of his wife and her brothers. They sym- scales. The action triggered the rebellion in Tunisia bolised everything that was wrong. Tunisians love and the Arab Spring. President Zine El Abidine Ben their country and had faith in the future,” says the Ali fled to Saudi Arabia on 14 January. experienced election observer Arild Stenberg. Stenberg was present in Sidi Bouzid as an election Since the 1980s, he has worked as a head teacher observer during the election for the new constitu- or deputy head teacher in both primary and sec- ent assembly that was held in autumn the same ondary schools in Norway. year. “In the 1990s, my whole family moved to the “The young people felt they’d had a crucial influ- Timbuktu region in Mali, where my wife and I ence on what had happened in the weeks before worked as teachers for four years. From then on, Ben Ali was driven from the country. They were Africa was a continent I just had to go back to,” proud of what they’d taken part in. They looked he says. forward to the continuation.”

Stenberg took the exam in International Election The atmosphere was tense particularly in the part Observation at the University of Bergen in 2001. In of the country where there was a politically aware the same year, he heard about NORDEM, applied, working class. Both the mining industry and the and was admitted to the roster. His first assignment chemical industry were located there, and the came in 2005 in Burundi. Later there were more: workers had, on more than one occasion, shown Haiti in 2006, and DR Congo in 2006. In 2008, he their dissatisfaction with the authorities. There had was assigned to Rwanda, and then back to Burundi been riots in several towns not long before the rev- in 2010. In 2011, after his time in Tunisia, he was olution, and many demonstrators had been arrest- again in DR Congo. ed. Most of them were released when the women took to the streets and demanded that their hus- bands be returned home. “The election turnout was overwhelming?” “Yes. It reflected the intense optimism, the feel- ing of participation and the desire to contribute to building the future. It was the same for both young and old.”

50 NORDEM er s i n th e fi l d Photo: Privately

Arlid Stenberg pictured in Burundi as an observer in the EU Election Observation Mission in 2010.

NORDEM – Norwegian Resource Bank for Democratisation and Human Rights 51 NORDEM er s i n th e fi l d

Kåre Vollan with former PLO leader and President of the Palestinian National Authority, Yasser Arafat. Pictured here in Palestine in 1996.

Kåre Vollan with Tana de Zulueta, the leader for ODIHRs Election Observation Mission in Azerbaijan 2013. Here pictured in Albania, 1998.

52 NORDEM er s i n th e fi l d

Master of elections “In established democracies, people believe there’s only one way to arrange elections – namely their own. But there’s considerable variation in electoral systems,” says Kåre Vollan, elections expert.

There isn’t only one acceptable electoral system. democracy was all the more interesting. From 1990, There is considerable variation in such systems, and I was active in the Helsinki Committee’s efforts in there are numerous options. One of Norway’s fore- this field and, together with NORDEM, we soon real- most experts in the field, the mathematician Kåre ised that more systematic procedures were needed Vollan, is fully aware of this. He holds courses and to enable the conclusions we presented to become offers training on elections, and has written a num- more than anecdotal descriptions of the elections. ber of reports and articles on the subject. As early In particular, politicians who visited countries in as 1992, he helped to develop the first draft of a small groups and for a short period of time showed manual for election observers, which later formed a tendency to support those they otherwise sympa- the basis for similar manuals compiled by both the thise with – regardless of their objective findings.” OSCE and the EU. One of Vollan’s most exciting assignments Kåre Vollan has been to Zimbabwe several times through NORDEM was in Palestine: after the PLO – the first time when he led an observer group in and Israel had signed the Oslo agreements in 1993 2002. They entered the country at short notice at and 1995, a historic election was to be held in 1996. the request of the EU, which withdrew when their He led a group of 50 observers. delegation leader was refused a visa. NORDEM had “This was my first professional elections assign- formed a group of 25 observers who submitted a ment. We arrived as early as November 1995 and critical report on the election. Since then, Vollan stayed until well after the election in January 1996. has attended the elections in Zimbabwe – albeit We saw how the Israelis withdrew, area by area, without observer status – in 2005 and 2008, and and how the PLO took control in an organised man- most recently in 2013. He also visited the country ner. What made the most lasting impression on us a number of times during the Constitution process was the optimism that was prevalent at that time. from 2009 to 2013 – including at the time of the Officers from the PLO and the IDF (Israeli Defense referendum that adopted the draft the three major Force) patrolled together. They had a joint com- parties had succeeded in negotiating. mand centre, and also the IDF officers who were directly involved realised how necessary the pro- Nepal, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Iraq, Sudan, Egypt, cess was. Unfortunately, it wasn’t long before the ­Bosnia-Herzegovina. Kåre Vollan has worked on process came to a halt,” he tells us. elections in 30 countries. In the period between “You’ve been involved in developing the method 1996 and 2009, he led 12 observer missions on that is currently used for election observation. How behalf of the OSCE. His interest in elections origi- did you get involved in this work?” nates from the firm conviction that if citizens do not “I’ve always been interested in politics and I was have confidence in the electoral process, then the a student politician in the 1970s. Later on, being a entire basis for belief in democratic participation politician wasn’t an option, but supporting will be undermined.

NORDEM – Norwegian Resource Bank for Democratisation and Human Rights 53 The view from t he ou side The view from t he ou side

In the middle of the world Deep in the Norwegian woods, William O’Neill – a North American lawyer specialising in ­international human rights – teaches those who will be deployed on assignments for NORDEM.

William O’Neill was a key participant in the UN But once a year, O’Neill packs his suitcase with human rights operations in Haiti, Rwanda and warm clothes. He leaves his home in New York Kosovo. Among other things, he has worked on for John F. Kennedy International Airport to fly to reforms of the justice, police and prison sectors Norway. From Gardermoen airport, he travels by in countries like Burundi, Liberia, Sierra Leone, train to Gran, then takes a taxi to Hotel Hadeland South Sudan, Timor-Leste, Nepal, and Bosnia-­ at ­Granavollen – the hotel that boldly calls itself Herzegovina. Since 2008, he has headed the “Your conference hotel in the middle of the world”. ­Conflict Prevention and Peace Forum (CPPF), a U.S. think tank founded in 2000 by the Social Science Panoramic views of the sky, the spruce forest and Research Council. The think tank is composed of the village far below. The 25 course participants experts who advise the UN when required. Its – who will be put on NORDEM’s roster – are taking ­advisory board is chaired by the Algerian diplomat a break. Some spend the free time visiting two Lakhdar Brahimi, the joint UN and Arab League mediaeval stone churches – the Sister Churches ­special envoy to Syria. Of late, O’Neill has had – located nearby at Granavollen. Seated on the numerous meetings about the Democratic Republic sofa, O’Neill doesn’t mince his words: of Congo and Syria, and, recently, UN Secretary- “NORDEM is unique. I know of nothing else like General Ban Ki-moon wanted to meet him in North it. The combination of having a resource bank roster Africa. and giving the people on it proper training is found in few other places. The UN, the OSCE and the EU all give their deployees poor training in how to do human rights work in practice, in the field. People The 25 course participants have applied and been admitted to NORDEM’s roster. The roster members complete a basic course, here lead by the Ameri- can human rights expert William O´Neill. Photo: Pia Skjelstad Lahnthaler Skjelstad Pia Photo:

54 The view from t he ou side The view from t he ou side

don’t get answers to important questions, such as, how do you interview a victim of a human rights violation in the proper way? How do you write eve- rything down? How do you follow this up? How, to give an example, do you use international human rights law in the Democratic Republic of Congo? How do you promote human rights in a country where the authorities are hostile to the very notion of human rights? How do you help the institution you work for to do a better job on human rights?”

“NORDEM´s course participants are highly educat- ed, and a number of them have extensive field experience. But what is actually required of them?” ”They have to be flexible, to have good powers of judgment and to be team players – which also means no prima donna whims! In addition, they must be able to stand difficult living and working conditions. And they must know how to secure ­sensitive information.” “You’ve been a course facilitator for NORDEM since 2000. Has the content of the course changed over the years?” “Yes, it has. Today we focus more on protecting civilians in a conflict, and on violence and human rights violations carried out by non-state actors – and how you work with this. The legal framework has also changed – for instance, with regard to the discrimination of sexual minorities. The Internation- Photo: Pia Skjelstad Lahnthaler al Criminal Court in The Hague has also come into the picture (2002). It’s an important instrument for prosecuting grave violations of human rights by The break is over. The course participants approach both state and non-state actors. In addition, over the meeting room and William O´Neill gets up from the years, we’ve acquired a lot of new technical aids the sofa. Two more days and the course will be that we have to deal with – like mobile phones and over. “In the middle of the world.” He enjoys coming social media. It’s about how we communicate and here once a year. He likes the participants’ enthusi- how we secure the information,” says O’Neill. asm and commitment. These are competent peo- ple. There’s no doubt about it: NORDEM has set the gold standard for deployment of personnel to inter- national organisations.

NORDEM – Norwegian Resource Bank for Democratisation and Human Rights 55 afterword

Throughout 20 years and more than 2000 missions worldwide recognition that good governance, the NORDEM has contributed experts to ensure good democratic control of the security sector and the governance, democratic institutions, elections in line rule of law are fundamental for lasting peace and with international standards, rule of law and respect sustainable economic development. Today even for human rights. This anniversary report has intro- more so than in 1993. duced you to some of our missions and some of our personnel. We are proud of the contribution that all NORDEM’s mandate remains contributing capacity of our experts have made on meaningful but that counts when and where it matters, within our demanding missions for the last twenty years. areas of expertise. Our goal remains to set the gold standard, as Bill O’Neill puts it, for recruiting, train- As Foreign Minister Brende states in his foreword ing and deploying qualified personnel to interna- there is every reason to believe that the need for tional organisations and operations that work to international support to democracy and the rule of promote democracy and human rights. It takes law will only increase in the future. There is specialised knowledge, country specific knowledge, operational knowledge about our partner organisa- tions and knowledge about personnel management to match the right person with the right assignment.

NORDEM continuously seeks to follow the develop- ment in our areas of expertise and facilitate and adapt to our partners changing needs. Our partners shall know that they can bank on us. NORDEM is a resource bank that shall continue to give bang for the buck.

We who work for NORDEM, in the secretariat in Oslo or in the field, find it deeply meaningful to spend every day in the service of democracy and human rights. We are grateful for the trust the Nor- wegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and our partners at home and abroad have placed in us for the past twenty years and we want to continue to deserve that trust in the future. NORDEM is committed to Photo: Christian Boe Astrup From left: continue setting the gold standard. Pia Skjelstad Lahnthaler, Lisa Kirkengen, Silje Holand Wilhelmsen, We look forward to the Marianne Kvan, Hjalti Helgason, Anne Gunn next phase! Sunde and Anne Sofie Marianne Kvan Molandsveen. Director of NORDEM AFDEM African Civil Response Capacity for Peace Support Operations AMM Aceh Monitoring Mission CPPF Conflict Prevention and Peace Forum EU European Union EUMM EU Monitoring Mission EULEX EU Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo HCNM High Commissioner on National Minorities ICO International Cooperation Office ICTY International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia IDEA International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance IDF Israeli Defence Force IMG International Management Group KAS Kosovo Agency of Statistics KLA Kosovo Liberation Army KPA Kosovo Property Agency (former Housing and Property Directorate – HPD) KPC Kosovo Prosecutorial Council LTO Long-term observer MFA Ministry of Foreign Affairs MONUSCO UN Organisation Stabilisation Mission in the DR Congo NATO North Atlantic Treaty Organisation NCHR Norwegian Centre for Human Rights NORDEM Norwegian Resource Bank for Democracy and Human Rights NOREPS Emergency Equipment and Experienced Personnel NUPI Norwegian Foreign Policy Institute OAS Organisation of American States ODIHR Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights OHCHR Office for the High Commissioner for Human Rights OSCE Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe PLO Palestinian Liberation Organisation STO Short-term observer UN The United Nations UNDP UN Development Programme UNE Norwegian Immigration Appeals Board UNMIK UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo UNMISS UN Mission in the Republic of South Sudan UNTAET UN Transitional Administration in East Timor UNWOMEN UN Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women © Nordem 2013 Text: Kristine Grønhaug Photos (unless otherwise stated): © Ken Opprann Photo front page: Øystein Wiik (Liberia 2011) Photo back: Erlend Hvoslef (Kyrgyzstan 2009) Photo inner jacket: Nicolay Paus (Senegal 2012)

Translation: Akasie språktjenester AS – www.akasie.no Proof reading: Ingvild Burkey Design and production: Kristine Steen 07 Media Oslo AS Project manager: Pia Skjelstad Lahnthaler NORDEM online: www.jus.uio.no/smr/english/about/programmes/nordem/ Twitter: @NORDEMCivCap LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/nordem_civcap E-mail: [email protected] · Telephone: +47 22 84 20 01 Visiting address: Cort Adelers gate 30 · 0254 Oslo – Norway