Norwegian Helsinki Committee Annual Report 2009 Annual Report 2009

Norwegian Helsinki Committee Established in 1977

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

The work of the Norwegian Helsinki Committee (NHC) is based on the Helsinki Declaration, which was signed by 35 European and North American states at the Conference for Security and Co-operation in Europe (CSCE) in 1975. The declaration states that respect for human rights is a key factor in the development of peace and understanding between states.

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

How we work

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

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

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

International processes Through participation in international processes, meetings and conferences, the NHC seeks to influence governments and international organisations to make human rights a priority

Editor of the Annual Report: Head of information Berit Nising Lindeman Cover photo: Youth group of the Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in Bosnia and Herzegovina

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PERSPECTIVES:

On New Year’s Eve, Russian police arrested a number of representatives of the opposition who were trying to carry out a demonstration in Moscow. Among the 50 arrested was the 82 year old human rights ­activist Liudmila Alekseyeva, leader of the Moscow Helsinki Group. She had joined the crowd in order to defend the right of Russians to demonstrate.

These New Year arrests are only one among many examples of how Russian authorities are exerting heavy pressure on human rights groups in the country. The situation has become more difficult for the opposition and for non-governmental organizations. Throughout 2009 a number of human rights activists, lawyers and journalists were murdered. These men and women were all characterised by a willingness to challenge the system by documenting and criticising human rights violations.

Stanislav Markelov, Natalia Estimirova, Zarema Sadulayeva and Alik Dzhabrailov are among those who were murdered in 2009 because of their work in defending human rights.

In their 2009 Annual Report, Human Rights Watch pointed to the fact that a stronger pressure is being exerted on human rights activists in a number of countries, including Russia. Part of the reason could be that human rights organisations appear to have become more efficient in their work to reveal violations and their perpetrators.

They are conceived as a threat to authoritarian regimes.

“Today, activists are capable of exposing abuses most anywhere in the world, shining an intense spotlight of shame on those responsible… that effectiveness has spawned a reaction, and that reaction grew ­particularly intense in 2009.” (HRW Annual Report 2009, page 1).

For many years, the NHC has been an active and critical voice in terms of the difficult human rights ­situation in Russia. We have particularly worked on the problems facing human rights defenders in the country, and the violations that have taken place in and around the conflicts in Chechnya and elsewhere in the North Caucasus. We believe it is important to support those forces in Russia that are oriented towards human rights and democracy.

It is important that Norway shows a willingness to raise the difficult human rights situation in Russia during meetings with the Russian political leadership. Russia has been told that we expect the country to live up to its international obligations. It is therefore very positive that Russia is now supporting the work to develop the European Court of Human Rights by ratifying protocol 14. This could be a signal that there are forces in the Russian leadership who see the need to strengthen human rights.

A society with weak democratic institutions or lacking the rule of law and human rights will also be a less stable country. It is in the interests of Norway and Europe that a strengthened democracy, rule of law and respect for human rights are developed in Russia.

Bjørn Engesland, Secretary General

Editor of the Annual Report: Head of information Berit Nising Lindeman Cover photo: Youth group of the Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in Bosnia and Herzegovina

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The nhc Secretariat

Bjørn Engesland Anders Nielsen Mina Skouen Lene Wetteland Secretary General. Information officer. Project co-ordinator of Project co-ordinator, Member of the board of Responsible for the EEA the NHC human rights Central Asia the Norwegian Centre grants information portal education programme. ­programme. for Human Rights, www.ngonorway.org. Responsible for member of the board ­programmes in North of trustees of the Oslo Caucasus, the Balkans Other staff: Centre for Peace and and Norway. Human Rights. Head of the Norwegian Human Anne Marit Austbø Rights House. Advisor. On leave in 2009. Aage Borchgrevink Advisor, focus on Russia. Nebojša Tašic´ Member of the board of Regional co-ordinator the NGO Russian Justice Csilla Czimbalmos of Human Rights Initiative, the Netherlands. Project assistant, Schools in the Western human rights Balkans, Beograd. Gunnar M. education Ekeløve-Slydal programme. Deputy Secretary Adela Galešic´ General. Responsible Regional co-ordinator for the work of the of Human Rights NHC in Central Asia, Schools in the Western Turkey, Armenia and Ole B. Lilleås Balkans, Sarajevo. Rwanda. Key compe- Advisor, focus on tence in the field of Western Balkans. Zuzanna Godzimirska international criminal Co-ordinator of the Olga Shamshur Project assistant. courts and justice. Norwegian NGO forum Project assistant, ­election observation for Human Rights. Elena Mamadnazarova project and human rights education Project co-ordinator at ­programme. the NHC Central Asia office in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.

Fernanda Elena Saenkova Zubillaga Nilsen Inna Sangadzhiyeva Project co-ordinator, Head of administration, Project co-ordinator, Murmansk office. responsible for office focus on Russia and management and Vanja Bentsen Kleven Belarus. Vugar Gojayev finance. Co-ordinator for EEA grants. Project co-ordinator in Baku, Azerbaijan

Enver Djuliman Berit Nising Lindeman Head of the NHC Head of information. human rights education Ivar Dale Advisor, focus on programme. Advisor, focus on Central Asia, Belarus, Responsible for all Central Asia. Ukraine and Azerbaijan. ­education programmes, Key competence in focus on the education election observation. programmes in Russia, Belarus and Ukraine.

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Organisation Content

The organisational components of the Norwegian Helsinki Committee are the annual meeting, the board and the council. The annual meeting is our highest organ, and consists of members of the council and the board. The board holds monthly meetings, where decisions relevant to NCH strategy, principles and financial dispositions are made. The Secretary General heads the secre- tariat, and is responsible for the daily operations of the Norwegian Helsinki Committee.

Board The Norwegian Helsinki Committee 2 Chairperson: Morten Bergsmo, Senior Researcher, International Peace Perspectives 3 Research Institute (PRIO). The NHC secretariat 4 Vice Chairperson: Ragnhild Astrup Tschudi, Human rights advocate with a Organisation 5 special focus on Russia and Eastern Europe. 6 Hauk Lund, Executive director, Hauk Lund Consulting A/S. I The year 2009 in retrospect Human rights defenders Julie Wilhelmsen, Research fellow, Norwegian Institute of International Affairs unwanted 6 (NUPI). Norway on the agenda 7 Human Rights Education Kari Schage, Management Consultant, Resources Global Professionals. Summit in Drøbak 7 Activities, by country 8 Eirik Moen, Secretary General of the International Democrat Union. The Russian Federation 8 Raymond Johansen, Secretary General of the Norwegian Labour Party. Belarus 9 Ukraine 10 South Caucasus 11 Armenia 11 Council Azerbaijan 12 Georgia 13 President: • Bjørn Cato Funnemark • Jan Tore Sanner (2012) Turkey 14 Kristin Clemet (2010)* (2011) • Anne Julie Semb Greece 14 Vice President: • Fredrik Grønningsæter (2012) Central Asia 15 Bjørn Jacobsen (2011) (2010) • Marianne B. Skou Western Balkans 18 • Bernt Hagtvet (2011) (2012) • Frode Bakken (2010) • Hans Morten Haugen • Erik Solheim (2012) • Trond Bakkevig (2012) (2012) • Lars Petter Soltvedt II Human Rights Education 19 • Peter Batta (2010) • Bjørn Hoelseth (2011) (2010) • Jo Benkow (2012) • Leiv Hovelsen (2011) • Atle Sommerfeldt • Tor G. Birkeland • Anniken Huitfeldt (2012) III Human Rights in Norway 22 (2010) (2010) • Bjørn Stordrange • Anne Marit • Ingunn Jordheim (2012) IV Co-operation and Bjørnflaten (2010) (2012) • Michael Tetzschner • Helge Blakkisrud • Ellen Juul-Andersen (2012) International ­processes 23 (2011) (2011) • Ane Sofie Tømmerås • Bernt Bull (2011) • Knut Kloster jr. (2012) (2011) V Eea grants 26 • Nils Butenschiøn • Berit Kvæven (2012) • Linn Ullmann (2010) (2011) • Arne Liljedahl • Kåre Vollan (2010) • Tor Bøhler (2010) Lynngård (2010) • Maria Warsinski VI Information 27 • Juni Dahr (2012) • Inge Mannsåker (2011) (2011) • Ole Drolsum (2010) • Eigil Nansen (2010) • Svein Wilhelmsen • Grete Faremo (2011) • Mette Newth (2010) (2011) VII Information Technology 27 • Arne Fjeld (2010) • Manuela Ramin Stein Ivar Aarsæther • Dankert Freilem Osmundsen (2012) (2012) (2012) • Pål Erik Plaum (2010) VII Finances 27 • Grethe Fossum (2010) • Victor Roddvik (2012) *Election year Annual Report 2009

I The year 2009 in retrospect The Norwegian Helsinki Committee has a strong national and international commitment, with widespread activities in many countries. Our main focus is the human rights challenge in eastern Europe, but we also aim to be active human rights defenders in our own country, Norway. Through our expertise and the wide-ranging networks of our staff we follow developments closely, take action on urgent matters and have an extensive range of project activities. The focus is determined by our planning and decisions, but also by current events. In 2009, three major areas of our attention, concern and activity were the precarious situation for human rights defenders in Russia, the human rights situation in Norway and consolidating the international co-operation related to our human rights education programmes.

For a long time human rights defenders in Russia no longer know where to turn. In 2009 NHC have been exposed to harassment, legal impedi- ­continued to underline the need for international ments and violence, creating an image of a Russia institutions to offer special protection of those who where human rights activity is unwanted. The stand at the frontline for defending human rights. ­violence took another serious and violent turn in 2009 when several tragic killings targeted at Far less dramatic, but nonetheless a development human rights defenders. On 15 July, Natalia raising concern, is the repeated refusals of visas for Estemirova, a leading fellow worker of the Human entry into the Russian Federation to foreign human

Human rightsHuman Rights Centre Memorial in Grozny, Chechnya, was rights NGO activists. The NHC was targeted as kidnapped and killed. Her death caused Memorial well, and as many as four representatives of the to close down their activities in Grozny for security Norwegian Helsinki Committee were refused entry reasons. Estemirova was one of our cherished to Russia in 2009. Two of them were also refused c­ontacts in Chechnya, who willingly shared entry into other former Soviet republics in 2009. defenders unwanted insights about the situation on the ground. She The Norwegian authorities, as well as the United was also the one who alerted us when endangered Nations and the OSCE, raised concerns on our activists were in need of assistance from us for behalf. international protection. After her death, victims

Natalia Estemirova

6 6 important resource to other programmes to resource when it other important Ukrainian academic approach has proved an prison employees and officials Russia. from The knowledge and experience at alater seminar for Caucasus. BelarusianNorth organizations shared and rebuilding young in activists between of trust pointstarting Ossetia work forin respective North dividedwith the societies in Balkans the a became ­programmes has flourished. Lessons work from national across andthe contact co-operation Norwegian Helsinki aresult, inter As Committee. rights education field with the in co-operation throughout years the of working in human the sharethem with each experience the other gained to bring programmes closer the and together let intention The Drøbak. week-long of the event was time for first the for a Forum Summit­partners in ­activities, NHC gathered our the international our 15After years of human rights education andparents their maltreatment in institutions. In forced separation of Romani children their from community This extinct. includes heartbreaking matic measures to make their cultural and linguistic with suchtargeted intensity with brutal and syste minority noother in past, the Norway has been national rights the of its to respect minorities. In policies are well founded in Norway’s obligations but concludedcarried in out past, the that current investigate and make abusive known the policies government should establish a truth commission to international obligations. The argued report that the April on Norway’s policies in light of Norway’s carried in out 2008, NHC published the in areport Norwegian ethnic minority Romani /Travellers Following public up on the hearing on the particularly active year of human rights in Norway. In 2009, Norwegian the Helsinki had Committee a ­ - international partnership. knowledge and interest for groups and new target to persistentcomes development of methodology, Norwegian to the amendments Election Act. In 2005,esses. asimilar contributed project to recommendations for Norwegian electoral proc result, detailing we issued areport findings and the parliament (’Stortinget’) in September. a As Soviet Union countries to observe the elections to invited 28 international specialists from 14 former 2009 was an election year in Norway, and we challenge Norway on key problem areas. shadow and lobbying reporting to states member activeand NHC wasvery in the following up by Periodic Review at UN the Human Rights Council, time first For the Norway went through aUniversal published by NHC. the policies, to alarge report into extent the response would establish to investigate acommittee past November, government the announced that it - Election observation Drøbak Attendants atthesummit in Human Rights Education Norway on the agenda Summit in Drøbak 6•7 Annual Report 2009

Activities, by country

Developments in Russia are pivotal for all of the In October Maksharip Aushev, the owner of the former Soviet republics, and the NHC has a firm ­internet site www.ingushetia.org, was killed. commitment to the promotion of human rights in Russia. Even though President Dmitry Medvedev In Dagestan and Ingushetia, the insurgency and employs a slightly different rhetoric related to death toll increased. The situation is reflected by democracy and human rights than his predecessor more than 120 decisions by the European Court of Vladimir Putin, real improvements are hard to Human Rights by the end of 2009, in which the detect. An exception is some improvements to the state of Russia is held responsible for human rights NGO legislation in July. The year started badly abuses in the North Caucasian republics. with the killing of the prominent lawyer Stanislav Markelov in Moscow on 19 January. Freelance The freedom of assembly is suppressed. Some 500 journalist from Novaya Gazeta Anastasia Baburova demonstrators were detained while participating in was shot dead in the same attack. Markelov was public mass gatherings, mostly deemed illegal by well known as a defender of the victims of human the authorities. On 31 December, Ludmila rights abuses in Russia, especially those of the Alexeeva, an 82 year-old head of Moscow Helsinki The Russian Federation ­conflict in Chechnya. Group was among the detained while she demon- strated in support of article 31 of the Russian Constitution, which guarantees the freedom of assembly.

The Norwegian Helsinki Committee continued to feel the resistance from the Russian Federation, and experienced increasing problems obtaining visas to visit Russia in connection with our activi- ties. Head of the education department, Enver Djuliman, was fined for the second time in March, allegedly for overstepping the conditions of his visa. The NHC filed complaints to the court, but lost in all three available instances: the Murmansk regional court, the Murmansk Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation on 20 November. Our colleague Svetlana Gannushkina in Moscow made attempts to register invitations for Secretary General Bjørn Engesland with a view to obtaining a visa. However, on 27 November Gannushkina was informed by FSB that Demonstration outside the neither Bjørn Engesland nor Enver Djuliman was Russian embassy in Oslo after the killing of Stanislav Markelov and Although the anti-terror operation in Chechnya welcome in the Russian Federation. In addition to Anastasia Baburova was officially terminated on 16 April, terrorist Bjørn Engesland and Enver Djuliman, Ivar Dale and attacks continued vigorously. Human rights viola- Mina Skouen have previously been denied entry tions, including the use of torture, were rampant. into Russia. The NHC raised the visa problems The rule of Ramzan Kadyrov does still not offer with the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. any security for the inhabitants, and it has become

even more dangerous to be a human rights Svetlana Gannushkina Ludmila Alexeeva defender in the region. On 15 July, Natalia Estemirova, a leading fellow worker of the Human Rights Centre Memorial in Grozny, Chechnya, was first kidnapped and then found killed. Oleg Orlov, chairman of human rights NGO Memorial, accused the president of the Chechen Republic of being responsible for the murder of Estemirova. Kadyrov, in its turn, started a lawsuit against Memorial, and Memorial decided to close their office in Chechnya, due to the lack of security. Zarema Saidullaeva, a leader of the humanitarian organisation Save the Generation, was killed together with her husband in Chechnya in August.

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Grigory Yavlinskiy and Bjørn Engesland Svetlana Gannushkina, Grigory Yavlinskiy and Bellona leader Frederic Hauge

Activities Asylum seekers from the North Caucasus represent The difficulty in obtaining visas for the NHC one of the largest groups of asylum seekers in stopped several of the planned visits to the Russian Norway. Despite the declining security situation in Federation. However, the NHC continued to the North Caucasus and recommendations from follow up the human rights situation, in particular the UNHCR, the asylum applications of the people through our broad network of partners in Russia. from this region are largely rejected by the Norwegian Immigration Authorities. In 2009 the In June 2009, the NHC arranged the seminar NHC continued to give assistance and expertise on “Will the financial crisis open up for a democratic the situation in the North Caucasus to the lawyers development?” in partnership with environmental in the cases where we consider applicants need NGO Bellona. Svetlana Gannushkina, leader of the protection. organisation “Civic Assistance Committee” and the former leader of the liberal party “Yabloko”, Gregory Yavlinsky, contributed to the seminar.

Belarus under President Alexander Lukashenko is ing Belarusian authorities’ proven commitment to still characterised by a concentration of power and improve its practices in the field of human rights. authoritarian rule, suppression of independent While all political prisoners were freed in 2008, four media and NGOs, arbitrary arrests and harassment new prisoners, Mikalaj Autukhovich, Uladzimir of opposition forces. The Norwegian Helsinki Asipienka, Yury Lyavonau and Artsiom Dubski, Belarus Committee continues its active involvement for the were convicted in 2009 for criminal ­activity. improvement of the human rights situation in However, as the cases brought against them were Belarus, including support for civil society. motivated by their civil society activity, they are considered to be political prisoners. Our partner The European Union and Norway have prolonged NGO, Nasha Viasna, tried again in August to the suspension of the visa sanctions against most become registered, but failed. The authorities used Belarusian senior officials. At the same time, the formal pretexts for the refusal, which was expected. EU notes that Belarus has failed to make any signif- However, the NGO For Freedom, led by former icant progress in the sphere of human rights. The presidential candidate Alexander Milinkevich, was Belarus-EU rapprochement through the Partnership registered, as the only NGO of its kind for several and Cooperation Agreement is put on hold await- years. The freedom of assembly is still severely

Belarusian civil society leaders in panel discussion Alexander K Berit Lindemanand Andrei Sannikov Anatoly Lebedko and Annual R º support P º ro Kharkiv Public Ukraine. human rights in actions to improve Conducting public Defence: Human Rights for Committee j azulin ect eport 2009

Ukraine co-operation at the expense of athuman expense the co-operation rights. cratic reforms. They feared for increased economic ment to Belarus, consistently insisting on demo lighted of conditional importance the rapproche Chairman Alexander Sannikov. All speakers high political prisoner Alexander Kazulin and Charter97 Anatoly Lebedko, presidential candidate and freed speakers were leader United of the Civil Party RoadEurope to –the Democracy? Amongthe Partnership in aseminar The Belarus Road Map to by European the Union to join Eastern the and NGO to representatives discuss invitation the In May prominent we hosted opposition politicians and Initiatives. of Belarusian Non –Governmental Organisations addition, we also participated in Congress VI The follow developments up on the in country. the In In March we visited in Belarus our partners to Activiti cerning his into entry Russia. decisions made by Russian the Federation con October. It is likely that this denial from stems Djuliman, into entry Belarus wasrefused in Head of NHC’s Enver education department, Russianthe Novaya newspaper Gazeta. life in connection with an article she published in nalist Khalip Iryna received several to her threats to re-register.outlets In December, jour renowned new law into came force in April forcing all media forces. media The facedwhen a anotherrestriction byrupted police and special Ministry of Interior and severalrestricted, rallies were forcefully dis detention is aproblem yet resolved. to be system, is still widespread, and ill-treatment in Corruption in society, including in courts the insecured still the unreformed legislation. were not sufficiently facto freedoms de that these Human rights were, activists however, concerned sion, of assembly and of association. freedom for like fundamental freedoms of expres freedom Ukraine, Ukrainians experience do respect more reforms. However, to compared pre-revolution had failed to deliver on many promised of its one could conclude that Orange the Revolution for several end of his the years. As neared, term awayintegration further than seemed it had been continued, and Yushchenko’s promise­ of euro- politicalThe deadlock that had lasted since 2005 nated by financial the crisis recession. and adeep Revolution leader Victor Yushchenko wasdomi and last year President as fifth The for Orange e s Still bigchallengesafter theOrange Revolution ------Innovative Theatre group Belarus Free Theater Liberals. Norway by think-tank the Civita and by Young the participated with speakers at seminars organised in NHC The alsoregister attempts. despite repeated lar independent human rights organisations fail to tions, particularly in view of fact the that in particu bility for activities of unregistered civil organisa Republic of Belarus established criminal responsi that Criminal regret the we expressed of the Code Helsinki activist Committees Leonid Svetik. In July, ment and criminal charges against Belarusian Human Rights Foundation, House over harass the also on several protested occasions, with together action onprotest Valentine’s Day, 14. February We of force use the againstdemned youth during a concerning events in Belarus. we In con February several NHCThe issued statements orsupported - - - - - 10 tions continue rife. to be Torture and abusein prisons and military institu beaten. Argishti Kivirian were andassaulted others and ­journalists Hrach Melkumian, Edik Baghdasarian, Harshaluys Hakobyan, were and arrested, the Several human rights activists, for example severely followingbeen restricted events. these and press of assembly of the have freedom The ment forces have ignored by government. been the popular werethe handled protests by law enforce allow for international investigations into way the local and international human rights groups to charged with excessive of force. use Calls from nopolicemenwhereas have investigated been or ment for violence against agovernment official, many were sentenced to up to five years’ imprison events by putting hundreds on trial of people and has prevailed. government The followed up these tive related trend to Armenia’s human rights record thatand stateof emergency the followed, anega 2008, excessiveFebruary the of police use force Since disputed the presidential elections of 19 with one of our partners, the Civil the with one of our partners, Institute, Society Yerevan on 31 May 2009. NHC The had abase elections the for Mayor NHCThe observed in Activiti CaucasusSouth e s - - - - closed institutions. authorities on ways to improve conditions in Norwegian and Armenian between contacts by NHC to the facilitate of long-termpart efforts Norwegian psychiatric institutions. visit The was Gevorgyan, visited Norway toconditions study in head of psychiatric institutions in Yerevan, Anaida 2009,In December Armenian the psychiatrist and strations. police prevented presence any large-scale demon ­assembly during campaign the period. A significant ­limitations and press of the freedom on the noted, along with severe incidents regarding Several shortcomings during elections the were which at time the wasrunning an election hotline. Elections for Mayorin Polling station Y erevan - Anaida Gevorgyan º º º º º support P º º º º º ro Armenian Helsinki Armenian Helsinki We for Civil Civil Society Caucasus Media justice in Armenia administration of human rights and situation with Monitoring of the Association: minorities (LGTB). rights of sexual tion activities on Equality: Informa Armenia prevention in Institute: Torture social issues economics and politics,report journalists to Institute: Teaching Armenia organisations in and of religious dom of conscience Monitoring free Committee: Armenia j ect ­ ­ 10•11 IDP settlement Nasibova. Photo:Lind&unde2009 Rafto prize 2009laureate Malahat Annual R º º support P º º ro Institute for Peace Human rights and mechanism. complaintand its of Human Rights European Court awareness of the tives: Raising electoral initia mass media. and the society Assistance to civil Judicial system. Monitoring the and Democracy: j ect eport 2009 - Azerbaijan European court, expected to be heard to in be 2010. expected European court, viewed in with the connection case with the known to abusedrugs. incident The may be was found on Fatullayev, who has never been year. 29 On December, 0.223 grammes of heroin Human Rights, wascharged again at end of the the withfiled against acase of European the Court half and eight-and-a-half years in prison and who Fattullayev, sentenced to two-and-a- who has been any young in debaters society. Editor Eunullah tionally, and may viewed be awarning as towards was widely condemned, nationally and interna years’ imprisonment case The case. acourt after November convicted and two-and-a-half to two Emin Milli for were hooliganism, arrested and in care. In July Adnan bloggers two the Hajizade and likely most death oraccelerated caused by lack of Editor Novruzali Mammadov died in prison, his never investigated seriously by authorities. the journalists were subjected to violence, incidents on criminal libel ordefamation charges. Other filled at up eight as least journalists were convicted relentlesslyued throughout year. the prisons The of media persecution The contin representatives concern, this addition abuse. up to further opens tion of critical journalists is already aserious practicethe of impeding journalism and incrimina without consent”.­photographed orrecorded As stating that shall “no-one followed, be filmed, regarding right the to personal immunity, now concern, notably most an addition article to the gave amendments adopted of the forother reason life, although through regular Several re-election. incumbent Ilham Aliyev now may President be for limittwo-term for Presidency the means that also controversial most the one, and removing the intimidation of voters. central The amendment was wascarried in out amendments an of atmosphere dum adopting many as 41 as constitutional March acontroversial and hastily called referen by meanssociety of human rights violations. In Ilham Aliyev, continues to tighten grip its over AzerbaijaniThe government, by headed President - - - - received prizes the in Oslo in May 2009. a result, Gavadly Azadliq and newspaper the Foundation/ZEIT Stiftung’s prize press for 2009. As Azadliq,newspaper of Expression for Freedom the satiricaloned journalist, Sakit Sahid, the from both editor Ganimat Sahid and his brother, impris the of oppositionthe newspaper Bizim Yol, imprisoned NHCThe nominated journalist the Natiq Gavadly exclave, entitled Azerbaijan’s dark island. grave the about human rights situation in the also published comprehensive first the report sional during expertise event. the committee The NHC actively participated in and debates profes She received award the in Bergen in October. The regime in Azerbaijani the exclave of Nakhchivan. on victims and the supporting repressive of the prize 2009 Rafto the for activities her in reporting defender Malahat Nasibova Nakhchivan from for NHCThe nominated journalist and human rights under whichprocess it wascarried out. subject the for referendum about the andboth the ment in which serious we concerns, expressed including ordinary voters. NHC The issued astate with anumber of society, of representatives However we were inand present met country the Centralrefusal the from Election Commission. referendum, the but usual receivedobserve its NorwegianThe Helsinki to attempted Committee Activiti Studying theamendmentstoConstitution ernment consistently any defies criticism. Europe and UN the Torture gov Committee, the reactions, by OSCE, the amongstothers Council of Although Azerbaijan received alot of negative injustice. institutions who had against of persons protested several of forced commitment cases to psychiatric ordinary wasdocumented, people including exclavethe of Nakhchivan, serious repression of trial,court charges but the were later In dropped. charges for libel for publishing at presented a facts Human rights defenderLeyla Yunus faced criminal e s - - - - 12 12 rights developments in country. the also with local met organisations to discuss human tection. During avisit to Tbilisi in 2009, NHC the victims of international in need relocation and pro around conflict the zones and also worked with Centre, on documenting human rights violations our main in country, the partner Human the Rights Ossetia. NHC The continuedSouth to work with 2009 August in of the aftermath the 2008 war in In Georgia, political tensions continued throughout Huseynov concern and over expressed proposed anniversary killing of the of critical editor Elmar Yunus, made astatement in connection with the We at criminal protested the charges against Leyla connection developments with the in Azerbaijan. international NGOs, issued several in statements alone NHC, The with ortogether several other Sheki - IDP settlement presenting it to local courts. in Russia on collecting on co-operation data and war. We also held meetingswith our counterparts EUthe investigating committee Ossetia South the International Criminal (ICC) to and presented Court findingsThese have delivered been to the materials collected during autumn the of 2008. and to evaluate work the being to done process theirpresent findings nationally and internationally, ways for non-governmental organisations to to Tbilisi to hold training on accountability and Georgia, a representative NHC of alsothe travelled In framework the on of aproject war crimes in Azerbaijan. commenting human on the rights situation in active in media the in Norway and internationally, Milli and Adnan Hajizade. NHC The wasalso against sentencing the bloggers, Emin two of the increase pressure against NGOs. We also protested NGO to the law,amendments which would Liberal Party leaderLalaShovket Meeting witharegional politician Tbilisi º support P º ro Human Rights tion Centre and Documenta Georgia j ect ­ 12•13 13 Annual R

Out the Back Door: The Dublin II Regulation and illegal Afghan asylum seeker inPatras

deportations from Greece eport 2009

AITIMA

Greece Turkey Norwegian immigration authorities. Together with due toseekers policy decision side on the of the worsening conditions for this group of asylum throughout year, the commenting in media the on highly engaged in topic the of Dublin returnees NHC were the alsoBeyond actual the report, conference in Athens. UNHCRthe in Brussels andwell as at as apress of wasalso Europe to the office presented report Spread widely in published the our own networks, real improvements are made in system. Greek the and that should returns to Greece halted be until ­violations of European asylum law are taking place concludedresearch, that report the serious bymented during NHC and the their partners their Illustrated by anumber of disturbing docu cases by competent asylumassessed authorities. risk without ever having being deported their cases European countries Dublin under the agreement from found to Greece returned that persons Regulation from and illegal Greece deportations Back the Out Door: The Dublin II report, The and conceptstates the of non-refoulement. represents in the wider context of European member and danger the of asylum-seekers Greece from this detailingreport practice the of illegal deportations Asylum (NOAS) Seekers and Aitima resulted in a Helsinki Committee, Norwegian Organization for In October 2009, a fact-finding trip of the Norwegian policies remain restrictive. Kurdish The Workers lation. However, whento it political comes rights, ­linguistic and cultural rights Kurdish to the popu in Turkey,processes gradually granting more with Kurdish political current on the parties reform During year the NHC enteredinto the dialogue issues. ­prevention plus of torture, women’s and minority of expression, of religion,freedom freedom organisation of the start the in 1977, focusing on NHCThe has had activities in Turkey almost from Seminar NobelsPeace Center , ­ - Refugees livingonthebeach Refugee campinPatras open throughopen August. by wascalled NHC, ”Waiting Room”, and was asylum camps. exhibition, The provided with texts Engelberth’s moving photographs Greek from opening exhibition of the of Linda Bournane for a discussion on this topic, as well as for the and international in experts the field of asylum law in Europe brought Norwegian together politicians Inefficient? –The Dublin right II and the to asylum Norwegian responsibility towards them. Unfair and issue of asylum in and seekers the Greece May at Peace Nobel the we Centre also raised the Through acombined seminar and exhibition in Norwegianthe media. We toif Greece. returned also raised issue the in attitude towards those at serious risk of refoulement ­disappointment at what we feel is an irresponsible NOAS, we issued expressing releases press asylum brought Norwegian before cases courts. witness in an NHCThe expert as also part took in finding afinancial during partner year. the around the ‘Kurdish problem’, but was unsuccessful current of the into politics this and aspects other which aproject NHCThe proposed would look found guilty. ties to it will and closed prosecuted down if be sation’, and any of having political suspected party remains (PKK) outlawedParty a‘terrorist as organi - 14 14•15

Central Asia

With increased international, including Norwegian, attention on the Central Asian states, one would think that this results from improved social and political conditions in the region. Sadly, the human rights situation in Central Asia is in fact worsening, and the republics in the region appear neither committed to improvement nor open to criticism from inside or outside the country.

Along with the increased efforts from Norwegian businesses, most notably Statoil in Kazakhstan and its efforts to establish in Turkmenistan, Norway has established its embassy in Astana, to be opened formally in February 2010. This has already ­contributed to more public attention in Norway Human rights defender Evgeniy Zhovtis in court towards the region and the NHC took part in the discussions in several different fora.

Kazakhstan has seen a positive development in In Kyrgyzstan presidential elections were held in the economic sphere, and was in 2009 preparing July 2009. Thus, the incumbent president Bakiyev its chairmanship of the OSCE for 2010. Despite the continues leading Kyrgyzstan away from the “island upcoming chairmanship, the human rights situation of democracy”, as it was once called. The freedom in Kazakhstan worsened, in particular in the legal of assembly is severely limited; there have been sphere. Whereas a controversial draft law on physical attacks on journalists and political figures; ­religion was rejected at the last minute, another and several human rights activists have been controversial Internet law was approved. Civil arrested, denied entry or deported. Persecution society and the media are not allowed to fill the against Moslems under the cover of anti-terrorism functions they should in a democratic society. continues, and international educational institutions The outspoken and respected human rights activist like the OSCE Academy have had their licenses Evgeny Zhovtis was imprisoned. Zhovtis was revoked. involved in a car accident where he killed a young pedestrian, and was sentenced to four years’ Tajikistan is struggling with providing even basic imprisonment in a flawed trial with indications that assistance to its citizens because of bad govern- the process was politically biased. ance on all levels. Civil society, the media and even the private lives of citizens are kept under Demonstration for human rights in Kyrgyzstan strict control through restrictive legislation. The already challenged economy was hard hit by the financial crisis. Many labour migrants have returned home without money or prospects for work, contributing to an atmosphere of dissatis­ faction.

Uzbekistan remains one of the most repressive regimes in the world. Over the last few years there has been increasing pressure on religious groups under the pretext of anti-terrorism policy. Human rights activists, members of the opposition and believers are routinely imprisoned, the use of torture is common, and civil society operates under near impossible terms. While most inter­ national humanitarian and human rights organisa-

tions have been forced to leave the country, Uzbekistan’s president Western diplomacy and investment is increasing, Islam Karimov apparently unconditional of improvements in the human rights field.

When Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) left the country in December 2009, it meant international

15 Annual Report 2009

Tashkent

NGOs are no longer present in Turkmenistan. The NHC was present with one observer at the No international human rights activists are allowed presidential elections in Kyrgyzstan in 2009. to enter the country, and several Turkmen citizens, However, the NHC observer was denied accredita- including students, are put on blacklists and tion, and the denial of accreditation was likely banned from leaving the country. Despite increased linked to the difficulties faced by the NHC in the contact with multinational oil and gas companies, country in 2008. there is no improvement for the citizens. Most opposition politicians have left the country. A representative office is now in the registration process in Almaty, Kazakhstan, with one repre- Gulgeldy Annaniyazov, a Turkmen dissident with sentative based there to oversee the process and political asylum in Norway who was imprisoned start creating a network. The representative has after he returned to Turkmenistan the summer of followed and reported from the trials against the 2008, remains behind bars and has been held

incommunicado ever since his arrest. According to Bazar in Ishkasim in Tajikistan reports, he has been sentenced to eleven years’ imprisonment under unknown charges. The environ­ mentalist Andrey Zatoka was arrested in October Andrey Zatoka 2009. He was sentenced to five years in prison, but was released in November on condition that he give up his Turkmen citizenship and leave the country immediately.

Activities Polling station in Bishkek The representative office in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, is closed following NHC Central Asia representative Ivar Dale’s deportation. The issue of Dale’s depor- tation and his status as persona non grata in Kyrgyzstan has been raised with the Kyrgyz author- ities on several occasions and on all levels, includ- ing through the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights defenders, in the OSCE Permanent Council for the second time, and in bilateral ­meetings. The question remains unresolved, however, and Dale is banned from entering Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and the Russian Federation.

16 16•17

Tajikistan’s President Emomalii Rahmon

Delegation visit to Astana human rights activist Evgeniy Zhovtis. The NHC freedom of expression, as well as monitoring of with Oslo Centre for Peace was actively involved in the process for the release prisons and the rights of prisoners with HIV/AIDS. and Human Rights. of environmentalist Andrey Zatoka, by writing In Tajikistan, four projects aimed at improving the letters to international institutions as well as to the freedom of the press were finalised in 2009. Turkmen government. The NHC has coordinated a project with the Oslo In February 2009, the NHC published a docu­ Centre for Peace and Human Rights, Forum 18 mentary on Turkmenistan made by the freelance News Service, Norwegian Mission to the East and journalist Simon Ostrovsky on assignment for the the Oslo Coalition for Freedom of Religion or NHC. Filming inside one of the most inaccessible Belief, aimed at improving the freedom of religion countries in the world is extremely difficult, and in Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan. In November, the the documentary gives a valuable look inside one NHC and the Oslo Coalition travelled to Almaty of the most repressive regimes in the world. The for interviews with religious minority groups. The documentary is accessible on www.youtube.com groups described problems and presented recom- and www.nhc.no. mendations. In December, a delegation from the Oslo Centre and the NHC travelled to Astana for The NHC has developed two advocacy documents meetings with Kazakh officials, including the together with activists from Turkmenistan and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Kanat Saudabayev. several international human rights and transparency It raised problems in the sphere of freedom of organisations – A “Common Vision”, targeting ­religion. A report of the project findings is written

­multinational companies which aim to invest in and will be used to highlight the situation in 2010. Statue in Pamir Mountain in Turkmenistan, and an “NGO Access Letter” Tajikistan encouraging Turkmen authorities to let inter­ national NGOs access the country. The documents have been shared widely with institutions with interests in Turkmenistan.

The process for the release of the Turkmen dissident Gulgeldy Annaniyazov also continued in 2009, most recently at the ODIHR Human Dimension Implementation Meeting in Warsaw in October. The NHC has had a presence on Norwegian radio and in newspapers, through interviews, comments and statements on the situation in the Central Asian countries.

Several NGOs in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan have received support for small projects through our small grants fund. In Kyrgyzstan, development of civil society through activist ­training and a critical radio station have been pri- oritised. In Kazakhstan, the new media law has inspired NGOs to work on improvements in the

17 Annual Report 2009

Western Balkans

In 2009 international attention in the Western Balkans was focused on the trouble spots of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo and Serbia. In Bosnia and Herzegovina the dividing nationalist politics grew in intensity and paralyzed the county’s institutions further, a situation unlikely to change at least until the elections to be held in November 2010. Serbia is divided in the question of its political­ future. The goal of EU membership remains popular, but the The mosque in Fazlagica Kula, Bosnia and Herzegovina, burned down in Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in Serbia December 2008. The area has a tradition of harassment of Muslim has warned against a backlash of conservative returnees. (Photo: Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in Republika Srpska). Monitoring human rights for forces, driven by supporters of Milosevic’s policies persons deprived of their liberty, Helsinki Committees of Bosnia and of the 1990s. In Albania political fronts hardened Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in BaH. Herzegovina and Norway, Sokolac, following tightly fought parliamentary elections in The delegation met with national and international March 2009. June. Macedonia’s name dispute with Greece stakeholders in the fields of prisons and human ­continued to hamper the prospects of European- rights standards, as well as transitional justice. The Project Atlantic integration. Montenegro held uncontested NHC Secretary General Bjørn Engesland made a support parliamentary elections in March, while Macedonia follow-up visit in October. Project co-operation had a presidential election in the same month. with partner Security concerns for human rights activists and A delegation from the Helsinki Committee for ­committees in the journalists remained a serious concern in Bosnia Human Rights in Republika Srpska visited Norway Western Balkans has and Herzegovina and Serbia. in June 2009. The delegation met with a number of been the most Norwegian actors in the reconciliation and transi- important work in Transitional justice is a still a key concern and tional justice field to learn from experiences and 2009. In particular ­priority area for the NHC. As the case against explore possible partnerships. The delegation also projects have Radovan Karadzic was about to get underway at met with Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs involved monitoring, the International Criminal Tribunal for the former officials. reporting and Yugoslavia, Ratko Mladic and Goran Hadzic have consciousness-­ still not been apprehended. In Bosnia and Secretary General Bjørn Engesland visited Serbia in raising in the field Herzegovina the work to address the huge backlog October to follow up on our co-operation with the of human rights in of cases moves forward slowly. The extension of Helsinki Committee in Serbia. Bosnia Herzegovina, the presence of international judges and prosecu- Serbia, Albania, tors at those chambers of the State Court of BiH, OSCE Human Dimension Implementation Meeting. Macedonia and which deals with war crimes and corruption, was In October the NHC addressed the OSCE HDIM Montenegro. highly politicised and was only adopted at the end with a statement on transitional justice in Bosnia ººAlbanian Helsinki of the year by the intervention of the High Repre­ and Herzegovina. The address, which was sup- Committee for sentative. It remains a problem that few cases have ported by both the Helsinki Committee in Bosnia human rights been delegated to lower courts and that the and Herzegovina and the Helsinki Committee in ººHelsinki ­capacities of lower level courts to deal with such Republika Srpska, BiH, was part of NHC advocacy Committee for cases has not been developed in areas such as for implementation of the plan for processing war human rights in witness protection. crimes cases in the country. Bosnia and Herzegovina Denial of war crimes committed by one’s own Mitrovica is still a divided city ººHelsinki ethnic kin and a rejection of findings of international Committee for and domestic courts remain regional problems. human rights in Although regional co-operation has improved, Republika Srpska, much remains to be done; especially the lack of Bosnia and extradition agreements between the countries Herzegovina ­provides de facto immunity from prosecution for ººHelsinki many alleged perpetrators. With respect to recon- Committee for ciliation the NHC has noted with dismay that human rights in nationalistic sentiments are on the rise among Macedonia youth in the region. ººHelsinki Committee for Activities human rights in A delegation from the NHC took part in monitor- Montenegro. ing conditions for persons deprived of their liberty, which is part of our project co-operation with the

18 18•19

Human Rights Education II The primary goal of our human rights education is development of democratic societies where people actively participate in the advancement of a human rights culture and where the achievement of individual rights goes hand in hand with international standards, and where the conflicts are solved through an open dialogue, securing a peaceful coexistence.

Our human rights education programme focuses on four main areas: 1. HR education as a means to developing strong civil society and free media 2. HR education as a condition for the attainment of individual rights, plus individual capability/opportunity when it comes to actively participating in society 3. Work on rebuilding trust and reconciliation after conflict, in order to secure lasting peace and peaceful coexistence. 4. Monitoring of the situation with regards to human rights education, with the aim of influencing the commitment of the individual states in this area

The year 2009 was marked by intensive activity Ukraine programme – through our existing partnerships, also involving “Let us understand new target groups and partners. Thousands of Human Rights” new people became engaged in our work, and Our involvement in the region begun in 2007 and we believe we have indeed contributed to has been developed into co-operation between strengthening human rights culture in the areas the Ukrainian Helsinki Human Rights Union in which we work. (UHHRU), the youth organisation M’ ART and 15 other organisations. The project grew rapidly into a Barents programme programme, which in the year 2009 ensured the The Barents programme is a joint project involving training of over 300 students, human rights activists, a number of governmental and non-governmental journalists, teachers and members of the Ministry actors in Finnmark, Norway, on one side, and in of the Interior’s human rights monitoring group. the Russian cities of Murmansk and Arkhangelsk, as well as the Karelian Republic, on the other. The Through the initial training in human rights, the intention is to contribute to a positive development participants have been able to expand their in the region and to enhance partnership across involvement in other directions, such as human borders. The programme has existed since 2000. rights monitoring, work with disabled people, project development and activism. In 2009, 70 students and 25 teachers received Conference in Kiev training in human rights and methods used in peace studies. An exciting development for the work of the NHC in general has been our success in facili- tating dialogue between journalists and human rights activists in the region. The participants of this event expressed their wish to create more arenas for such interaction. Notwithstanding the practical difficulties connected with work in Russia, our department has also managed to ­organise educational programmes for prison employees and officials, where they learn how they can comply with the international standards in their prisons. We have also initiated work aimed at training the members of commissions responsible for monitoring the conditions in closed institutions. Annual Report 2009

All activities are planned and carried out both locally and on the regional level, in order to This year we have focused on the crimes of support the build-up and development of civic the recent past in Bosnia Herzegovina, society in the whole country. Sixteen youth groups Croatia and Kosovo. Witnesses at the time are now working on human rights projects all address them with stories of their war across Ukraine to pass this knowledge on locally. Results and conclusions of the work done through experience. They also send a strong our programme became the basis for the Human message, such as from one of the mothers Rights Education Conference in Kiev, which gath- of Srebrenica encountering the young­ ered over 150 people. More information about the sters, while grieving at her family’s grave: conference is available at: www.edu.helsinki.org.ua “Make sure that this will not happen again to anyone.” In April we brought policy­ Programme for Human makers in Mostar together with pupils Rights education in from one of the 32 ethnically divided Belarus schools in the city. The young people had a The programme Human Rights education in Belarus clear and united message: “We do not want started in 2006 and continued to develop as a to be separated anymore – we did not partnership between the NHC and several create this division, and it is you who need Belarusian organisations. Since then, many journal- ists, young people, teachers and human rights to deal with it!” activists have participated in human rights schools and seminars. The young activists who have under­gone the training and are now working with their own projects, and have thus incurred the responsibility to promote democratic development and change. In Belarus this is challenging, often connected with risks of government interference and arrests of activists and repercussions against relatives. For this reason, it is important for the ­citizens to know their rights and how to defend themselves in legal ways. For security reasons, Role play at a human rights school much of the programme is carried out outside the borders of Belarus.

Western Balkan In the Western Balkan, the NHC and our partners provided human rights education to more than Youth attending a human rights school in Mostar 550 young people in 2009. The same youngsters Build bridges not walls. have in turn organised peer education about Photo: Youth group of the Helsinki Committee for Human human rights and activities touching upon sensitive Rights in Bosnia and Herzegovina and controversial issues such as the rebuilding of trust after war crimes, the rights of sexual minorities and hate speech and crimes towards the Roma. More than 20,000 people have been part of these activities. In a situation where the region is moving towards a more nationalist orientation, one of the few opportunities that the young have to interact and bond across borders is through our pro- grammes.

North Caucasus The security situation in the North Caucasus dete- riorated in 2009. In particular, the situation for human rights activists has become more dangerous and exposed. An atmosphere of intimidation and apathy is evident, even among the young popula- tion, and few have the courage to stand up and support the activists by opposing the government

20 20•21

Publications: ººThe book Build bridges, not walls is translated into Russian ººManual for Organizing of Human Rights Schools is ­published in Belarusian ººHandbook Teaching Youth Human Rights is published in Ukrainian.

Об авторах Энвер Дж ководителем отделаулиман препод работает с 199

века в Норвежском Энвер Джулиман и Лиллиан Юрт Лиллиан и Джулиман Энвер авания прав7 года чело ру- Он участвовал в ра Хельсинкском комите - чения пр зработке программы об нимани авам человека, межкульт те. я и мирного разрешения конфл Энвер Джулиман и Лиллиан Юр в колледже Бюскерюд в Но урного поу- ких университетах - академии «Школа Нансен рвегии и в несколиктов рение», «Введение в прав он также время о Боснии и Герцеговины, где ь- т Энверу Джулим а». Энвер Джулиман вер Джулима т времени дает лекции. Э ет с лекц н тесно сотрудничает и ану был присуждена человека» пр и «Ребен является редактором таки Лиллиан Юрт является р иями в норвежской гуманисти н- организации, з ок, учитель и школа- идеи д выступа из примирения Бланш Май х книг, как: «Трудное прими- разрешения конфликтованимающейся в преподаваниуководителем организ ческой ля творчества». В 2003 г давания в ст ации «Академияор. прав - Норвежском ранах Балканского Норвегии полуост и России.ем прав Л человека, межку оду Хельсинском комите человека»- общественной ла лекции по иллиан Юрт имеет льтурногодвена понимания и международным отношениям.рова, Беларуси, России, США СТР книги «Книга для чтения дл те и сотрудничала с Бьеркнес м дцатилетний опытмирного препо ОЙТЕ М я живущих» (2005г).Лиллиан Юрт являетс и Норвегии. Ранее ра еждународным колле - ботала в ОС Книга «Стройте мо я совместно с Вигдис Юр ражнений по темам джем, где дава ТЫ, сты, не стены» – Собранные упраж т автором- НЕ

права человека, межксборник, состоящий из п С лению. Активные менения- интересные ТЕНЫ давания данных тем. ультурное понимание

тоды преподавания и занимательные, п одробных вводных част и мирное разрешение кон

Права человека до положены в основуолные испо знаний и побуждаю ей и 97 уп сается как обуче - СТР лжны быть полож льзования упражнен фликтов. только темой обучения,ния в начальной школе, щие к размыш права человека об ены в основу обучения ий в препо - но и средством образоватак и в высшей школе, -

что учителям часто ъявленыне целью образова детей во всех странах м человека. О хватает знаний о правах тельного процесса.где права О человека долж тельного процесса, м ира. Это ка

днако, несмотряны на статьто не- М ЙТЕ Современная г человека и комп ногие исследования показы личных культур, правлобальная поликультурная держит полезные етенции для преподавания , что человека и умени вают, общественных и доброво знания и умения для реальность требуе я разрешать конфликты прав льных организаций. всех, кто работает с д т от нас лучшего пони Работая в Норвежском мирным путем. Данная

методы преподава мания раз етьми, с беженцами; ОС Хельсинкском Коми - учителей, беженцев,ния журн прав человека, осн книга со луострова, в Украине тете и Академии прав че для работников- алистов и работникововываясь на опыте пре

, Беларуси, России и Но ловека, авторы разр НЕ ТЫ, Книга «Стройте мос общественного сектоподавания для детей, с ласти прав человека рвегии. ты, не стены» включе аботали ших нароботок» ра в странах Балканск в странах Европы, Цен тудентов, века, Совета Европы (2009), изданный ОБС на в Международный Комп ого по предназначен для тральной Азии и Север - и ЮНЕСКО. ДанныЕ, Управлением Верховн использования в п ендиум «Преподавание й компендиум состоит ной Америки: Компенд Норвежский Хе ого Комиссара ООН по

реподавании прав человека в об- Издательство «Гуманистльсинский Комитет из 101 нароботки из 38 стр иум хоро С

Training at a human rights school. Photo: Youth group of the Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in Montenegro правам чело - RASSVET в школе. ТЕНЫ » ан ОБСЕ и-

propaganda that human rights defenders are The Ukrainian academic approach has proved an enemies of the state. In co-operation with the important resource to other programmes when it Russian version of the book ‘Build bridges not walls’. Civic Assistance Committee, more than 60 young comes to persistent development of methodology, people have been educated in human rights and knowledge and interest for new target groups and tolerance. This has been our contribution to international partnership. While the difficulties in increasing the support for human rights in the pop- obtaining visas to Russia faced by the employees of ulation, aiming at more assistance to the activists the NHC have made our work in this country chal- themselves. The participants learn what their rights lenging, the meeting in Drøbak opened new possi- are and how they can protect these and the rights bilities and ways to ensure that our activity in of others. They have been developing as activists Russia can keep its vitality and high quality. It also by providing urgent health care in the mountain- demonstrated that the results achieved in various ous regions, by educating future professionals on countries acquire a new dimension when put into corruption, by working with their peers on under- an international perspective. Thus, similar experi- standing concepts of tolerance and much more. ences from the regions marked by conflict and human rights violations aid other programmes to

Summit in Drøbak Building bridges In June the NHC gathered all our international partners for the Forum Summit in Drøbak. The intention of this one-week event was to bring the programmes closer together and let people share with each other the experience gained throughout the years of working in the field of human rights education. As a result, international contact and co-operation across the programmes has flour- ished. Lessons from work with the divided socie- ties in the Balkans became a starting point for respective work in North Ossetia and rebuilding of trust between young activists in the North Caucasus. Belarusian organisations contributed with knowledge and experience from the prisons in their country, which they later shared at the seminar for the prison employees and officials from Russia. Annual Report 2009

III Human Rights in Norway The NHC was actively involved in activities related to Norwegian human rights protection in 2009. We published several reports and engaged in the protection of refugees and asylum seekers in our country. For the first time since the establishment of the UN Human Rights Council, Norway was scrutinised through the Universal Periodic Review, and the NHC was a central NGO partner for submitting a written report about main human rights concerns in Norway to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. Repeating our successful project from 2005, we invited international partners to Norway to observe the Norwegian parliamentary elections in September.

Project on the Romani the group. Even though policies have shifted and people/Travellers supportive measures have been put in place, the The NHC concluded a project on Norwegian future survival of the Romani culture and language ­policies on one of the national minorities in Norway, remains uncertain. the Romani people or Travellers, by ­publishing an extensive report (in April) on Norwegian policies In an important breakthrough, in November 2009 both in the past and the present. The report the Government announced that it would establish ­evaluates these policies in light of Norway’s inter- a committee to investigate past policies and their national human rights obligations at the time. The consequences for the group, referring to the NHC project also included public hearings and seminars, report as one of the reasons for setting up the State Secretary Raimo Valle and as well as dialogues with individuals and organi­ committee. Bjørn Engesland sations of the Romani people. The NHC took part in several seminars and discus- The report concluded that even though current sions on Norwegian policies in the area, among policies are well founded in Norway’s international others the 2009 Falstad seminar. obligations to respect and protect the rights of its national minorities, further strengthening of these policies is necessary in order to correct past abuses. International election observation in Norway The report argued that the government should In September 2009, The NHC hosted an interna- establish a truth commission in order to investigate tional election observation mission (IEOM) of the and make known the abusive policies of the past election to the Norwegian Storting. Twenty eight which almost succeeded in destroying the Romani election experts and NGO representatives from people as a distinct cultural and linguistic commu- 12 CIS countries monitored as short-term observers nity. No other minority in Norway has been targeted the voting process on the election day, September with such intensity and systematic use of brutal 14 2009. measures, such as taking children away from their Election observers in front of Stortinget parents and enforced sterilisation of members of A follow-up of a very successful observation project in 2005, this event was aimed to put together ­participants’ earlier election observation experi- ence with an introduction to elections in a ­developed democracy. All the mission members were selected on previous merit and commitment to promoting democracy in their respective home countries, and among serious actors in the region. The project was thus also designed to facilitate the establishment of a sound contact network. The observers represented the following countries: Armenia (2), Azerbaijan (3), Belarus (2), Georgia (1), Kyrgyzstan (3), Kazakhstan (2), Moldova (2), Abkhazia (1), Russia (4), Tajikistan (2), Turkmenistan (2), Ukraine (2) and Uzbekistan (2).

22 22•23

All the observers were, in addition, trained in resulting from the project was published in January Norway. The group received two days of training 2010, Believing in Norway, Beliefs in Norway: A from various specialists in the field of Norwegian “Humanitarian Great Power” under Globalization. election law and practices, as well as election observation practices in general. The programme also included meeting with representatives of the Refuge for prisoners in youth wings of the largest political parties in Norway, Guantánamo receiving an introduction to the role of the electronic A letter was sent to the Norwegian Minister of media in Norwegian election campaigns, plus a Foreign Affairs, Jonas Gahr Støre, in April from the visit to Stortinget and Oslo City Hall. NHC together with Amnesty International Norway and several international human rights organisations. Having obtained the initial training, the 14 teams The bodies again urged the Norwegian Government Guantánamo. observed the voting in a total of 120 polling to agree to offer refuge to some of the men currently Photo: Carlos de Vega ­stations distributed throughout the Oslo area, in detained in Guantánamo and who need humani- Bergen, Tromsø, Trondheim and Karasjok, as well tarian protection. The letter also expressed hope as Eidsvoll, Drammen and Ski. The observers all that the Norwegian government would act to came from OSCE member states and the observation encourage other European countries to provide was also based on the methodology and standards similar support and thus work towards the closure of the OSCE. of the facility. Unfortunately, in the autumn it became clear that Norway would refuse the call to The election observers also tested a new tool for receive any of the prisoners cleared for release. reporting observations via the internet and using SMS, and entered findings into the website www.norwayvotes.org. The war in Gaza At the beginning of January, the NHC sent a letter The main findings of the election observation to Israel’s Ambassador to Norway asking the Israeli were presented at a press conference on Tuesday Government to stop the warfare on the Gaza Strip 15 September 2009, and later put in a report. and to allow for necessary humanitarian aid to reach civilians impacted by the conflict. The letter The observers were impressed by the high level of pointed out that both the Israeli Defence Forces trust between the voters and the election adminis- and Hamas are under international obligation to tration, and some of the observers concluded these take steps to minimise the impact on civilians, and elections were probably the first truly democratic that the lack of secure hiding places and question- elections they had observed. They added that the able military gains may make the Israeli attacks Norwegian example clearly demonstrated the unlawful and punishable under international law. supreme importance of the public confidence and The NHC also urged Israel to become a State Party implementation of the law over the quality and to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal detail of the law itself. The observers did, however, Court and ensure that core international crimes make some suggestions to improve the security of would not go unpunished. The NHC also supported the voting. Among the recommendations the proposals to convene an international conference observers made were to seal all ballot boxes and to modelled on the CSCE in the Middle East region have enough ballot boxes at each polling station in and asked Israel to allow for media and human order to avoid emptying full ballot boxes during the rights reporting from the conflict zones. The NHC course of the polling day. The recommendations also supported and participated in a large-scale also included that voters should sign directly in the torch procession in support of the victims of the voters’ registers, and not only be crossed out by war at the beginning of January. Press conference after the election the polling station functionary.

Freedom of religion During the year, the NHC continued to work on a co-operative project with the Norwegian Centre for Human Rights (NCHR) to evaluate Norwegian legislation and practice on freedom of religion in light of Norway’s OSCE commitments.

Two international experts, Professor Kjell Åke Modéer and Professor Hanne Petersen, had been assigned to conduct the evaluation. During the year several exchanges between the NCHR, the NHC and the two experts took place. A report

22 Annual Report 2009

IV Co-operation and International ­processes

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

Organisation for NGO Forum for Human Security and Co- Rights operation in Europe The NHC served as the secretariat of the forum in (OSCE) 2009. It presided at meetings of the Forum and The Human Dimension Implementation Meeting is took part in and organised activities. Forum the single most important annual OSCE event ­activities included issuing and lobbying for 10 focusing on human rights and democracy in written recommendations to the Government of Europe, North America and Central Asia. Norway regarding Norwegian membership of the Representatives of the Norwegian Helsinki UN Human Rights Council. This was in addition to Committee participated in the October 2009 con- submitting a written report to the UN High ference, with interventions on the situation for Commissioner for Human Rights on human rights women in prisons in Turkmenistan; and the need in Norway and the Universal Periodic Review of for Bosnia and Herzegovina to deal in an efficient Norway by the UN Human Rights Council. manner with the many criminal cases following the Another important activity was the facilitation of violations of international criminal law from information exchange and co-ordination between 1992-1995. In addition, the NHC organised a side- Norwegian human rights NGOs, and between event on the situation regarding human rights in them and the Norwegian authorities. Turkmenistan. United Nations In addition to interventions on behalf of the Norwegian NGO Forum on Human Rights to the United Nations’ bodies, the NHC took part as observer at the Norwegian UN Delegation during the UN General Assembly. We also participated in the work of the UN Human Rights Council at Geneva, inter alia to lobby in favour of the recom- mendations concerning Norway and a number of other countries and issues.

Human Rights Dialogue The NHC, represented by Secretary General Bjørn Engesland, has since 1999 participated in the ­official Human Rights Dialogues held by the Norwegian Government with China, Indonesia and Vietnam. The efficiency of the human rights ­dialogues, especially the one with China, has ­frequently been questioned. Even though the ­dialogue with China is challenging and it may be difficult to see concrete results, the NHC believes that such dialogues provide a forum for discussion Geneva and the possibility to raise important issues and

24 24•25

concrete cases directly with the governments of the countries they concern. The 2009 dialogues were held from 27-29 April with Indonesia, with Vietnam from 14-15 May, and the dialogue with China from 16-17 December. All dialogues were held in Oslo.

The Norwegian Centre for Human Rights The NHC has close ties with the Norwegian Centre for Human Rights. We regularly provide briefing lectures for election observers headed to missions in areas where the NHC has key competence. Secretary General Bjørn Engesland is also a member of the board of the Centre for Human Rights. This year we co-operated with the Centre on the publi- cation of a report concerning Norwegian legislation and practice on freedom of religion.

Shanghai The NHC is a member of both the international NGO coalition for the ICC (CICC), and the Forum for International Criminal and Humanitarian Law (FICHL), taking an active part in some of its activities.­

It was involved in monitoring Norway’s domestic efforts on prioritising and prosecuting international criminal cases in the Norwegian courts. Norway adopted legislation and established investigative and prosecutorial capacity to try persons suspected of war crimes, crimes against humanity and ­genocide in 2008. So far, it has only processed a few cases.

Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network The Norwegian Helsinki Committee is an ­associate member of the Euro-Mediterranean Bazar in multicultural Oslo Human Rights Network. It consists of more than 80 human rights organisations, institutions and ­individuals in 30 countries in the European/ International Justice Mediterranean region. The NHC remained active on international justice issues, providing comments and viewpoints to the media and taking part in seminars and discussions DARE on issues related to the operation and set-up of the The NHC is also member of the Democracy and International Criminal Court (ICC), the two UN ad Human Rights Education in Europe (DARE) hoc courts for the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda, Network, which consists of 37 members from as well as other internationalised jurisdictions. 23 European countries.

24 Annual Report 2009

V Eea grants In 2005 he Norwegian Helsinki Committee was assigned a project by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to take the main responsibility for coordinating and distributing information for bilateral partnership under the NGO funds and EEA Grants/Norway Grants.

The EEA Grants contribution of EUR 1.3 billion Intermediary aims to reduce social and economic disparities, conference strengthen civil society and enhance bilateral On 16 and 17 June 2009 the NHC, together with ­relations between beneficiary states and the donor the Financial Mechanism Office and the Ministry states Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway. The ben- of Foreign Affairs, organised a conference for the eficiary countries are the 10 new EU membership intermediaries. Representatives from all the Funds’ states, together with Spain, Portugal and Greece. managers attended the conference, in addition to Through this project the NHC collaborates with representatives from Norwegian partner organi­ the Ministry, the Norwegian embassies in the sations and other Norwegian stakeholders. ­beneficiary countries, as well as the Financial Mechanisms Office in Brussels. The conference was arranged with the intention of

Funds’ managers intermediary gathering the Fund’s managers in order to exchange conference in Oslo The 19 NGO Funds established in 12 of the experiences and lessons learned, as well as enhance ­beneficiary countries provide vital support to a the dialogue with representatives from Norwegian young civil society in central and eastern Europe, civil society. A report with the main findings was cornerstones in modern democracies. At the end produced and distributed to the intermediaries of this five-year period from May 2004 to April after the conference. 2009, 1,000 NGO projects are already being implemented. Efforts to strengthen democracy and human rights, to fight discrimination and to Information improve the integration of disadvantaged groups are key areas of support. In 2009 the Norwegian Helsinki Committee NHC contributed information about the NGO funds and the EEA grants through: Main activities 2009 ººThe web portal www.ngonorway.org In 2009 the main focus of the project was to ººNewsletters gather and publish experiences and results from ººLectures at seminars, meetings and conferences the bilateral projects under the NGO Funds. The ººContact with Norwegian organisations. NHC wrote an extensive evaluation report with all the central inputs from Norwegian civil society The NGO Norway Information Portal (www. and from our own experience with the work as an ngonorway.no) carries news about the NGO funds, EEA Grants/NGO Fund co-ordinator. and contributes to bilateral partnerships. The web portal consists of: The central experiences and findings were further ººA database of Norwegian NGOs presented at several seminars and meetings with ººInformation and news about the NGO funds Norwegian NGOs and with the Norwegian ººLinks to relevant documents Ministry of Foreign Affairs. An overview of ººAn overview of projects with Norwegian partners. approved bilateral partnerships is published at the Workshop web portal www.ngonorway.org. The NHC has also functioned as an advisor for the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in cases regarding civil society in the beneficiary countries.

In November 2009 the NHC participated in the conference Grantmakers East Forum in Berlin, and assisted in a workshop arranged by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. We also wrote a report from the conference; it was distributed to all the Norwegian embassies in the beneficiary countries.

26 26•27

Information VI

Media Contact ­relevant news articles on www.nhc.no, in addition As an independent human rights organisation, to other postings. On average, the NHC website we consider it imperative to maintain high visibility was visited 837 times per day in 2009. and communicate our points of view to the general public, the media and directly to the Norwegian authorities. A significant aspect of the activities of Publications Out the Back Door: our information department is therefore to The Norwegian Helsinki Committee published two The Dublin II Regulation and i ­communicate the work of the NHC and its views printed reports in 2009: llegal deportations from Greece to the media and the general public. ººOut the Back Door: The Dublin II Regulation and illegal deportations from Greece. The report The NHC subscribes to a service from Meltwater was co-authored with the Norwegian news that tracks media appearances. In 2009 the Organisation for Asylum Seekers (NOAS) and NHC or its advisors were registered with 675 the Greek NGO, ‘AITIMA’.

NORWEGIAN HELSINKI ­mentions in the Norwegian electronic media. ººAzerbaijan’s Dark Island: Human rights COMMITTEE AITIMA Here it should be noted that this figure refers only ­violations in Nakhchivan.

'%%.

™ to electronically published articles and reports. Additionally, the NHC published the following ' G : E D G I Material in printed publications is not taken into reports electronically in 2009: 6O:G76>?6C¼H 96G@>HA6C9/ =jbVcg^\]ihk^daVi^dch account, but these represent an additional source ººNorsk romani-/taterpolitikk: Fortid, nåtid, fremtid ^cCV`]X]^kVc of visibility. Additionally, NHC representatives are ººBelieving in Norway, beliefs in Norway: frequently used as commentators and experts on A “Humanitarian Great Power” under radio and TV programmes. We have also been Globalization. In co-operation with the mentioned on numerous occasions in Russian Norwegian Centre for Human Rights. Authored

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™ ­language and other international media. by Kjell Å Modéer and Hanne Petersen. ( G : E D G I

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Information VII Technology Finances VIII

Thanks to the generous support of InMeta Total spending in 2009 was NOK 36.4 million, out Consulting and Microsoft Corporation NHC took of which project support for partners constituted a leap forward in IT in 2009. The highly welcome NOK 25.5 million. Total income was NOK 36.5 donations of consulting hours and software was million. Unspent project funds of NOK 17.2 million put to use in 2009 and has improved the efficiency were transferred from 2008, while NOK 14.9 million and security of the NHC’s operations and provided was carried forward to 2010. an excellent platform for further system develop- ment. The NHC is very grateful for this kind and The NHC’s donors are primarily the Norwegian significant contribution to its work. Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Freedom of Expression Foundation (Fritt Ord), Open Society Institute, National Endowment for Democracy and the Barents Secretariat. Gifts, members’ contributions etc. provided an income of NOK 163,400.

26 Women in a settlement for internally displaced persons in Azerbaijan

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