Human Rights

The overall objective for the human rights programme is the realisation of people’s civil and political rights, particularly in countries with oppressive regimes. In connection with its work for an interfaith dialogue between religious and political leaders, the Oslo Center aims to promote religious freedom and the rights of women and minorities.

The Center’s preferred tool for such support is dialogue, combined with efforts to link dialogue with technical assistance. When a dialogue approach is not considered possible or effective, the approach will take other forms and other ways, such as through advocacy efforts at national and international levels. The Oslo Center recognises that there are inherent possibilities for contradictions and tensions between low-key dialogue and international advocacy efforts. Hence, the strategy and approaches applied in support of human rights need to be context-specific and flexible.

This programme contains these projects:

Burma
Burma has experienced a brutal military dictatorship for more than 40 years. It is estimated that the Burmese junta holds as many as 2.100 political prisoners, including the legitimate winner of the 1990-election and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. The Oslo Center wants to contribute to the development of democracy and respect for human rights in Burma.

North Korea
The humanitarian crisis and the human rights violations in North Korea are among the most staggering in the world today. The Oslo Center wants to contribute to an improved humanitarian situation and respect for human rights in North Korea, and to raise international awareness about the situation in the country.

Mental Health
Proper treatment of mental disease is a human right. Mental illnesses affect people of all ages in all countries and societies. Stigma is a main problem regarding our efforts to improve the mental health situation in the world. Because of Mr. Bondevik’s personal history, he has a voice in the fight against stigma world wide.