Tag Archive for: Freedom of expression

Russia’s Elections: An Illusion of Choice

Putin’s elites and co-perpetrators are seeking legitimacy. War crimes, human rights abuses, and the wartime economy in Russia.

Date: September 10th 
Time: 18.00-19.30
Location: Sentralen, Oslo (Kronesalen)

 

About the event:

18 to 20 September 2026, Russia holds parliamentary elections. They will take place during the fifth year of Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine, in a context marked by extensive political repression, thousands of Ukrainian civilian deaths and politically motivated detentions in Russia, expanded wartime restrictions, severe international sanctions, and significant military losses. According to experts, Russia has around one million casualties, whereof 400 000 deaths. OVD info, Russia’s leading human rights organisation, which monitors political prosecutions, was labelled as “an extremist” and “terrorist” organisation in the beginning of June 2026.

 

Various independent sociological research suggests that Russian society is increasingly fatigued by the war, while deteriorating socioeconomic conditions are affecting everyday life. As the conflict continues, its consequences are becoming more visible within Russian society, reaching beyond the battlefield and into the daily lives of ordinary citizens.

 

Many appear to be expressing growing frustration with the costs of the war, while remaining broadly supportive of the political system that enabled it. How do these citizens perceive the current situation? Why have Russia’s political elites continued to pursue the war despite its mounting costs? And how can Russian society express disagreement when independent political activity, public protest, and dissent are criminalised and subject to severe legal restrictions and repression?

 

To answer these questions the Norwegian Helsinki Committee and Norwegian PEN invited Alexandra Prokopenko, sociologist and researcher of Russian economic policy and Leonid Drabkin, the head of OVD-Info.

 

 

Program:

16:30 Coffee and registration

17:00: Welcome by Jørgen Watne Frydnes, PEN Norway

17:15-17:35: Co-perpetrators: Russian elites and war economy – Alexandra Prokopenko

17:35-17:55: Martial laws and repressions – how to resist? – Leonid Drabkin, OVD info

18:00-18:45: Berit Lindeman, Secretary General of the Norwegian Helsinki Committee, in conversation with Alexander Prokopenko and Leonid Drabkin

 

About the speakers:

Alexandra Prokopenko is a fellow at the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center. In her research, she focuses on Russian government policymaking on economic and financial issues.

From 2017 until early 2022 Alexandra worked at the Central Bank of Russia and at the Higher School of Economics (HSE) in Moscow. She is a former columnist for Vedomosti. She is a graduate of Moscow State University and holds an MA in Sociology from the University of Manchester.

Alexandra was a visiting fellow at the Center for Order and Governance in Eastern Europe, Russia, and Central Asia at the German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP).

She is the author of From Sovereigns to Servants. How the War Against Ukraine Reshaped Russia’s Elite (London, 2026).

 

Leonid Drabkin is a senior executive with extensive experience leading OVD-Info, one of Russia’s largest and most respected human rights organisations, where he focused on documenting political prosecutions and providing legal support.

Drabkin holds an MSc in Finance from the United Kingdom and is recognised for a results-driven, change-oriented approach to advancing human rights. He was named to Forbes 30 Under 30 and is currently working in exile following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

 

Belarus: Undertrykkelsen fortsetter seks år etter omstridt presidentvalg

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Norsk PEN på Arendalsuka: Fokus på unges ytringsfrihet

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Community event for artists: Connect, Share, Create

On Friday 28th of August, Kulna and PEN Norway gathers artists at Sentralen in Oslo to explore, connect and grow in the name of art.

Date: August 28th
Time: 18.00-19.30
Location: Sentralen, Oslo (Kronesalen)
Register for the event here

 

About the event:

Decentralize the city. Take back freedom.

We invite you as a cultural worker as part of an institution or individually, an artist, solo or part of a creative collective. You who believe that art is a necessary part of a vibrant society and to insure freedom of expression should not be only supported by certain individuals.

Systemic change starts at the grassroots level. It starts in our own houses, workspaces, and neighborhoods.

For far too long, artists have had to adapt to a system that rewards commercial considerations more than artistic freedom. What if we could turn that around? What if the city and us are all we need? A spare room. A workshop. A wall. A meeting room that stands empty in the evening. A corner where a project can be completed. Equipment that can be shared. Resources that already exist, but are waiting to be put to use.

Fadaa is an invitation to think differently. Not just about art, but about how we experience our city, community, and culture. Instead of waiting for more funding or more buildings, we ask: How can we activate what we already have?

That’s why we’re bringing together artists, cultural actors, municipalities, businesses and everyone who believes in the power of creativity. Not because Fadaa is finished, but because we want to build the vision together. We specifically want you. Oslo is full of people with ideas, talent and space that can create something bigger than what we see today. Now we want to connect them. This is the start of Fadaa in Oslo.

 

Join us for the introduction event. Share ideas, challenge it, and help shape how art and culture can have a greater place in our city. We look forward to seeing you. Creativity shouldn’t wait for permission. It just needs space.

 

Building the civic and cultural infrastructure Norway needs now

On August 19th, PEN Norway and Kulna invite you to Sentralen for the lunch conversation ‘Introducing Kulna @ Sentralen: Building the civic and cultural infrastructure Norway needs now’.

Date: 19. August 2026
Time: 11.30
Location: Bankboksen, Sentralen
The event is organised by Kulna and PEN Norway 

Register for the event here (by invitation only) 

 

Kulna @ Sentralen is a new year-long civic and cultural program created by Kulna, in cooperation with PEN Norway, taking place Sentralen. Kulna is the public media and community platform of the Kawaakibi Foundation, bringing together activists, artists, and researchers shaped by revolution, exile, and resistance. Through talks, workshops, performances, and community gatherings, the program connects structural analysis, artistic expression, and civic participation.

 

The program starts from a practical question: how can Norway use its freedom, resources, and civic space to respond to democratic erosion, moral injury, global instability, and rapid change driven by AI? For people who help decide what is funded, hosted, published, and made visible, this question is immediate. What spaces, ideas, and partnerships are needed to strengthen public courage, long-term thinking, and meaningful solidarity?

 

During this invitation-only lunch, we will present Kulna’s framework, main projects, and upcoming program at Sentralen. We will also take a closer look at Fadaa, our cultural and civic platform for art, activism, storytelling, and access to space. After a short presentation and invited reflections, we will hold a focused roundtable on the civic and cultural infrastructure Norway needs now, and how the institutions represented in the room might contribute.

 

After the American Empire: How to Build a World for All of Us

Date: 19. August 2026
Time: 17.30
Location: Kronesalen, Sentralen
The event is organised by Kulna and PEN Norway 

Register for the event here


About the event

 

The American-led world order is breaking down. The current US-Israeli war on Iran exposes the deeper crisis of an imperial system built around military dominance, dollar power, Gulf oil, and the exceptional position of Israel within the Western order.

 

In this lecture, Iyad El-Baghdadi traces the rise and decline of the American imperial system, explains the current war on Iran through a systems-change lens, and examines what its breakdown may mean for the United States, Israel, the Gulf, Iran, Europe, and the wider world. The aim is not only to understand what is ending, but to ask what must be built next.

 

A post-imperial world does not have to become a world of fragmentation, revenge, and permanent war. It can become an opening for a more democratic and equal international order built around shared security, economic justice, truth, and human dignity.

 

The event begins with a 45–60 minute lecture, followed by 30–45 minutes of questions and audience discussion. It will be filmed for publication on Kulna. Audience members may choose whether or not to appear in the recording.

AFGHANISTAN: FIRE ÅR MED TALIBAN 

Tid: 19. august, kl. 1700-1900
Sted: Sentralen, Oslo (Forstanderskapssalen)
Arrangører: Norsk PEN, Menneskerettighetsfondet og Afghanistankomiteen (NAC)

Om arrangementet

15. august 2021 rykket Taliban inn i Kabul. Vi husker alle de dramatiske dagene. Mange ble evakuert, mange flyktet, men de fleste afghanere bor fortsatt i Afghanistan. Siden den tid har rapportene fra Afghanistan vært foruroligende. Den humanitære situasjonen er preget av sult og arbeidsledighet, jenter og kvinner er nektet utdanning og arbeid. Menneskerettigheter generelt, og ytringsfrihet spesielt, er sterkt svekket.

 

Samtidig får Afghanistan stadig mindre oppmerksomhet i et urolig verdensbilde, og den prekære situasjonen går i stor grad under radaren i nyhetsbildet. Hvordan er det å leve i Afghanistan nå, og hvordan står det til med grunnleggende rettigheter i Afghanistan?  

 

Velkommen til en kveld med samtaler og innsikt om situasjonen for menneskerettigheter i Afghanistan – med eksperter fra Afghanistan og Norge.

 

DEL I: STATUS FOR GRUNNLEGGENDE RETTIGHETER I AFGHANISTAN

– Kvinners rettigheter: Hvordan er kvinners tilgang på skole og arbeid, deres bevegelses- og valgfrihet?
– Minoriteters rettigheter: Hvordan er situasjonen for de mange minoritetene i landet? 
– Hvordan er levekårene og tilgang til mat?
– Norges bidrag: Hvordan bidrar Norge i Afghanistan? 

 

DEL II: STATUS FOR YTRINGSFRIHET I AFGHANISTAN 

– Hvordan er situasjonen for ytringsfrihet i landet?
– Finnes det noen frie medier og journalister i Afghanistan?
– Hvordan kan verdenssamfunnet støtte ytringsfrihet, pressefrihet og ytrere i Afghanistan?  

Program:

 

16:45: Dørene åpner m/ fotoutstilling

 

17:00 DEL I: STATUS FOR GRUNNLEGGENDE RETTIGHETER I AFGHANISTAN

Velkommen: Jørgen Watne Frydnes, Norsk PEN    

Digital keynote: Dr. Sima Samar, tidl. minister og leder for Den afghanske menneskerettskommisjonen (AIHRC)  

Innlegg og kommentar: Andreas M. Kravik, Statssekretær, Utenriksdepartementet

Innlegg: Hvordan er situasjonen på landsbygda? Mustafa Himmati, Afghanistankomiteen  

 

Panelsamtale: Hva kan Norge gjøre for Afghanistan?

– Andreas M. Kravik, Statssekretær, Utenriksdepartementet
– Ayesha Wolasmal, journalist og forfatter
– Terje Watterdal, Afghanistankomiteen
– Ledet av Elisabeth Eide, Norsk PEN  

 

18: 10: PAUSE m/ lett servering og fotoutstilling

 

18:20: DEL II: STATUS FOR YTRINGSFRIHET I AFGHANISTAN 

Digitalt innlegg: Videoappell fra forfatter inne i Afghanistan

 

Panelsamtale: situasjonen for ytringsfrihet, pressefrihet & verdenssamfunnets rolle 

– Hamid Obaidi, Afghanistan Journalists Support Organization
– Anders Hammer, journalist og filmskaper
– Ledet av Hasina Shirzad, Menneskerettighetsfondet 

 

Kunstnerisk innslag: Lesning av dikt ved poet Khaleda Froagh

Avslutning

 

19:00 SLUTT 

 

 

AFGHANISTAN: FOUR YEARS UNDER THE TALIBAN

Date: August 19, 17:00–19:00
Location: Sentralen, Oslo (Forstanderskapssalen)
Organizers: PEN Norway, The Human Rights Fund and the Norwegian Afghanistan Committee (NAC) 

About the event

On August 15, 2021, the Taliban entered Kabul. We all remember those dramatic days. Many were evacuated, many fled – but most Afghans still live in Afghanistan. Since then, reports from the country have been deeply alarming. The humanitarian situation with hunger and unemployment is heightened, while girls and women are denied education and work. Human rights —and freedom of expression in particular—have been severely eroded. 

 

At the same time, Afghanistan is receiving less and less attention in an increasingly unstable world. The urgent crisis largely goes under the radar in today’s news coverage. What is it like to live in Afghanistan now? What is the current state of basic human rights? 

 

We hereby invite you to an evening of conversations and insights about the human rights situation in Afghanistan—featuring experts from both Afghanistan and Norway. 

 

PART I: THE STATUS FOR FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS IN AFGHANISTAN 

– Women’s Rights: What access do women have to education and work? What about freedom of movement and choice?
– Minority Rights: What is the current situation for the many minority groups in the country?
– Living Conditions: What is access to food and overall quality of life like?
– Norway’s Contribution: How is Norway engaging in Afghanistan? 

PART II: THE STATUS FOR FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION IN AFGHANISTAN

– Freedom of expression: What is the state of free expression in the country?
– Press freedom: Do any independent media outlets or journalists remain active?
– International attention/contribution: How can the international community support freedom of expression, press freedom, and those who dare to speak out? 

Program 

Doors open at 16:45 with a photo exhibition on display 

Welcome: Jørgen Watne Frydnes, Director, PEN Norway  

 

PART I: THE STATUS FOR FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS IN AFGHANISTAN 

Digital keynote: Dr. Sima Samar, former minister and Chair of the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC) 

Remarks: Andreas Kravik, State Secretary, Ministry of foreign Affairs.

Presentation: What is the situation in rural areas? Mustafa Himmati, Norwegian Afghanistan Committee 

Panel discussion: What can Norway do for Afghanistan? 

– Andreas Kravik, State secretary, Ministry of foreign Affairs
– Ayesha Wolasmal, journalist and author
– Terje Watterdal, Country Director, The Norwegian Afghanistan Committee
– Moderated by Elisabeth Eide, PEN Norway 

 

BREAK w/ drinks and a photo exhibition

 

PART II: THE STATUS FOR FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION IN AFGHANISTAN

What is the status of freedom of expression in Afghanistan (digital contribution) TBC 

Conversation: The situation for freedom of expression, press freedom, and the role of the international community 

– Hamid Obaidi, journalist, Afghanistan Journalists Support Organization
– Anders Hamer, journalist and filmmaker 
– Moderated by Hasina Shirzad, The Human Rights Fund 

Closing remarks: Norwegian Afghanistan Committee 

 

THE END (19:00)

 

 

International Mother Language Day: Take action for Hany Babu

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Tag Archive for: Freedom of expression

Russia’s Elections: An Illusion of Choice

Putin’s elites and co-perpetrators are seeking legitimacy. War crimes, human rights abuses, and the wartime economy in Russia.

Date: September 10th 
Time: 18.00-19.30
Location: Sentralen, Oslo (Kronesalen)

 

About the event:

18 to 20 September 2026, Russia holds parliamentary elections. They will take place during the fifth year of Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine, in a context marked by extensive political repression, thousands of Ukrainian civilian deaths and politically motivated detentions in Russia, expanded wartime restrictions, severe international sanctions, and significant military losses. According to experts, Russia has around one million casualties, whereof 400 000 deaths. OVD info, Russia’s leading human rights organisation, which monitors political prosecutions, was labelled as “an extremist” and “terrorist” organisation in the beginning of June 2026.

 

Various independent sociological research suggests that Russian society is increasingly fatigued by the war, while deteriorating socioeconomic conditions are affecting everyday life. As the conflict continues, its consequences are becoming more visible within Russian society, reaching beyond the battlefield and into the daily lives of ordinary citizens.

 

Many appear to be expressing growing frustration with the costs of the war, while remaining broadly supportive of the political system that enabled it. How do these citizens perceive the current situation? Why have Russia’s political elites continued to pursue the war despite its mounting costs? And how can Russian society express disagreement when independent political activity, public protest, and dissent are criminalised and subject to severe legal restrictions and repression?

 

To answer these questions the Norwegian Helsinki Committee and Norwegian PEN invited Alexandra Prokopenko, sociologist and researcher of Russian economic policy and Leonid Drabkin, the head of OVD-Info.

 

 

Program:

16:30 Coffee and registration

17:00: Welcome by Jørgen Watne Frydnes, PEN Norway

17:15-17:35: Co-perpetrators: Russian elites and war economy – Alexandra Prokopenko

17:35-17:55: Martial laws and repressions – how to resist? – Leonid Drabkin, OVD info

18:00-18:45: Berit Lindeman, Secretary General of the Norwegian Helsinki Committee, in conversation with Alexander Prokopenko and Leonid Drabkin

 

About the speakers:

Alexandra Prokopenko is a fellow at the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center. In her research, she focuses on Russian government policymaking on economic and financial issues.

From 2017 until early 2022 Alexandra worked at the Central Bank of Russia and at the Higher School of Economics (HSE) in Moscow. She is a former columnist for Vedomosti. She is a graduate of Moscow State University and holds an MA in Sociology from the University of Manchester.

Alexandra was a visiting fellow at the Center for Order and Governance in Eastern Europe, Russia, and Central Asia at the German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP).

She is the author of From Sovereigns to Servants. How the War Against Ukraine Reshaped Russia’s Elite (London, 2026).

 

Leonid Drabkin is a senior executive with extensive experience leading OVD-Info, one of Russia’s largest and most respected human rights organisations, where he focused on documenting political prosecutions and providing legal support.

Drabkin holds an MSc in Finance from the United Kingdom and is recognised for a results-driven, change-oriented approach to advancing human rights. He was named to Forbes 30 Under 30 and is currently working in exile following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

 

Belarus: Undertrykkelsen fortsetter seks år etter omstridt presidentvalg

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Norsk PEN på Arendalsuka: Fokus på unges ytringsfrihet

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Community event for artists: Connect, Share, Create

On Friday 28th of August, Kulna and PEN Norway gathers artists at Sentralen in Oslo to explore, connect and grow in the name of art.

Date: August 28th
Time: 18.00-19.30
Location: Sentralen, Oslo (Kronesalen)
Register for the event here

 

About the event:

Decentralize the city. Take back freedom.

We invite you as a cultural worker as part of an institution or individually, an artist, solo or part of a creative collective. You who believe that art is a necessary part of a vibrant society and to insure freedom of expression should not be only supported by certain individuals.

Systemic change starts at the grassroots level. It starts in our own houses, workspaces, and neighborhoods.

For far too long, artists have had to adapt to a system that rewards commercial considerations more than artistic freedom. What if we could turn that around? What if the city and us are all we need? A spare room. A workshop. A wall. A meeting room that stands empty in the evening. A corner where a project can be completed. Equipment that can be shared. Resources that already exist, but are waiting to be put to use.

Fadaa is an invitation to think differently. Not just about art, but about how we experience our city, community, and culture. Instead of waiting for more funding or more buildings, we ask: How can we activate what we already have?

That’s why we’re bringing together artists, cultural actors, municipalities, businesses and everyone who believes in the power of creativity. Not because Fadaa is finished, but because we want to build the vision together. We specifically want you. Oslo is full of people with ideas, talent and space that can create something bigger than what we see today. Now we want to connect them. This is the start of Fadaa in Oslo.

 

Join us for the introduction event. Share ideas, challenge it, and help shape how art and culture can have a greater place in our city. We look forward to seeing you. Creativity shouldn’t wait for permission. It just needs space.

 

Building the civic and cultural infrastructure Norway needs now

On August 19th, PEN Norway and Kulna invite you to Sentralen for the lunch conversation ‘Introducing Kulna @ Sentralen: Building the civic and cultural infrastructure Norway needs now’.

Date: 19. August 2026
Time: 11.30
Location: Bankboksen, Sentralen
The event is organised by Kulna and PEN Norway 

Register for the event here (by invitation only) 

 

Kulna @ Sentralen is a new year-long civic and cultural program created by Kulna, in cooperation with PEN Norway, taking place Sentralen. Kulna is the public media and community platform of the Kawaakibi Foundation, bringing together activists, artists, and researchers shaped by revolution, exile, and resistance. Through talks, workshops, performances, and community gatherings, the program connects structural analysis, artistic expression, and civic participation.

 

The program starts from a practical question: how can Norway use its freedom, resources, and civic space to respond to democratic erosion, moral injury, global instability, and rapid change driven by AI? For people who help decide what is funded, hosted, published, and made visible, this question is immediate. What spaces, ideas, and partnerships are needed to strengthen public courage, long-term thinking, and meaningful solidarity?

 

During this invitation-only lunch, we will present Kulna’s framework, main projects, and upcoming program at Sentralen. We will also take a closer look at Fadaa, our cultural and civic platform for art, activism, storytelling, and access to space. After a short presentation and invited reflections, we will hold a focused roundtable on the civic and cultural infrastructure Norway needs now, and how the institutions represented in the room might contribute.

 

After the American Empire: How to Build a World for All of Us

Date: 19. August 2026
Time: 17.30
Location: Kronesalen, Sentralen
The event is organised by Kulna and PEN Norway 

Register for the event here


About the event

 

The American-led world order is breaking down. The current US-Israeli war on Iran exposes the deeper crisis of an imperial system built around military dominance, dollar power, Gulf oil, and the exceptional position of Israel within the Western order.

 

In this lecture, Iyad El-Baghdadi traces the rise and decline of the American imperial system, explains the current war on Iran through a systems-change lens, and examines what its breakdown may mean for the United States, Israel, the Gulf, Iran, Europe, and the wider world. The aim is not only to understand what is ending, but to ask what must be built next.

 

A post-imperial world does not have to become a world of fragmentation, revenge, and permanent war. It can become an opening for a more democratic and equal international order built around shared security, economic justice, truth, and human dignity.

 

The event begins with a 45–60 minute lecture, followed by 30–45 minutes of questions and audience discussion. It will be filmed for publication on Kulna. Audience members may choose whether or not to appear in the recording.

AFGHANISTAN: FIRE ÅR MED TALIBAN 

Tid: 19. august, kl. 1700-1900
Sted: Sentralen, Oslo (Forstanderskapssalen)
Arrangører: Norsk PEN, Menneskerettighetsfondet og Afghanistankomiteen (NAC)

Om arrangementet

15. august 2021 rykket Taliban inn i Kabul. Vi husker alle de dramatiske dagene. Mange ble evakuert, mange flyktet, men de fleste afghanere bor fortsatt i Afghanistan. Siden den tid har rapportene fra Afghanistan vært foruroligende. Den humanitære situasjonen er preget av sult og arbeidsledighet, jenter og kvinner er nektet utdanning og arbeid. Menneskerettigheter generelt, og ytringsfrihet spesielt, er sterkt svekket.

 

Samtidig får Afghanistan stadig mindre oppmerksomhet i et urolig verdensbilde, og den prekære situasjonen går i stor grad under radaren i nyhetsbildet. Hvordan er det å leve i Afghanistan nå, og hvordan står det til med grunnleggende rettigheter i Afghanistan?  

 

Velkommen til en kveld med samtaler og innsikt om situasjonen for menneskerettigheter i Afghanistan – med eksperter fra Afghanistan og Norge.

 

DEL I: STATUS FOR GRUNNLEGGENDE RETTIGHETER I AFGHANISTAN

– Kvinners rettigheter: Hvordan er kvinners tilgang på skole og arbeid, deres bevegelses- og valgfrihet?
– Minoriteters rettigheter: Hvordan er situasjonen for de mange minoritetene i landet? 
– Hvordan er levekårene og tilgang til mat?
– Norges bidrag: Hvordan bidrar Norge i Afghanistan? 

 

DEL II: STATUS FOR YTRINGSFRIHET I AFGHANISTAN 

– Hvordan er situasjonen for ytringsfrihet i landet?
– Finnes det noen frie medier og journalister i Afghanistan?
– Hvordan kan verdenssamfunnet støtte ytringsfrihet, pressefrihet og ytrere i Afghanistan?  

Program:

 

16:45: Dørene åpner m/ fotoutstilling

 

17:00 DEL I: STATUS FOR GRUNNLEGGENDE RETTIGHETER I AFGHANISTAN

Velkommen: Jørgen Watne Frydnes, Norsk PEN    

Digital keynote: Dr. Sima Samar, tidl. minister og leder for Den afghanske menneskerettskommisjonen (AIHRC)  

Innlegg og kommentar: Andreas M. Kravik, Statssekretær, Utenriksdepartementet

Innlegg: Hvordan er situasjonen på landsbygda? Mustafa Himmati, Afghanistankomiteen  

 

Panelsamtale: Hva kan Norge gjøre for Afghanistan?

– Andreas M. Kravik, Statssekretær, Utenriksdepartementet
– Ayesha Wolasmal, journalist og forfatter
– Terje Watterdal, Afghanistankomiteen
– Ledet av Elisabeth Eide, Norsk PEN  

 

18: 10: PAUSE m/ lett servering og fotoutstilling

 

18:20: DEL II: STATUS FOR YTRINGSFRIHET I AFGHANISTAN 

Digitalt innlegg: Videoappell fra forfatter inne i Afghanistan

 

Panelsamtale: situasjonen for ytringsfrihet, pressefrihet & verdenssamfunnets rolle 

– Hamid Obaidi, Afghanistan Journalists Support Organization
– Anders Hammer, journalist og filmskaper
– Ledet av Hasina Shirzad, Menneskerettighetsfondet 

 

Kunstnerisk innslag: Lesning av dikt ved poet Khaleda Froagh

Avslutning

 

19:00 SLUTT 

 

 

AFGHANISTAN: FOUR YEARS UNDER THE TALIBAN

Date: August 19, 17:00–19:00
Location: Sentralen, Oslo (Forstanderskapssalen)
Organizers: PEN Norway, The Human Rights Fund and the Norwegian Afghanistan Committee (NAC) 

About the event

On August 15, 2021, the Taliban entered Kabul. We all remember those dramatic days. Many were evacuated, many fled – but most Afghans still live in Afghanistan. Since then, reports from the country have been deeply alarming. The humanitarian situation with hunger and unemployment is heightened, while girls and women are denied education and work. Human rights —and freedom of expression in particular—have been severely eroded. 

 

At the same time, Afghanistan is receiving less and less attention in an increasingly unstable world. The urgent crisis largely goes under the radar in today’s news coverage. What is it like to live in Afghanistan now? What is the current state of basic human rights? 

 

We hereby invite you to an evening of conversations and insights about the human rights situation in Afghanistan—featuring experts from both Afghanistan and Norway. 

 

PART I: THE STATUS FOR FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS IN AFGHANISTAN 

– Women’s Rights: What access do women have to education and work? What about freedom of movement and choice?
– Minority Rights: What is the current situation for the many minority groups in the country?
– Living Conditions: What is access to food and overall quality of life like?
– Norway’s Contribution: How is Norway engaging in Afghanistan? 

PART II: THE STATUS FOR FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION IN AFGHANISTAN

– Freedom of expression: What is the state of free expression in the country?
– Press freedom: Do any independent media outlets or journalists remain active?
– International attention/contribution: How can the international community support freedom of expression, press freedom, and those who dare to speak out? 

Program 

Doors open at 16:45 with a photo exhibition on display 

Welcome: Jørgen Watne Frydnes, Director, PEN Norway  

 

PART I: THE STATUS FOR FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS IN AFGHANISTAN 

Digital keynote: Dr. Sima Samar, former minister and Chair of the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC) 

Remarks: Andreas Kravik, State Secretary, Ministry of foreign Affairs.

Presentation: What is the situation in rural areas? Mustafa Himmati, Norwegian Afghanistan Committee 

Panel discussion: What can Norway do for Afghanistan? 

– Andreas Kravik, State secretary, Ministry of foreign Affairs
– Ayesha Wolasmal, journalist and author
– Terje Watterdal, Country Director, The Norwegian Afghanistan Committee
– Moderated by Elisabeth Eide, PEN Norway 

 

BREAK w/ drinks and a photo exhibition

 

PART II: THE STATUS FOR FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION IN AFGHANISTAN

What is the status of freedom of expression in Afghanistan (digital contribution) TBC 

Conversation: The situation for freedom of expression, press freedom, and the role of the international community 

– Hamid Obaidi, journalist, Afghanistan Journalists Support Organization
– Anders Hamer, journalist and filmmaker 
– Moderated by Hasina Shirzad, The Human Rights Fund 

Closing remarks: Norwegian Afghanistan Committee 

 

THE END (19:00)

 

 

International Mother Language Day: Take action for Hany Babu

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