(THIS ARTICLE IS MACHINE TRANSLATED by Google from Norwegian)
[12. May 2007] Globalization is here, no matter what we think of it. Some people think we can stop it. Equally constructive are all those who work to find ways to control globalization. In this context, fighting for international human rights is one of the most important things we can do.
On Tuesday this week, the UN General Assembly elected the members of the new Human Rights Council. The Council is a further development of the Human Rights Commission, but is given a broader mandate, more power and more frequent meetings than the now closed commission. Norwegian newspapers have been unanimous in their cheer on the council, and the event is referred to as a sharpening, a new donor and a crossroads for the UN's commitment to human rights.
Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre enthusiastically declared in VG on Wednesday that "Our starting point must be clear – human rights are universal." It's not that simple. The rights must always be interpreted and negotiated in an interaction with different countries. Different views must not hinder the continued struggle for freedom and equality, and here the Human Rights Council is an important arena.
Quite simply, however, is to read the report that Amnesty published on Wednesday. It shows that increased arms trade means more human rights violations. Weapon brokers from countries we like to compare ourselves to (such as the Netherlands, Switzerland, the US and the UK) ensure that weapons arrive in countries and conflicts where we know they will lead to killings, rapes and internally displaced refugees.
The night before, Erling Borgen's film "A Little Piece of Norway" was finally shown on Norwegian television screens. In advance, there was a lot of debate and debate surrounding NRK's decision not to send it, and after the documentary was shown on TV 2, we got the viewer numbers in close-text across many columns. But the Norwegian media was remarkably little concerned about the content of Borgens film. If they were, they would convey how Norwegian conscripts escorted weapons and American soldiers on their way to Iraq, how important Aker Kvaerner was in the build-up and now operation of Guantanamo. If they had worked on the matter further, they would have found that the Norwegian radar, which the film reveals was lent to the invasion of Iraq, was actually used to throw cluster bombs at the people of Basra. In this way, Norway also contributes to undermining human rights worldwide.
Then not only Ågot Valle, but also Jonas Gahr Støre, wanted an investigation of Norway's role in the invasion of Iraq – a war that was already in principle a violation of international law. It is not enough to support the UN Human Rights Council when we also contribute to human rights violations.
