This distinction is among the highest honours bestowed by Kosovo’s President and reflects a “profound gratitude and appreciation for the unwavering commitment and outstanding contribution of the Norwegian Helsinki Committee over the years, especially during the period of the 1990s.”
Secretary General Berit Lindeman received the Presidential Medal at a ceremony in the President’s Office in Prishtina on 1 September. She was joined by Gunnar Ekeløve-Slydal, who has been Deputy Secretary General since 1997, and took part in the Kosovo-related work at that time.
– We are deeply honoured and grateful to receive the Presidential medal. The work of NHC in Kosovo was highly meaningful and important at a crucial time of her history. NHC stood in solidarity with the people by documenting grave human rights violations, advancing democracy, and supporting an emerging civil society. It is important for me to direct my sincere thanks to all those strongly engaged individuals, both Norwegians and Kosovars, for the massive and important work that was done at the time. The NHC of today builds on their commitment to advance human rights, democracy and accountability in line with the principles of the Helsinki Accords and international law, said Berit Lindeman.
The NHC was deeply engaged with the Western Balkans since 1990, when we organised the first visit by a Kosovo delegation to a Western country, to Oslo. We worked with other Helsinki committees, with Kosovo representatives and supported local civil society organisations, media and individuals who fought for citizens’ rights.
The NHC has also monitored elections and organised regular visits to the country. In addition, the committee has produced reports, posts and chronicles for both international and Norwegian media on the situation in the country. During the war in 1998-1999, the NHC argued that the international community should intervene to stop massacres and other severe violations against the civilian population. NHC’s human rights schools, promoting peaceful coexistence through knowledge of human rights, were organised for thousands of youths after the devastating Balkan wars.
The Proposal for Honour provides an overview of some of the Norwegian Helsinki Committee’s contributions to Kosovo during the 1990s.