45 of our students and 3 teachers attended this year’s Rafto Conference, which gave us an insight into the Human Rights situation in Europe with a particular focus on vulnerable groups, among them: women, refugees and LGBTI communities. We had a chance to learn about importance of the role of the civil society in addressing the issues often ignored or pushed to the side by governments. Marcia V.J. Kran, a member of the UN Human Rights Committee, stressed the importance of HR education, giving account to any individual case of the abuse of HR. All events over the Rafto weekend was as a great demonstration of Solidarity between the Norwegian and Polish People. As Adam Bodnar the recipient of the award said:
“I treat this award as the solidarity of citizens of the Human Rights City of Bergen not only with myself, but with all those who fight in Poland for freedom, human rights and rule of law: civil society, members of academia, judges, prosecutors, attorneys, and each and every member of the society who is concerned with the process of undemocratic changes.”