On October 15, Oslo hosted a seminar entitled “Uzbekistan – behind closed gates”, which was dedicated to problems of human rights in Uzbekistan.

The event was organized by Norwegian Helsinki Committee and Norwegian Organization of asylum seekers.

Participants discussed issues of compliance with the freedom of speech, religion and belief in Uzbekistan, as well as other significant problems related to human rights in the country.

“Jarayon” had an honor to interview Lena Wetteland, consultant and program manager for Central Asia at the Norwegian Helsinki Committee, who spoke in detail about the event in Oslo, committee’s work on Uzbekistan, Uzbek refugees in Norway, and the problems they often face there.

Jarayon: Lene, please, tell us why the event on human rights in Uzbekistan was held in Norway?

Wetteland: In recent years, the number of Uzbek citizens applying for asylum in Norway has raised significantly. Norway takes part in a military alliance International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan (ISAF) and, therefore, uses a base in Termez city.

Also, Uzbekistan is a growing market for Norwegian business. So we wanted to shed some light on the situation, as most people in Norway, including business, politics, or immigration officers know little about the country. It is also linked to the fact that public opinion can influence policy in Norway.

Jarayon: What do you think, can such seminars help Uzbek refugees who come to seek asylum in Norway?

Wetteland: We hope that through these workshops, decision-makers in Norway and Europe will have a better understanding of the need to contribute to improvement of human rights in Uzbekistan, so that people will not have to leave their country and seek asylum or work elsewhere.

Again, these seminars provide more complete information about the real situation in Uzbekistan. We also want to influence the policy of the Norwegian authorities towards refugees and their policy on human rights, including human rights in Uzbekistan.

Jarayon: What main issues were discussed during the seminar? What topics were interesting to participants?

Wetteland: Participants asked about the threat of instability in Central Asia, which might come from Afghanistan, the answer to which was that the threat of instability comes from countries where there is a poverty, repression and lack of democratic channels to express discontent.

Jarayon: Lene, tell us a little about the work of your organization does in terms of Uzbekistan.

Wetteland: Norwegian Helsinki Committee supports and promotes civil society in Central Asia, including Uzbekistan. However, it is very difficult because our organization does not work in the country. We tried to financially support small projects, as well as organizations that promote these projects. But as a rule, these organizations are in exile.

We cannot monitor the situation from inside Uzbekistan, but we are working with partners and trying to learn about the important events that occur in the country, so that the Norwegian authorities and other international organizations are aware of them and can act accordingly. In Norway, public opinion can influence the government. Therefore, we try to draw attention to the problems through these seminars, and engaging media.

Jarayon: How many Uzbek refugees does Norway accept every year?

Wetteland: Since the beginning of January to September 30 2012, in total 137 people from Uzbekistan applied for asylum in Norway, but only ten of them have been granted asylum. Nine people were granted asylum in the first instance, and one person received humanitarian asylum. In 2011, the number of asylum seekers was 115 people. Then only sixteen people were granted asylum, and two of them were children with disabilities. Unfortunately, most of the Uzbek applicants were denied asylum.

Jarayon: And what are the problems that Uzbek refugees face in Norway?

Wetteland: Many people from Uzbekistan, coming to Norway to seek asylum, come here due to poverty, not because of political persecution. Many tell false stories to immigration officials and are therefore rightly refused asylum, because these places are set aside for people who really are in danger and are being persecuted by the authorities. In addition, many do not provide proof of their identity or their route. And because of such cases it is difficult for immigration authorities to believe the rest of the stories from asylum seekers.

So these Uzbeks are not provided any shelter, and they have to return home. During their stay in Norway, they learn that it is very difficult to get a job without documents, even as a construction worker. Here they are struggling with poverty, as in Norway, a piece of bread costs a minimum of two euros. Therefore, these people cannot send money home.

Jarayon: Lene, thank you very much for the interview.

The Norwegian Helsinki Committee is a non-governmental (NGO), non-profit organisation which monitors compliance with the human rights provisions of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) within all OSCE signatory states and supports initiatives to strengthen democracy and civil society. It has an office in Almaty.