Copenhagen: 24 July 2008

Today was the last day of the series of lectures and the topic switched to the rights of Gay Lesbian Bisexual and Transexual (GLBT) community in Denmark. Discrimination based on sexual orientation was a new topic the group hadn't covered yet, and differs from other minority issues that involve race, ethnicitiy or national background.

We first met with Peter Ussing of LBL, a Danish organization that advocates for the rights of the GLBT community, specifically monitoring instances of abuse and discrimination. Mr. Ussing gave a brief overview of the legal rights of homosexuals in Denmark, but then discussed the challenges still facing the gay community. Some issues include right to marriage, right to adopt children and defense against abuse and discrimination. Perhaps most interesting was Mr. Ussing's discussion of the "heteronormative?"attitudes of society and the need to better include the GLBT community in mainstream Danish life.

The next speaker was Kenneth Engberg, another spokesman from LBL who focused on hate crimes against gays. He discussed the problematic monitoring of hate crimes against gays and means of making police more responsive to acts of discriminatory abuse. He too talked about the current heteronormative attitudes of general Danish society and the necessity of combating "gay-bashing." From both speakers it seemed apparent that Denmark had made much progress in establishing equality for gays and lesbians (in fact being the first country to allow civil unions between gay couples) but still had much work to do in establishing complete social equality.

Thus concluded the first session of the 2008 HIA Danish Core Program, and onward we march to researching, interviews and paper writing.

Copenhagen: 23 July 2008

Today we addressed one of the hot topics of Danish politics. We visited the Red Cross refugee center in Sandholm. Touring the center we visited the kindergarten, the reception area and one of the apartments. The kindergarten teacher showed us the personalised folders with pictures made to remind the children of their time at the center, but despite this we were left with an impression of a very sterile and impersonal place.

Maja Rettrup Andersen from the Danish Red Cross Asylum Department talked to us about the different challenges asylum seekers face and the shift in political climate towards asylum seekers. An indicator of these changing attitudes was demonstrated by the dramatic decrease in asylum centres from 160 at a point before 2001 to now only five. During our time with Maja we discussed the Red Cross reliance on government funding and their mission of neutrality.

In the afternoon we met with Michala Bendixen from the Refugee’s Underground Committee. The committee works on behalf of the asylum seekers by advocating their cases and appeals through the legal system. She shared three case studies with us that personalised the stories behind asylum seekers. Reza, one of the people we talked about, was threatened in his home country because of his involvement with a student group that was critical of the Iranian government. Because he was unable to convince the authorities of the reality of the threats he wasn’t granted asylee status.

Next we heard from Sameer Al-Gamal who shared his experience going through the asylum system for the past seven years. He introduced himself as a previous expert on business and finance but a current expert on the asylum system. After being beaten and hospitalized in Lebanon due to allegations of a connection to Yassir Arafat, Sameer and his family fled to Denmark. Their initial request and court appeal for political asylum were rejected but they were finally granted asylum in 2006. One of the great tragedies of the experience was the fact that Sameer felt that he had spent the last six years doing nothing. He and his wife hadn’t had the opportunity to pursue higher education. Sameer was critical of the Danish government for failing to live up to the international conventions it had signed, as well as the Red Cross because of its inability to be simultaneously neutral and loyal to the government.

The organisational and personal perspectives highlighted the complexity of refugee issues. Having our eyes opened to the harsh realities asylum seekers face helped us to understand why refugee issues are so hotly debated in Denmark.

--Jessica Mar and Anne Sørenson

Copenhagen: 20 July 2008

Radmandsgade Skole in Nørrebro is one of Copenhagen’s “black” schools. Its library clocks don’t show the times in Paris and New York, but instead the times in Konya, Turkey and Islamabad, Pakistan. These times reflect the incredibly diverse students who attend the school—coming from Arabic-speaking nations, Pakistan, Turkey, Kurdistan, and Somalia in the greatest numbers. The principal of the school—in a quite frank style which would never be seen in the politically correct school style of the United States—told us the difficulties of working with these different groups of students. Her most serious qualms came from working with entitled Danes who she said were the equivalent of first-born Arabic children who say, “I’m a gift from Allah.” She concluded that “we have to cut them down a bit.” To her, the key to integration—the hot button word in Denmark—is education and language. Many Danes worry that a school as diverse as Radmandsgade will become violent with ethnic tensions and that their children will not receive the attention that they deserve with extra time spent on teaching foreigners Danish. However, from what we saw, Radmandsgade Skole seems to effectively teach students from all different backgrounds. And, of course, I will never forget Mikkel scaring little kids following us in the hallways.

Back at the Institute for Human Rights, we debated whether or not Elephantman and other anti-gay rappers who advocate the murder of gays and lesbians in their song lyrics should be censored by the state. Afterwards, a journalist from Copenhagen’s newspaper Politiken attempted to teach us how to write a journalist essay and pull us away from the masses of academic papers that we have written.

That night, many of the Americans—myself included—were shocked to come out of the salsa club and see that Turkey football fans were driving their cars up and down the street honking their horns non-stop and waving flags out their windows to celebrate Turkey’s victory in the match. Later, 60 cars were pulled up into City Hall square (usually covered with only pedestrians) and 300 Turkey fans had formed a mass of people around some cars upon which fans waved flares and shot off fireworks occasionally. The honking parade of fans didn’t stop until the wee hours of the morning.

--Seth Bergeson

Copenhagen: 19 July 2008

Walking through the gates of Vridsløselille state prison was where the topic of the day started. “challenges for Human Rights in the Danish Prison System and the counter terror initiatives”. Behind those gates, different criminals live their daily life serving their sentence. We were welcomed by a lawyer who gave us a general idea of what Vridsløselille state prison was all about. After getting our electronic devices put away and going through the metal detector, the session began. Marianne Secher who is the prison director told us about how the system worked within the prison. She explained how the prisoners were allowed to vote for one prisoner to be their spokesperson. She also explained more about how they at Vridsløselille State Prison managed to co-operate with the prisoners in order to get a nice tone between the guards and the prisoners. Marianne also discussed a bit further on the use of isolation.

We were shown around the prison after the presentation-we got to see the rooms where the prisoners work in. It was a surprise to some people within our group, that the prisoners had rooms with a nice bed and television even DVD was provided. We also had the opportunity of seeing an unvoluntarily isolation prisoner cell which in a way

After that we went to the nice little cosy prison chapel where the prison choir had prepared two songs for us. It was interesting seeing those men who each probably had committed a terrible crime that made them end up in State prison singing with such angelic voices.

The tour of the prison ended with a meeting with a prisoner who was had been in jail since he was 27 years old. He murdered 3 people, whereas 2 of them were finish police officers. He explained a bit about what his thoughts have been and how it is being in prison. He was concerned while being in prison of not falling back into his old ways, yet he was more concerned about going out knowing he would have a hard time paying back what he owes to the State but also his fear of not being accepted by the society. With all those obstacles standing in his way he was determined to do whatever he possibly could so he wouldn’t end back in prison for the sake of his 8 year old son.

After his presentation and the Q and A session we had with him, our group were divided in several minor groups discussing the punishments which are giving here in Denmark. Are the punishments given fair?

Getting back to our location, we were divided into groups where we had to discuss the questions further, our own personal view on prison and human rights towards prisoners. Keyword again here was integration-how can we involve the prisoners after their stay to get integrated into the society? How can we make society accept them and give them an opportunity in life after prison? And why is it there is not enough focus towards this?

For our last session of the day we heard from Jonas Christoffersen, an assistant professor at the University of Copenhagen, on the issue of counter terrorism initiatives and administrative expulsions. Jonas explained the arguments surrounding the highly controversial tool of administrative expulsions, highlighting the absurdity of the policies surrounding deportation and the look of recognition for immigrant rights. Jonas drew from current events surrounding the Supreme Court hearing dealing with the proposed expulsion of the two Tunisian immigrants who allegedly plotted the murder of the Muhammed cartoonists.

Christoffersen also discussed possible outcomes in the upcoming Supreme Court case. These outcomes ranged from expulsion to Tunisia, permanent detention, on an encouragement to remodel legislation dealing with immigrants who “pose threats to the state”. The constitutionality, and ultimately the viability, of such outcomes was analyzed with the ultimate consensus that the Danish Parliament needs comprehensive legislative reform in immigration and administrative expulsion policies that ensure the human right of a fee trail while simultaneously providing for national security.

The day’s sessions raised questions about the Human Rights of those who pose threats to society. At what point does the administration overstep its bands in controlling such threats?
What sectors of society/government can be found some protection for prisoners’ and immigrants’ rights? Such questions deal with complex topics but ultimately all decisions must be viewed through the lens of human rights.

--Sarah Haioty and Shayne Henry

Copenhagen: 17 July 2008

Today was yet another action-packed adventure for Team Copenhagen. The topic of the day focused on the role of religion and multi-culturalism in Danish society. The first speaker of the day was Toger Seidenfaden, chief editor of one of the most widely circulated newspapers in Denmark. Seidenfaden alleged that despite political or intellectual posturing, the question of integration is ultimately one of assimilation. According to Seidenfaden, Danish xenophobia extends not from economic concerns, but from the perceived assault on Danish democratic values. He postulated that by framing the Islamic religion as a totalitarian assault on Denmark, the right-wing Danish People’s Party has been able to succeed where other right-wing parties in Europe have failed. Seidenfaden also touched upon the idea that the rhetoric of integration has shifted to the right to reflect the success of right-wing parties in polarizing the issue of immigration. Team members also commented on how newly minted terms such as “a new Dane” or “second-generation Dane” serve as continual reminders of the secondary status of Danish immigrants.

Fortunately for us, the afternoon session was a little more uplifting. Former Chief Rabbi of Copenhagen Bent Melchior and Bashy Quraishy, the Chair of ENAR (European Network Against Racism), presented on the past realities of Danish tolerance and on their current projects in the areas of inclusion and acceptance. Melchior began by recounting the remarkable story of how the Danish citizens had spontaneously decided to rescue Danish Jews from the Gestapo in 1943. He was also quick to point out that the Denmark of today does not live up to the legacy of 1943. Both Melchior and Quraishy discussed the idea of “integrating with integrity.” That is to say, it is possible to become an active and ideal Danish citizen without throwing away aspects of one’s culture and heritage that make immigrants unique. Melchior and Quraishy stressed the dialogue and continued vigilance against intolerance were the tools by which a new conversation on immigration could begin.

After a short break, Team Copenhagen made its way to a tiny non-descript building in West Copenhagen. A bright yellow sign outside had an advertisement for quality furniture. We were all very much disappointed when said furniture was nowhere to be found. In its place, we found one of the only mosques inside of Denmark. The blank façade of the building does little justice to the elaborate carpets and the Turkish tiled pillars found on the inside. In the next 90 minutes, we had the opportunity to witness a prayer session and to speak with Imam Abdul Wahid Pedersen, a Danish convert to Islam. The topics of discussion ranged from the nuances of Shariah to the mundane difficulties of serving as a representative of tens of thousands of muslims in Denmark.

Suffice to say, the day was a long one and provided food for thought for all of us. Unfortunately, food for thought is not a substitute for actual food, so we ended our day with a trip to an Indian/Pakistani restaurant. Some of us also made a trip to a nearby bar to watch some of the Euro 2008 soccer tournament. Fear not loyal readers, despite the heart-breaking loss of France to Italy (boo), Team Copenhagen will find a way to soldier on.

Until further inspiration,
-Hanh Bui and Rajinder Chahal, Team Copenhagen

Copenhagen: 18 July 2008

Street GAM3 in Advedøre

Copenhagen: 16 June 2008

Years ago, when Dorit Otzen asked Danish politicians about the problem of prostitution, their answer was:

”Not in our country!” Her response:

”You are dreaming!”

Dorit Otzen is the Director of ”Reden,” (”the nest”) a refuge for prostitutes in Vesterbro, the red light district of Copenhagen. We made a visit to their shelter, which provides refuge, food, counseling, medical care, and other services to hundreds of prostitutes in the area. According to Otzen, there are at least 5,500 prostitutes in Denmark although this number is probably much higher. Only 8 to 10 percent of these women are on the street; the rest are call girls or working out of a brothel.

A survey five years ago reported that 14% of Danish males had paid for sex, but Otzen suspects it is a larger phenomenon. Otzen made a very strong case against prostitution; her main argument was that power differentials across gender and socioeconomic status made prostitution, contrary to popular belife, not a free choice for the women involved. Despite the image of the ”happy hooker”, from her experience this is largely a myth. A third of these prostitutes are trafficked across the border from Eastern Europe, Southeast Asia, and other developing countries. Many prostitutes, foreign and Danish, are caught in a cycle of drug abuse, and debt, and find it difficult to transition to other professions.

Asked what can be done about this, she suggested two things:

First, there should be a public debate about the problems regarding prostitution. But most importantly, she argues for the criminalization of the customer. Since 1999 prostitution has been decriminalized in Denmark but throughout Scandinavia, there has been a movement to criminalize the customer. She believes that Denmark should follow suit. A change in law would lead to a change in social norms, diminishing demand for prostitution.

We left the presentation largely convinced by her arguments, but also in a bit of a dilemma. We were aware of the arguments opposing criminalization, including the opinion that this would lead to pushing prostitution underground, where women might be at higher risk of violence. Over lunch, we split up into groups and discussed all of these hot button issues raised by the presentation, including the so-called ”right” to sex, especially among the disabled.

In the afternoon, we paid a visit to the Women´s Council of Denmark and spoke with Randi Theil Nielsen, Head of Secretariat, and Kurda Yar-Ahmad, a social worker with their hotline for Ethnic minority women. Topics up for discussion were women in the labor market (equal pay for equal work and equal maternity/paternity leave for the men and women), violence against women, prostitution and trafficking, and the integration of women with minority background. The issue of maternity/paternity leave struck an especially strong chord with us. In the U.S. this topic has been raised in a minnor way, but in Denmark, it is on the forefront of the gender equality agenda. We were surprised to learn that this is the first time HIA DK has had women’s rights on the programme. But the topic seems to have sparked some of the most intense debates among the fellows thus far. We hope this topic continues to stimulate the interest of HiA fellows.

Copenhagen: 14 June 2008

Visiting Christiania

Copenhagen: 13 June 2008

We met in Christianshavn and then went to Kofoed's School. The day's subject was Greenland, but our first visit was to a center for adults who "are to be socially assisted and helped educationally." Students including immigrants, Danes, and recovering addicts are all given the skills and resources to learn to become confident contributors to society. There is a special section for homeless Greenlanders, many of whom suffer from social exclusion, unemployment, and alcoholism. In the center, they maintain their traditions of weaving and of making kayaks.


Afterwards, we went to one of Denmark's five Greenland Houses, which was located in Nørreport. We were greeted by a Danish eskimologist who specializes in Greenlandic culture and language. After that, a social worker spoke to us about the issues that Greenlanders confront in their daily lives in Copenhagen. Next, a Greenlandic student in the Danish university system spoke to us about a national Greenlandic student organization that provides support and assistance for its members, fighting to change stereotypes. They also talked briefly about the independence movement. Finally, they served us a traditional meal, which consisted of musk ox served like stroganoff.

Next, we went to a former warehouse and dockyard, which now houses the representative base for the home rule government of Greenland and the Faroe Islands, as well as the Icelandic Embassy. One of the officials told us about the debate and discourse on Greenland's home rule, its history as a colony, and its debate over national resources.

We wrapped up one day at former HIA DK Director Camilla Bredholt's house in Hellerup, where our fellow Jessica is also staying. Judy Goldstein reunited with Team Copenhagen for dinner, as did Uffe, the chairman of HIA Denmark's Board. Oliver and Seth manned the barbeque, and we all had a long evening of great food and conversation. Many of us also reunited at a bar later that evening.

-Milena Mastalo and Flora Mendoza

Copenhagen 12 June 2008

We spent the day at The Institute of Human Rights (DIHR), which will be our base during the Copenhagen program. The location complemented the main focus for today's program, which was the issue of working with human rights in Denmark.

During the day we were presented with an overview of the two independent institutions in Denmark working with Human Rights – The Danish Center for International Studies and The Institute of Human Rights – and touched upon issues such as the rights based approach in international development and human rights education in Denmark.

The overall feel of the day was primarily academic, but what we considered most enlightening was the Q and A session with the first speaker - the former Ambassador Mr. Jørgen Bøjer. He spoke about the Danish foreign policy strategy following the ”cartoon-crisis” and how Denmark has opened new embassies in different countries in the Middle East and adopted a policy of trying to engage and develop contacts with the civil society through initiatives of public diplomacy in these countries.

Mr. Jørgen Bøjer and Harun

We also found his personal accounts from his time in Bosnia during the war very informative. He shared with us the difficulties of making diplomacy work during this time, which frequently had the consequence of making Human Rights a secondary priority.

-Harun Gadzo and Ingeborg Nørregard

Copenhagen 11 June 2008

After a good night's sleep (many staying with their new, kind and friendly host families, others at their regular homes), Team Cph. gathered up in the early morning for a full day's program focused on contemporary Danish politics.

Ushered through the lobby and passed security (none of them armed) - to observe the closing session of the Danish Parliament before they adjourned for their summer holiday. From the gallery we observed the MPs reading newspapers and chatting in the corners while having a debate. Though unfamiliar with the nuances of the debate we were struck by the representation of the young MPs as well as the number of females in positions of political party leadership.

After a brief overview of the Danish political system we had two-hour session with MP Mr. Morten Messerschmidt from the Danish Peoples Party. The issues of the session were integration and immigration with an emphasis on the position if Muslims in the Danish society.

The following Q&A was provocative and engaging. Clearly, frustrations ran through the room, as did solid counter arguments, and we could feel the commitment of the HIA fellows. Furthermore, through the questions around integration potential, Mr. Messerschmidt revealed attitudes and understandings of "Danishness" which to some extent were grounded in a desire to pursue the Danish culture as a monolithic culture.

Both sides (the speaker and HIA fellows) lifted the discussion to a fairly high and articulate level, and through the discussions both sides differed on basic assumptions on views on how to build a cohesive society.

Despite our disagreement with the speaker on his initial premises, the experience was rewarding and educational, cultivating a new respect for constitutive dialogue across differences. The experience raised more questions than answers, challenging fellows on controversial and complex issues.

We continued the dialogue among ourselves as we went to our next event, an integration project working with football as a tool.

The passionate individual engagement ignited by the issues brought up by today's program bodes well for the upcoming four weeks. We look forward to continuing to learn from speakers and fellows through an active and engaging exchange of ideas.

A preliminary thanks to Ulla, Mikkel, Emilia, David and Julia for all their hard work putting together such a stimulating program.

-Sonny Jacobsen and Jessica Mar

Ms. Ulla Tørnæs, Minister for Development Cooperation, passes HIA fellows in front of the Parliament

Opening Program: 9 June 2008

Today we were split into discussion groups and asked to share the representations we had of the Holocaust in our respective countries. In my group alone, we had a Mexican-American, an Asian-American, a Pole, and a Ukrainian. Our conversation, to say the least, was downright fascinating.

For the Polish student, the Holocaust was inextricably linked to World War II, which, according to him, signified the occupation of Poland by the Soviet Union, thanks to America's betrayal. The Ukrainian girl, on the other hand, possessed a much more vivid connection to the horrors of the Holocaust. Every day in Kiev, her hometown, she passes by a park that was used during the Holocaust as a mass grave for Jews—one they had to dig themselves before they were all lined up and shot. Meanwhile, for the other American girl and me, we'd learned about the Holocaust as that monstrosity America had helped end by fighting in World War II.

In a matter of 20 minutes, it seems, countless things—-all of them crucial—-were made to take place. First, we were made aware of the other group members' distinct perceptions of the Holocaust and World War II. Upon being made aware of these, we began to explore why it was we had come to hold these perceptions: was it because of our different educations, different surroundings, different upbringings, or a combination of these factors? In exploring our different interpretations of history, we got a glimpse of something essential: how identities—national and personal—are furnished and formed. This, for me, was amazing, and in a sense, a reason for hope. After all, it seems, the moment we acknowledge the deep extent to which we've been shaped by our surroundings, in many ways, is the moment when fruitful dialogue can begin.
-Amy Hong

Opening Program: 8 June 2008

By Sunday morning, it had become evident that the commencing introductions were over and the hard work of human rights was at hand. The day began, after the usual satisfying breakfast, with a discussion panel focusing on various human rights issues throughout Europe. The four speakers represented various aspects of the pressing issues facing the continent. Tom Huddleston, of the Migration Policy Group, moderated the panel and presented a slideshow about the introduction of human rights into the European Union framework and the challenges faced today. Mr. John Wrench, head of the Sector Research and Analysis at the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights, examined the documentation and recording of instances of discrimination, a process just now being adopted by various European countries, and ways to combat discrimination using the data collected. Mr. Wrench highlighted how at first European countries embraced a “no problem here” approach - in the 1990s France and Sweden reported fewer then 10 instances of discrimination nationally - but now with adequate means of reporting instances of abuse European countries have a more accurate assessment of discrimination. A topic that stimulated much interest was the issue of language tests that all visa applicants must take to enter the Netherlands. The speaker, Haleh Chahrokh of Human Rights Watch, argued that the tests created a convoluted system that prevents easy entry into Netherlands. Overall, the panel was effective in delineating major topics in the implementation of human rights in Europe.

After lunch we all took part in moot courts. Divided into groups we were presented with three cases all dealing with minority issues. Within each group we were divided into judges, plaintiffs and defendants, argued the cases and eventually reached a verdict. An example case was of a Tunisian man who was arrested in Italy and charged of terrorism by a Tunisian court. In Tunisia he presumably would be subjected to an unfair trial and potentially torture – violations of protections guaranteed by international standards on human rights.


By the end of the day, we were all very tired but satisfied with the experience. We had learned the complex challenges of implementing human rights in Europe and internationally. And as we all sat down to watch the Germany-Poland Euro 2008 football match, we all felt a deep sense of accomplishment.

-Anne Sørensen and Aaron Welt

Opening Program: 7 June 2008

The day’s topic was the myths and realities of the rescue of the Danish Jewish society under German occupation during the Second World War.

As Danes, we were surprised to hear historian Torben Jørgensen and researcher Silvia Fracapane present a lot of information that is often left out of the curriculum in Danish primary and high school regarding the rescue of the Jewish people in Denmark. This included what happened to the Jews who were not rescued as well as the context that made their rescue possible. It was very affecting to hear the personal story told by Dr. Jørgen Kieler, the former resistance fighter, especially regarding his progression from a student making illegal newspapers, to engaging in sabotage, to the unbearable conditions in the concentration camp.

Ambassador Bo Lidegaard presented his analysis of how the Danish Government made decisions during the war and stayed out of the conflicts between Nazis and Communists, as well as his reflections on democracy in Denmark and how it has evolved. Kieler and Lidegaard posed two very different views on the Danish collaboration/cooperation policy and the resistance movement, illustrating the complexity and sensitivity of the Danish role in the Second World War.

We find ourselves caught in between the various viewpoints. We see the difficulty in balancing, on the one hand, the acknowledgment of the unique situation and strategic policy that made the consequences of the occupation of Denmark seem fairly mild compared to our neighboring countries. On the other hand, we recognize the role of the Danish co-operation with the Nazis, e.g. as a food provider, and the question of whether Denmark took part in prolonging the war.

-Rasmus Holm and Sofie Birk

Opening Program!

We're about to head off to the opening program at Tisvilde, where we had the closing program when I was a fellow in 2005. It's a beautiful spot near the ocean, and we're going to meet lots of great people, hear lots of great speakers, and have at least one dance party. Soon the fellows will be filling in their impressions about the different themes and speakers we'll be hearing for the rest of the summer. I know we're all going to have an amazing time!
-David