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ANNUAL REPORT FOR ISHHR 1999 (and first half year of 2000)

I. Introduction and some information

This is our 2nd AGM in written after the CAPE TOWN AGM in December 1998. In total, this will be our 7 th AGM to be held. Next time we will fortunately be able to meet in person at the CAVTAT conference that is, the VI th International Conference for Health and Human Rights to take place in Croatia between June 20 - 24, 2001. The AGM held in written for 1999 was the first one organised from our new secretariat in Oslo. It was sent out to the membership including first number of our newsletter and membership renewal forms. The AGM papers FOR 1999 included;

  1. Resolutions and minutes from the AGM in Cape Town
  2. Audited accounts for 1997 & 1998
  3. Policy & Activities Plan
  4. Voting form

Unfortunately we did not get many of the forms back, meaning that the AGM actually had a low participation. We hope that this will be different this year. We have several new members, and we encourage both them and our “old” members to revise the documents, fill out the form and send them back to us in due time. The voting form will also be available as link to our web-site, meaning that you can send it to us this way.

II. Secretariat in Oslo

This first year with secretariat in Oslo implied that much of the time was spent on organisational issues – that is getting the secretariat organised, develop good registrations systems and fundraising. we are pleased to get updated information about the members` profession, working place and special areas of interest. We hope that these efforts will make it possible to be a more effective organisation with better conditions for contact with members.

III. Newsletter

The first edition of ISHHR newsletter was sent out October 1999. The second edition is scheduled for June 2000. We hope eventually to receive more contributions from the membership making a true means of communication.

IV. Letters of protest

Letters of protest have been send to governments (The Chilean, Israeli and Turkish governments) regarding detentions, threats and other unacceptable action directed at our colleagues working in situations where human rights are violated.

V. WHO

The work regarding Recommendations to "Declaration of cooperation in mental health in conflict with and post-conflict situations" developed by WHO has continued and ISHHR has been asked to comment on these recommendations. This has been done. We hope in the future to be able to apply more of our joint experiences in these kinds of contexts.

VI. ECOSOC

We are preparing an application as observers at the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations and we will work further regarding this.

VII. Finalising all accounts and reports after V Conference in Cape Town

The afterworks from the Vth conference are getting towards an end. Reports to funders have been sent out. Some funders have asked for additional information. The proceedings from the conference have not been completed. Our economic situation makes this a difficult task to complete. Costs regarding the proceedings of the VIth conference are included in the conference budget.

VIII. Executive committee meeting in February in Oslo

The executive meeting scheduled for 1999 was held in 2000 in Oslo and was attended by Helen Bamber, Dean Ajdukovic, Marion Garcia (for Gabriela Roderiguez) and Nora Sveaass. Loes Van Willigen was invited to attend the meeting. Issues that were discussed were the VI Conference - organising committee and programme committee were appointed -, web site, newsletter and our economic situation.

VIIII. Preparations for VI conference in Cavtat

The main preparations are taken care of by the responsible in Croatia, headed by Dean Ajdukovic, in collaboration with the secretariat in Oslo.

X. Council meeting is being prepared in October 2000, in London

The next council meeting will be in London 26 - 29 October 2000. We hope that our economy will permit that such a meeting be held. This meeting will be dedicated to policy discussions, formulating our important aims into more concrete terms.

XI. The financial situation

ISHHR`s financial situation is not in the condition we wish. As you will see from the accounts for 1999 the income situation was difficult. Few membership fees were paid due to late mailing. Formal registration procedures and banking transfers delayed etc. were problems we had to deal with. But many of the practical problems are now solved and membership fees for 2000 are coming in. Even if we have low administration costs, we feel the absence of financial resources to run the organisation in a proper way. Fundraising for administration costs is especially difficult. But we are working on it. We are raising funds for the conference and good ideas are welcome. Again we will call upon those of you who not yet have paid the membership fee to do so.

Oslo July 2000 Nora Sveaass Secretary General