Hopp til hovedinnhold

SAIH

News

​Press Release: Please, make peace in Western Sahara!

​Press Release: Please, make peace in Western Sahara!​Press Release: Please, make peace in Western Sahara!

The Please Prize has a simple objective: «please make peace!» Unlike other prizes, the Please Prize seeks to inspire politicians and world leaders to initiate peace processes, instead of rewarding already accomplished results. The prize is awarded to the Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg, the President of Western Sahara and the King of Morocco, for the potential peace process in Western Sahara.

The initiator of the prize, the student organisation SAIH (the Students and Academics International Assistance Fund) says that the recent developments in the region shows that fresh initiatives and new ideas are needed.

The UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon visited the Sahrawi refugee camps this week. His visit caused dramatic but predictable, negative Moroccan reactions. However he stressed that the Sahrawi people deserve a better future, and reiterated his call for negotiations. We believe Norway could bring positive dynamic into the negotiations as a neutral part with good relationships with both parties, says the President of SAIH, Nicklas Poulsen Viki.

Western Sahara, a country, on the size of Britain, has been partly occupied of Morocco since 1975. The UN does not recognize Morocco's annexation of the former Spanish colony, and treat Western Sahara as a non-self-governing territory. In 1991, the parties signed a peace plan, including a goal of conducting a referendum. 25 years after, the referendum has still not been held, and the parties are further apart than ever before.

By supporting the UN negotiations, which is the official Norwegian stance, we are in reality supporting status quo. It is time to leave the colonial times behind us. There is a strong Norwegian public commitment for peace in Western Sahara, and the Norwegian government has the chance and also a duty to harness this commitment into concrete measures for peace, says Viki.

Read more about the Please Prize at www.pleaseprize.com

News that engage in the fight for educational justice

a group of people are posing for a picture on a rooftop .a group of people are posing for a picture on a rooftop .

News

Call for applications: Youth exchange against anti-rights

SAIH is looking to recruit two early-career researchers, with a genuine interest in social justice to join a one-year international exchange project focused on countering anti-rights forces impacting historically marginalised communities in different contexts. Application deadline: 19 September.

Read article
a group of people are standing in a circle talking to each other .a group of people are standing in a circle talking to each other .

News

Welcome to SAIH's fall gathering 2025

From September 19th to 21st, it’s finally time for SAIH’s Fall Gathering. Don't forget to register by September 7!

Read article
a large mural on the side of a building that says `` knowledge is power '' .a large mural on the side of a building that says `` knowledge is power '' .

News

Oslo’s largest mural unveiled: a monument to art, struggle and community

In the heart of the capital, at Christian Krohgs gate 39/41, a new work of art now spans 590 square meters. Earlier this summer, Oslo’s largest mural was officially unveiled – a project that brings together street art, political engagement and global solidarity.

Read article
a fist is holding a pencil in front of a flag .a fist is holding a pencil in front of a flag .

News

Support Academics and Students in Gaza

All funds will go directly to students and academics in Gaza, coordinated through our partners who are representatives from the higher education sector.

Read article
a row of vans are parked in front of a building with graffiti on it .a row of vans are parked in front of a building with graffiti on it .

News

Walls of resistance: Street art meets the fight for liberation

On Friday, June 27, SAIH and Street Art Oslo invite you to the unveiling of a new graffiti mural right in the heart of Oslo.

Read article
a woman is giving a lecture to a large group of people in an auditorium .a woman is giving a lecture to a large group of people in an auditorium .

News

Universities as Resistance – Timely Conference Brought Together Researchers, Students, and Activists

How can universities serve as arenas for solidarity, social justice, and resistance? This was the central question at SAIH’s 2025 conference, which brought together students, academics, and activists from around the world for a timely and engaging conversation.

Read article

Get involved

Discover how you can contribute to SAIH's work.

Stay up to date – sign up for our newsletter

En person med munnbind og solbriller. Basert på bakgrunnen skjønner vi at denne personen deltar i en demostrasjonEn person med munnbind og solbriller. Basert på bakgrunnen skjønner vi at denne personen deltar i en demostrasjon
En person som prater inn i en megafonEn person som prater inn i en megafon