Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Kim Traavik

The Role of Governments and Civil Society in promoting Tolerance

OSCE conference on anti-semitism, Session 2, Berlin 28, April 2004

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The fact that we are gathered in Berlin to discuss how to eradicate antisemitism and all its manifestations offers a certain sense of historic awe. 62 years ago in January 1942 top Nazi officials gathered for the notorious Wannsee conference not far from here to discuss how to eradicate the Jewish people in Europe. What followed was an institutionalisation of evil, a genocide without parallel in history. In Norway alone nearly half of our Norwegian Jewish community was exterminated. An entire religious, cultural, economic and social community was destroyed. The names of two Norwegian cities are hammered into the stone walls at Yad Vashem in Jerusalem to remind us of this terrible event. Nevertheless, despite the terrible events which took place in Europe 60 years ago the international community finds it necessary to meet again to discuss the problem of rising antisemitism in Europe. This conference should have been irrelevant. Unfortunately, it is not. In my country and elsewhere in Europe an increased number of incidents against Jews have been registered. The Mosaic community in Norway registered 40 incidents of harassment last year, up from 30 in 2002 and 20 the year before.

Discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity and religion is a ghost from the past which still is haunting us with fresh hate and intolerable acts of terror. Together we must actively fight the evil of antisemitism and other forms of discrimination. Not only with words but with action. In doing so we must remain focused. As the Canadian prime minister recently said; "Our ultimate achievements will be measured not by what we are fighting against, but what we are fighting for". Together, Mr. Chairman, we must fight for tolerance. We need political leadership. Political leaders must take seriously the responsibility to protect Jewish communities and to fight against antisemitism. We should allocate more resources and make more systematic efforts in combatting antisemitism in all its forms.

Allow me in this respect to mention some of the measures taken by my government and the civic society in Norway in order to promote tolerance. The Norwegian government has made active use of the insight and knowledge of civil organisations in the fight against antisemitism. Last year the government issued a Plan of Action to combat racism and discrimination in Norway. In this plan antisemitism is treated within the framework of discrimination and xenophobia. However, the Jewish population is classified as a national minority in Norway, thus falling within the scope of the Council of Europe’s Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities, which is ratified by Norway.

The Plan of Action states that Norwegian legislation is in need of revision in order to strengthen legal protection against discrimination. As a result of this the government on 18 February this year presented a draft bill on prohibiting ethnic discrimination. The draft will be dealt with in Parliament later this year.Moreover, the government will also propose amendments to existing legislation, particularly concerning dissemination of racist ideas.

In November last year, the Government proposed to establish a new ombudsman’s institution replacing three existing such institutions dealing with discrimination. The new institution, the ombudman for gender equality and discrimination, will be responsible for enforcing the proposed law on ethnic discrimination.

In our view all categories of discrimination have a common denominator, independent of the basis for the discrimination. An integrated administration of the Government’s efforts to combat discrimination will provide for a holistic approach. According to our plan the new ombudsman’s institution will be established on 1 January 2006, and the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development will be responsible for the state’s actions relating to the new law on ethnic discrimination.

Let me also inform you that Norway – following an initiative from the Government and made possible through the EEA agreement – has joined the EU’s program of action against discrimination for the years 2001-06. Norwegian organisations, institutions and governmental structures can apply for EU support for projects aiming at fighting discrimination based on ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation.

Mr. Chairman,

Antisemitic incidents and other discriminating incidents based on ethnic or religious background as well as antisemitism and discrimination in general are subject to political focus in my country. The acts and their root causes are given high priority by the media and through the activities of NGOs, academic institutions as well as governmental agencies. A strong focus on these issues from all parts of the society is important and helps raise a constructive public debate on how to combat this evil. Earlier this month, Prime Minister Bondevik pointed out that the increase in harassments of Norwegian Jews is totally unacceptable and invited schools and the public to engage in fighting antisemitism more actively.

At the same time, we should be careful not to confuse the issue of antisemitism with the legitimate debate on political aspects of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. What we are fighting for is tolerance, not restrictions on the right to express a view with regard to the policies of any state or territory. The fight against antisemitism should not be linked to a particular conflict or restricted to one geographical area, since antisemitism is a global phenomenon that needs to be eradicated by all means and with all measures possible within the law.

We are grateful that the Permanent Council last Thursday adopted its decision on how the OSCE will contribute to the fight against antisemittism and hate crime. Finally, let me once again thank the Bulgarian Chairmansship and the German Government for convening this conference and assure you of Norwegian support for our future common efforts for tolerance and against antisemitism and disctrimination.