European hate crime day

The 22nd of July has been proposed for becoming a European Day of remembrance for victims of hate crime to commemorate the events of 2011 in Norway

Photo: Jon Callas / Wikimedia Commons
Memorial at the Oslo Cathedral for the murders at the AUF camp on 22 July, 2011.

Martyna Kwaśniewska
The Foreigner

The idea of establishing a date, that of the Norwegian terrorist’s twin attacks, was explained and supported by Anne Brasseur, President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), and Norwegian Parliament President Olemic Thommessen.

Ms Brasseur and Mr Thommessen noted that hate regarding multiculturalism continues to spread, with hate propaganda in the political arena too.

Both called on parliamentarians to speak out against hatred against a backdrop of extremist parties entering parliaments at both national and European level.

“The fight against xenophobia, racism, and mounting nationalistic extremism requires a resolute response from all democratic parties, over and above political divisions,” they pointed out in their statement made in conjunction with the European Conference of Presidents of Parliament, taking place in Oslo this week.

By promoting the idea of establishing the 22nd of July as a day of remembrance for victims of hate crime Ms. Brasseur and Mr. Thommessen want to express their solidarity with those who might be a target of this kind of crime.

They also aim at raising public awareness about hate crime and support the No Hate Speech Movement, the youth campaign initiated and co-ordinated by the Council of Europe.

Adopting a resolution on Counteraction to manifestations of neo-Nazism is planned for the next session of the Council of Europe, which starts on 29th September.

This article was originally published on The Foreigner. To subscribe to The Foreigner, visit theforeigner.no.

It also appeared in the Sept. 19, 2014 issue of the Norwegian American Weekly. To subscribe, visit SUBSCRIBE or call us at (800) 305-0271.