Monday, February 23, 2015

European Commission concerned racism in Norway – Dagbladet.no

European Commission concerned racism in Norway – Dagbladet.no

In Norway it is still not a criminal offense to deny genocide or participate in groups that encourage racism. It gives cause for concern, says the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI).

Norway has come a long way, but not far enough, says ECRI in a new report, where developments in Norway when regards racism, discrimination and human rights since 2008 are put under the microscope.

ECRI is particularly concerned that criminal law does not criminalize public denial of genocide or the establishment of or participation in groupings that encourages racism.

“ECRI regrets that public denial, trivialisation, justification or tolerance, with a racist aim, of genocide, crimes against humanity or war crimes are still not punishable in Norway,” states the report.

Criticism

Also other issues give cause for concern, the Commission believes.

In 2003, Norway signed Protocol No.. 12 to the European Convention on Human Rights, which stipulates a general prohibition against discrimination. But today, 12 years later, the protocol has not been ratified and incorporated into the legislation, the Commission points out.

– ECRI reiterates its recommendation that Norway ratify the protocol as soon as possible, according to the report.

ECRI also criticizes Norway for not going far enough in terms of criminalization of discriminatory and hate speech. While according to Norwegian law only illegal to use racist symbols, the Commission believes that the production and storage of such material should be punishable.



Progress

On the positive side moldings ECRI up advances that human rights of equal treatment are included in the Constitution. Last year was also convened four new anti-discrimination laws in force, and lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgender people have greater rights and improved quality of life.

In addition, the penal provisions against hate speech on the internet strengthened, and the Supreme Court has made it easier to punish hate speech . Police have been instructed to pay particular attention to hate crimes, and in February last year created the Oslo police a special department for hate crimes.



Underreporting

ECRI also notes that the number of racist extremists are low in Norway.

– It may be associated with a well-developed system to prevent radicalization, says the Commission.

Meanwhile, hate speech probably underreported, since many such incidents are not reported to the police, writes ECRI.

– Despite the attacks in 2011 being racist content and activity of racist groups on the Internet are not systematically monitored by the police, it is pointed out in the report.

Victims do not get help

Norwegian Law does not provide express that discriminatory provisions in individual or collective agreements are invalid. Moreover, victims of discrimination not sufficient means to ensure their rights to the authorities and courts, the report said.

ECRI points in addition that many immigrants experience discrimination in areas such as job seeking and recruitment, housing and health care. Unemployment among immigrants is 3.6 times higher than among people born in Norway, and immigrants with low educational continues to have major problems with access to the labor market, the Commission points out.

(NTB)

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