President of the Storting Olemic Thommessen made a speech shortly before the debate on the issue “Counteractions to manifestations of neo-Nazism”. The declaration of 22 July as a European Day for Victims of Hate Crime was one of 22 measures put forward to combat extremism and hate crime. “Actual incitement to hate crime should be combated with the full force of the law, but controversial words should be countered by more speech” the President said in his speech.

An important resolution

The vote in the Parliamentary Assembly resulted in 120 votes for and 2 votes against the proposal to declare 22 July as a European Day for Victims of Hate Crime.

“The spread of neo-Nazism and extremism across Europe has made this an especially important resolution. But this is also an important resolution for Norway,” said the President of the Storting.

“The resolution sends a message to voluntary organizations and the No Hate Speech Movement to keep up their fight against hate speech and hate crime,” he said.

22 July in a European context

“It provides us with an additional perspective to 22 July, which is in itself productive. The resolution encapsulates the values that a united Norway rallied around,” the President added.

During his visit, the President paid a visit to Living Library, opened by the Council of Europe in connection with the session of the Council of Europe’s Youth Department. Here, he borrowed Yonous Muhammadi, who told his story about being a refugee.

Among the other “books” on offer was Eirik Rise, campaign coordinator for the No Hate Speech Movement in Norway.

“The very fact that the Parliamentary Assembly says that it wants to have such a day means a lot. They now have a responsibility to follow this up so that the day is marked,” he said.