Report of
the Conference in Oslo
"Right-wing extremism in Europe"
October 23, 2013.
The Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in Serbia
participated in the two-day conference (October 8-9, 2013) on right-
wing extremism at Litteraturhuset in Oslo, Norway. The conference was
organized by the Norwegian Center Against Racism. Many distinguished
scholars, human rights activists and other quests speakers gave
insightful contributions to this pressing issue highlighting the serious
rise of right-wing extremism in Europe today. Jelena Dzombic of the
Helsinki Committee addressed the right-wing extremism in Serbia: she
gave an overview of the current situation, spoke about right-wing
organizations in Serbia, their origins, actions and ideologies, but also
their relation with state authorities. In this context, she also
broached the influence of the media and the Serbian Orthodox Church on
the right-wing extremism on the one hand and the role of those civil
society organizations combating them on the other.
Participants from Greece, Hungary, Czech Republic,
Germany and Sweden spoke about right-wing extremism in their countries.
Liz Fekete from the Institute of Race Relations from the United Kingdom
provided an insight into extremist trends of in today’s Europe. The
Secretary General of the Norwegian Helsinki Committee tackled the
situation in Russia. The conference specifically focused the rise of
extremism in Norway and Europe. All speakers presented possible
counter-strategies, whereas the Superintendent of the Oslo Police
District, professors at the Oslo University, representatives of civil
society organizations and experts from other countries discussed
solutions to the problem. Two panels within the conference elaborated
current developments and prospects, and effective counter-strategies
respectively.
The Helsinki Committee for Human Rights believes that
conferences of this type are very important in the context of the rise
of right-wing extremism in Europe, since they draw public attention to
this pending threat. In these politically and economically turbulent
times, we must not forget the values that made modern Europe: these very
values are at stake considering expansion of the right-wing extremism.
In order to turn the tide, we must create opportunities for young people
– the easy prey of extremist groups – and make them aware of the threat
of the right-wing extremism.
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