6 Dialogue and a well-functioning democracy
Many have simplistic and stereotypical notions about both Jews and Judaism. Therefore, it remains important to highlight the diversity among Jews and a breadth of Jewish culture, also in Norway. It is also important to develop knowledge about the participation and contributions of Jews in Norwegian society—both historically and today. Knowledge helps combat prejudice, as can shared meeting spaces, arenas for dialogue and shared cultural experiences.
Measure 1: Continue funding for Jewish Pathfinders and other information measures
Responsible: Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development
In the National Budget 2025, it is proposed to continue funding for the Jewish Community of Oslo and the Jewish Community of Trondheim, for measures to combat antisemitism and for activities that highlight Jewish culture, identity and community life in Norway. In addition, it is proposed to continue support for the Jewish Museum in Trondheim for communication and exhibitions on antisemitism and Jewish life. The museum focuses on the Trondheim region and northwards, and also includes schoolchildren as a target group.
In 2015, the Jewish Community of Oslo launched information initiatives to improve knowledge about Jews and Judaism in society and to help combat antisemitism. One of the information initiatives is the Jewish Pathfinders, where two young Norwegian Jews primarily visit upper secondary schools, nationwide. The aim of the Pathfinders initiative is to raise awareness of the minority group, highlight the experience of growing up as a minority in Norway, showcase the diversity of Jews in Norway, disseminate knowledge and help reduce prejudice. The Jewish Pathfinders have been highlighted internationally as a good example of communicating information about Jews to and by young people.
The information initiatives include the development of jødedommen.no, the purpose of which is to disseminate knowledge about Judaism, the breadth of Jewish life and history, and to address topical issues. The target group is primarily school pupils at all levels, but also the general public. School and kindergarten visits to synagogues are also part of the information measures of the Jewish Community of Oslo.
Measure 2: Strengthen the Jewish minority’s organisations
Responsible: Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development
It is important that a minority as small as the Jewish population, with around 1,500 people, has robust organisations and resources to be able to create their own meeting spaces, not least for young people. The Government is proposing to strengthen the Jewish Community of Oslo and the Jewish Community of Trondheim in the National Budget 2025.
Measure 3: Ensure good framework conditions for the Jewish museums in Oslo and Trondheim and for the Jewish Cultural Festival Trondheim
Responsible: Ministry of Culture and Equality
The Jewish museums in Oslo and Trondheim disseminate knowledge about how Jewish culture in Norway has developed in various ways, both locally and nationally. Thereby, the museums highlight a diverse perspective on Jewish culture and history in Norway. As part of their core activities, the Jewish museums have various projects and activities to combat antisemitism.
In the National Budget 2025, the Government proposes to allocate a total of NOK 77.3 million to the Oslo Jewish Museum for the purchase and rehabilitation of premises, with NOK 7 million disbursed in 2025 and the remainder in subsequent budget years. The museum is currently housed in parts of a former synagogue, and the allocation to take over and refurbish the entire building will provide greater opportunities for communicating Jewish history, life and culture in Norway . 26
The grant to the Jewish Museum in Trondheim also includes the Jewish Cultural Festival Trondheim, which has been held annually since 2010 and highlights Jewish life and traditions to a wide audience. The festival serves as a bridge between Jewish cultural and religious practice and Norway’s current multicultural society, at large.
Measure 4: Continue the grants allocated for dialogue, debate, cooperation and knowledge development pertaining to religion and life stance
Responsible: Ministry of Children and Families
The Government will consider increasing the grants allocated for dialogue, debate, cooperation and knowledge development pertaining to religion and life stance. Knowledge about and dialogue between different faith and life stance communities can help prevent discrimination and hostile attitudes and actions on the basis of religion and life stance.
Measure 5: Increase funding for No Hate Speech Movement Norway (Stopp hatprat)
Responsible: Ministry of Culture and Equality
No Hate Speech Movement Norway was established in 2014. The campaign is part of the European No Hate Speech Movement, launched by the Council of Europe Youth Department in 2013. No Hate Speech Movement Norway aims to provide young people and youth organisations with the tools, knowledge and skills necessary to identify hate speech, including antisemitism, and take action against human rights infringements online. No Hate Speech Movement Norway receives operating grants from the Ministry of Culture and Equality, and it has been proposed that this support be increased.
Measure 6: Strengthen the grant scheme to combat racism, discrimination and hate speech
Responsible: Ministry of Culture and Equality
In its proposal for the National Budget 2025, the Government has suggested increasing the allocation to the grant scheme aimed at combating racism, discrimination, and hate speech by NOK 2 million. The grant scheme is administered by the Norwegian Directorate for Children, Youth and Family Affairs and aims to promote anti-racism and facilitate initiatives and activities to combat racism, discrimination and hate speech based on ethnic origin, religion and life stance. The grant scheme will be evaluated during the implementation period of the Action plan.
Safe digital upbringing
Much of the everyday lives of children and young people unfold in the digital realm. The Government is working on a white paper to the Storting on a safe digital upbringing. The goal is for all children and young people to enjoy an active, participatory and safe digital upbringing. The report builds on this goal and aims to contribute to a more comprehensive set of policies on the topic that ensures that children’s rights are safeguarded online and that the authorities’ efforts are coordinated.
Social media and other digital platforms have enabled children and young people to participate and communicate in new ways, offering many opportunities. However, this has also put children and young people at risk of being subjected to racism, discrimination and hate speech online, rendering children and young people from minority backgrounds particularly vulnerable. This includes Jewish children and adolescents. Harassment and hate speech are difficult for individuals to endure and are violations of children’s rights. It also has considerable adverse effects on democracy, as it prevents children and young people from participating in various online forums, in the public discourse and engaging in civil society.
Measure 7: Improve information disseminated to children and young people regarding racism, discrimination and group-focused enmity
Responsible: Ministry of Children and Families
The Government will ensure improved and more targeted information and guidance on racism and discrimination on ung.no. This will also include information about group-focused enmity, such as antisemitism, antigypsism and hatred toward Muslims. The expert panel at ung.no will be strengthened with individuals with special expertise on racism and discrimination. Ung.no is the Government’s main channel for information, dialogue and digital services for children and young people.
Norwegian Official Report (NOU) 2024: 3 Joint efforts against extremism
Preventing extremism is important in the efforts to combat antisemitism. The Norwegian Commission on Extremism emphasises the value of building democratic resilience in the population and ensuring the participation of vulnerable groups. Teaching at the Peace and Human Rights Centres and Democratic Preparedness against Racism, Antisemitism and Undemocratic Attitudes (Dembra) is proposed strengthened. The Government is initially following up on the Norwegian Commission on Extremism’s report by preparing a white paper on preventing extremism. The report will be presented in 2025.
Measure 8: Strengthen resilience against disinformation
Responsible: Ministry of Culture and Equality
Misinformation and disinformation are spread on the internet and social media and can pose a threat to democracy. Minorities can be particularly vulnerable to prejudices that are created and disseminated as disinformation on the internet.
The Government will launch a strategy to strengthen resilience against disinformation, which is scheduled for presentation in the spring of 2025. The strategy is part of the follow-up to the report by the Norwegian Commission for Freedom of Expression. Among other things, the strategy will address how we can develop a media policy that enables media organisations to fulfil their social mission in the future, and contribute to strengthening media literacy in the population so that people are better equipped to assess the credibility of information, images and videos. Ensuring monitoring of large platforms such as TikTok, Meta and Google, and the influence they have on the Norwegian discourse, will also form part of the strategy.