Responses in a democratic society

The Council of Europe plays an important role in promoting democracy, human rights and good governance.

Not just in word, but also in deed.

The value of any organisation is judged by the difference it makes in people’s everyday lives.

And the Council of Europe is making a difference.

We know that everyone may experience violence or the fear of violence at some time during their lifetime; children, women, elderly people – no group in society is fully shielded from violence.

The Council of Europe is committed to helping to make people’s lives safer.

Norway is therefore pleased to host this important conference during our chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe.

The Norwegian government has focused on various approaches to combat everyday violence:

Focusing strongly on improving the general welfare to combat environments where people are rootless and without rewarding relationships. Such environments are often breeding grounds for crime and violence.

Taking action to combat unmotivated violence in the streets and robberies committed by young people, especially in cities and by groups of rootless young people.

Combating domestic violence that often affects the elderly, children and women. Tomorrow morning the Minister of Justice, Mr Odd Einar Dørum, will present this work in more detail.

Putting an emphasis on making life safe for those who are under serious threat from organised, international crime or threats from people close to them.

Providing resources for the police to enable them to combat everyday violence

Continuing to have an unarmed police force. Arms are, of course, available to the police when the situation requires, but we believe an unarmed police force helps reduce violence in everyday life.

Combating racism and racially motivated violence. As Norway increasingly becomes a multicultural society, we are faced with new challenges in both of these areas. The National Plan of Action to Combat Racism and Discrimination was launched in 2002 and will run until 2006.

The first of October saw the publication of a major white paper, Diversity through Inclusion and Participation, in which topics that are becoming increasingly important in Norwegian society are explored.

I would like to say a few words on the welfare aspect of combating crime:

Everyone would agree that security of life, health and property are fundamental to all people. This is why the Norwegian Government gives such high priority to the fight against crime.

I believe that in order to combat crime and violence it is necessary to focus on both the social and the structural nature of violence, in addition to individual responsibility. A natural consequence of such thinking is to give priority to social welfare policy and seek to provide the following:

an adequate health service

a national insurance system for those who need assistance

adequate care for the elderly and the disabled

programmes to prevent drug abuse and assist drug and alcohol addicts

programmes to combat poverty, especially in families with children

satisfactory housing for families in need, young disabled people and single people in difficult situations

schemes to provide work for those who have problems getting into the labour market

Here in Norway we have done a number of things that have produced very good results, and others that have not proved quite so successful.

I hope that this conference will contribute to an open and useful exchange of ideas in this important field so that we can learn from each other and be successful in our attempts to combat everyday violence.

I wish you every success in your important work to combat violence in all our countries.

I hereby declare the conference “Preventing everyday violence in Europe: responses in a democratic society” to be open.