Fighting terror with Nordic co-operation
The Nordic Council of Ministers’ Nordic Safe Cities programme is the result of an initiative by the Minister for Nordic Co-operation aiming to prevent radicalisation and extremism in our cities through the creation of safe communities.
“The heinous terrorist attacks we have witnessed here in the Nordic countries, in Europe, and in the rest of the world threaten democracy and polarise and divide society. It is now essential to take concrete efforts in order to protect and strengthen our pluralistic, egalitarian, and democratic society. The Nordic Safe Cities network is a new and valuable arena for sharing experiences, best practice, and knowledge across borders,” says Kristina Persson, Swedish Minister for Nordic Co-operation.
Local community is essential
City representatives gathered for the first time in Malmö on 29 and 30 March 2016.
“The tragic events in Brussels were committed by people who had lived in Belgium for a long time without feeling that they were part of the community of the country in which they lived. Mobilising the local community, local authorities, and civil society to take part in a single joint effort to prevent marginalisation is absolutely essential,” Persson adds.
The heinous terrorist attacks we have witnessed here in the Nordic countries, in Europe, and in the rest of the world threaten democracy and polarise and divide society. It is now essential to take concrete efforts in order to protect and strengthen our pluralistic, egalitarian, and democratic society.Co-operation across borders
As members of Nordic Safe Cities, the cities are part of a programme organised by the Nordic Council of Ministers. The cities will use the network to develop policy areas, solve common challenges, and gather information and ideas from researchers, experts, civil society, and colleagues throughout the Nordic countries.
“Cross-border political action and co-operation are necessary for combatting terrorism. In particular, it is important to combat the social exclusion that fosters extremist attitudes,” says Persson, who stresses that good communities are the key to success.
Nordic Safe Cities
The Nordic Safe Cities network is seeking to develop and adopt a manual that includes a vision for combating radicalisation and extremism, as well as including concrete measures for implementation in the cities and a clear strategy for going forward in 2017.
