Nordic Safe Cities – Increased radicalisation, insecurity and terrorist attacks
Cities in the Nordic region must work together and find collective solutions that create safe and secure cities where freedom of expression, equality, democracy and trust are the strongest weapons against radicalisation and hatred.
Challenge
The Nordic countries are challenged on many fronts. Islamic terror and right-wing radicalization create insecurity in communities across the north. This applies both at street level, where gangs and violent riots fill daily lives, and when we experience terrorist attacks and the subsequent fear that it will happen again.
Task
Nordic Safe Cities is a network of Nordic cities that work together to prevent radicalisation and create safe, tolerant cities for all citizens.
The network operates on three levels. Firstly, local work is being done in cities on specific challenges in the specific immediate environment. Secondly, Nordic activities are established where cities meet and share best practices, and thirdly, work is being done internationally to showcase the Nordic safety and prevention models globally.
Results
Nordic Safe Cities has achieved great results in its lifetime. Among other things:
- 5 united Nordic countries
- 18 active member cities
- 300 young peace ambassadors
- 800 dedicated experts, NGOs other partners
Examples of the results are the Nordic Safe Cities Charter, with 6 ambitious focus areas to create safe cities, an 'ALL'IN youth manual' that guides cities in engaging young people in the development of concepts that contribute to fun, attractive and safe cities.
The Nordic Council of Ministers initiated Nordic Safe Cities in 2016. NEXTSTEP built and led the network until 2020, when Nordic Safe Cities became an independent organisation.
5
united Nordic countries
19
active member cities
300
young peace ambassadors
"Nordic Safe cities are one of the most important in Nordic cooperation these years. When my home country was attacked in the worst possible way in Oslo and Utøya in 2011, we reacted precisely to the opposite of what the perpetrator wanted: we responded to the attack with a great deal of responsibility and care for each other instead of anger and revenge. In the Nordic Safe Cities community, we shine a light on life in our cities instead of focusing on fear in our souls, and we do not want to compromise our strong shared values in the Nordic countries."
Dagfinn Høybråten, Secretary-General of the Nordic Council of Ministers
