International expert consultation
As an initiative to support the efforts for strengthening national implementation of measures called for in UN Human Rights Council resolution A/RES/HRC/16/18, Norway will convene an international expert consultation on combating religious intolerance.
Relevant stakeholders from multiple groups will meet in Oslo (13 - 14 January 2026) to create an overview of actions taken by countries for national implementation of the resolution, including peer-to-peer discussions on persistent challenges and best practices. The Oslo Consultation will focus on ways to build on the multistakeholder approach identified in the Tirana Framework to support the Istanbul Process associated with the HRC Resolution 16/18.
Public event
The Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in strategic partnership with Human Rights Centre, Essex University and the Norwegian Centre for Human Rights, University of Oslo, invites to a public event at the end of these consultations to share the main highlights from the discussions and future steps to tackle religious intolerance and hate speech.
Open for press, will be live-streamed. The public event will be an occasion to share with a public audience in Norway the continuing relevance of HRC 16/18 as well as lessons learned from around world on combatting hatred. Speakers will also highlight opportunities for action and allyship (speaking out against discrimination) at the domestic, regional and international levels to counter hate and promote social cohesion.
Co-chairs report
You can read the draft version of the co-chairs summary report from the Oslo Consultation here.
Event recording
The event was streamed live and recorded. You can watch the full event here:
Program
14:00-14:45: Opening Statements
- Welcome, Gentian Zyberi, Head of Department, Norwegian Centre for Human Rights
- Norwegian Deputy Foreign Minister H.E. Andreas M. Kravik
- Mayor of Oslo H.E. Anne Lindboe
- H.E. Mehmet Pacaci, Special Envoy of the OIC Secretary-General for Combatting Islamophobia
Moderated by H.E. Øystein Lyngroth, Norway’s Special Envoy on FoRB
14:45-16:00: Panel, followed by Q&A
- Parliamentarian: Hon. Georgios Stamatis, Greece
- NHRI: Dr. Gehan Gunatilleke, Sri Lanka
- Municipal actor: Dr. Linda Hyökki, European Coalition of Cities Against Racism
- Civil society: Ms. Iman Atta, Tell MAMA, and Ms. Birte Nordahl, Council of Religious and Life Stance Communities
Moderated by: Prof. Ahmed Shaheed, Essex University
Speeches
Please feel free to access the speeches from the opening statements section of the public event: