On October 6-9, 2021 the National LGBT rights organization LGL organized a study visit to Oslo for the partners of the project “Mainstreaming equal opportunities in twin cities (Vilnius-Oslo)”, during which meetings with various Norwegian organizations were organized. The study visit was participated by a delegation from Lithuania: representatives of LGL, Lithuanian Diversity Charter Association and Vilnius City Municipality and 6 participants from Norway (representatives of Oslo City Municipality, representative of LGBT rights organization FRI, Oslo Pride, Norwegian Helsinki Committee and Amnesty International Norway).
On October 6, 2021 the participants of the study visit were introduced with the Oslo governance system, the Oslo Strategy for Inclusion and Diversity and the Charter of Integrated Cities, the cooperation between the City of Oslo and Norwegian People’s Aid, OXLO activities, local initiatives and participated in a partner meeting.
On October 7, 2021 the participants of the study visit met with Eirik Aimar Engebretsen, The Norwegian Directorate for Children, Youth and Family Affairs (BUFDIR) and Helene Falck, The Equality and Anti-Discrimination Ombudsperson. The participants also visited local business Herspace, had a meeting with employment agency Skillhus and Andrew John Feltham, representative of Center for Gender Reseach at the University of Oslo.
On October 8, 2021 the participants of the study visit met with Krisztian Rozsa, a representative of Skeiv Verden, who spoke about the challenges faced by LGBT migrants and refugees in Norway. The participants of the visit also visited the office of Amnesty International Norway, where they had the opportunity to watch the broadcast of the announcement of the Nobel Peace Prize and participated in the meeting of the project partners.
On October 9, 2021 the participants of the study visit met with representatives of the local organizations Oslo Pride, FRI, the Norwegian Helsinki Committee and Skeiv Ungdom and discussed the human rights situation in Lithuania and Norway.
The project “Mainstreaming equal opportunities in twin cities (Vilnius-Oslo)” seeks to to mainstream equal opportunities in twin cities (Vilnius-Oslo) and foster diversity at municipal level by involving Vilnius and Oslo municipalities, socially responsible businesses and a human rights NGO. The project aims to foster exchange of best practices between Vilnius and Oslo municipalities on securing equal opportunities in twin cities. The project will encourage the cooperation and increase knowledge and understanding between Norwegian and Lithuanian partners and encourage a positive change in ensuring equal opportunities at municipal level.
The project is implemented by the National LGBT rights organization LGL together with partners Oslo City Municipality, Vilnius City Municipality, Lithuanian Diversity Charter.
Study visit to Oslo is a part of the project “Mainstreaming equal opportunities in twin cities (Vilnius-Oslo)”. The project is funded by the Fund for Bilateral Relations of the EEA and Norwegian Financial Mechanisms 2014–2021.
