Initiatives
The Freedom of Expression Foundation's Competition for Young People
2012
WRITING COMPETITION ON FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION
Our right to express our opinions, and to read, see or hear what we want should not be taken for granted. Throughout history, constraints have been placed on literature, art, music, the press and broadcasting, as well as on religious, scientific and political expressions. The Freedom of Expression Foundation invites young people between the ages of 12 and 20 to explore this theme.
POSSIBLE TOPICS
Major questions about freedom of speech have become very timely in the wake of the 22 July tragedy.
What is evil, and how can society deal with it?
What is the point of punishment? Should capital punishment be reconsidered in connection with the genocide and mass murder?
Should constraints be placed on free speech, for example, in new media such as blogs, Facebook and Twitter? Does anonymity constitute a threat to democracy?
Should extremists from all quarters be entitled to speak freely? Should racially discriminatory remarks be punished or be allowed to be expressed in public?
Has the war on terror influenced the international debate? What role does it play in terms of fundamental democratic values?
To what extent is the voice of immigrants heard in the media? How are they represented in newspapers, on radio and TV?
Is freedom of expression solely a western value, or does it also apply in other cultures?
What is information and what is the propaganda in the media? Where does the line run between lies and truth?
These are simply examples of various topics participants might want to write about. You can choose a topic from the past or present, Norwegian or international, and based on your own interests. It might be a good idea to take your point of departure in something you have read in the newspapers or on the internet, seen on television or learned at school.
REPORT OR ESSAY
You can write a research report based on sources you have collected yourself, or you can write an essay on an issue that concludes with you own independent assessments and analyses. It is important for the jury to be able to see that you have worked with the text on your own and that you have arrived at some independent conclusions. References to sources such as books, films, etc. can be placed either in parentheses or in footnotes. The ideal length is about 10 pages, but shorter and longer reports or essays will also be judged.
PRIZES
1st prize: A grant of NOK 10 000
2nd prize: A grant of NOK 8 000
3rd prize: A grant of NOK 7 000
The three winners will also win an all-expenses paid trip to Strasbourg in autumn 2011 or spring 2012 to visit the European Court of Human Rights and the European Parliament.
THE JURY AND REGULATIONS
The jury consists of six experts, and the jury's decision is final. Participants are not allowed to publish a contribution while it is in the process of being judged. Once the prizes have been awarded, the jury is entitled to publish contributions on the condition that the participants' names are specified. Groups of up to three individuals can enter the competition together. Participants must be between the ages of 12 and 20, and they must not yet have embarked on tertiary education. Entries must not previously have won a prize in any Norwegian or international competition.
REGISTRATION, INFORMATION AND QUESTIONS
Deadline for registration for 2012: 1 February 2012
Deadline for submitting contributions: 15 February 2012
The three finalists in the Freedom of Expression Foundation Competition for Young People will be invited to participate in a finals weekend in Oslo in April 2012, along with finalists in the Young Researchers Competition. The weekend will culminate in the awards ceremony.
Participants can register for the Freedom of Expression Foundation Competition for Young People at www.proscientia.no
or register at:
Proscientia
The Research Council of Norway
P.O. Box 2700 St. Hanshaugen
NO-0131 OSLO
If you have any questions, just send an E-mail to:
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or ring +47 220 37322
For further information about the Freedom of Expression Foundation Competition for Young People, see www.proscientia.no
FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION
Freedom of expression is a fundamental human right, established pursuant to §100 of the Constitution of Norway:
There shall be freedom of expression.
No person may be held liable in law for having imparted or received information, ideas or messages unless this can be justified in relation to the grounds for freedom of expression, which are the seeking of truth, the promotion of democracy and the individual’s freedom to form opinions. Such legal liability shall be prescribed by law.
Everyone shall be free to speak his mind frankly on the administration of the State and on any other subject whatsoever. Clearly defined limitations to this right may only be imposed when particularly weighty considerations so justify in relation to the grounds for freedom of expression.
Prior censorship and other preventive measures may not be applied unless so required in order to protect children and young persons from the harmful influence of moving pictures. Censorship of letters may only be imposed in institutions.
Everyone has a right of access to documents of the State and municipal administration and a right to follow the proceedings of the courts and democratically elected bodies. Limitations to this right may be prescribed by law to protect the privacy of the individual or for other weighty reasons.
It is the responsibility of the authorities of the State to create conditions that facilitate open and enlightened public discourse.
Further, Article 19 of the UN's Universal Declaration of Human Rights states:
Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.
The Freedom of Expression Foundation's Competition for Young People, Norwegian text (pdf)
The Freedom of Expression Foundation's Competition for Young People
2012
WRITING COMPETITION ON FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION
Our right to express our opinions, and to read, see or hear what we want should not be taken for granted. Throughout history, constraints have been placed on literature, art, music, the press and broadcasting, as well as on religious, scientific and political expressions. The Freedom of Expression Foundation invites young people between the ages of 12 and 20 to explore this theme.
POSSIBLE TOPICS
Major questions about freedom of speech have become very timely in the wake of the 22 July tragedy.
What is evil, and how can society deal with it?
What is the point of punishment? Should capital punishment be reconsidered in connection with the genocide and mass murder?
Should constraints be placed on free speech, for example, in new media such as blogs, Facebook and Twitter? Does anonymity constitute a threat to democracy?
Should extremists from all quarters be entitled to speak freely? Should racially discriminatory remarks be punished or be allowed to be expressed in public?
Has the war on terror influenced the international debate? What role does it play in terms of fundamental democratic values?
To what extent is the voice of immigrants heard in the media? How are they represented in newspapers, on radio and TV?
Is freedom of expression solely a western value, or does it also apply in other cultures?
What is information and what is the propaganda in the media? Where does the line run between lies and truth?
These are simply examples of various topics participants might want to write about. You can choose a topic from the past or present, Norwegian or international, and based on your own interests. It might be a good idea to take your point of departure in something you have read in the newspapers or on the internet, seen on television or learned at school.
REPORT OR ESSAY
You can write a research report based on sources you have collected yourself, or you can write an essay on an issue that concludes with you own independent assessments and analyses. It is important for the jury to be able to see that you have worked with the text on your own and that you have arrived at some independent conclusions. References to sources such as books, films, etc. can be placed either in parentheses or in footnotes. The ideal length is about 10 pages, but shorter and longer reports or essays will also be judged.
PRIZES
1st prize: A grant of NOK 10 000
2nd prize: A grant of NOK 8 000
3rd prize: A grant of NOK 7 000
The three winners will also win an all-expenses paid trip to Strasbourg in autumn 2011 or spring 2012 to visit the European Court of Human Rights and the European Parliament.
THE JURY AND REGULATIONS
The jury consists of six experts, and the jury's decision is final. Participants are not allowed to publish a contribution while it is in the process of being judged. Once the prizes have been awarded, the jury is entitled to publish contributions on the condition that the participants' names are specified. Groups of up to three individuals can enter the competition together. Participants must be between the ages of 12 and 20, and they must not yet have embarked on tertiary education. Entries must not previously have won a prize in any Norwegian or international competition.
REGISTRATION, INFORMATION AND QUESTIONS
Deadline for registration for 2012: 1 February 2012
Deadline for submitting contributions: 15 February 2012
The three finalists in the Freedom of Expression Foundation Competition for Young People will be invited to participate in a finals weekend in Oslo in April 2012, along with finalists in the Young Researchers Competition. The weekend will culminate in the awards ceremony.
Participants can register for the Freedom of Expression Foundation Competition for Young People at www.proscientia.no
or register at:
Proscientia
The Research Council of Norway
P.O. Box 2700 St. Hanshaugen
NO-0131 OSLO
If you have any questions, just send an E-mail to:
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or ring +47 220 37322
For further information about the Freedom of Expression Foundation Competition for Young People, see www.proscientia.no
FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION
Freedom of expression is a fundamental human right, established pursuant to §100 of the Constitution of Norway:
There shall be freedom of expression.
No person may be held liable in law for having imparted or received information, ideas or messages unless this can be justified in relation to the grounds for freedom of expression, which are the seeking of truth, the promotion of democracy and the individual’s freedom to form opinions. Such legal liability shall be prescribed by law.
Everyone shall be free to speak his mind frankly on the administration of the State and on any other subject whatsoever. Clearly defined limitations to this right may only be imposed when particularly weighty considerations so justify in relation to the grounds for freedom of expression.
Prior censorship and other preventive measures may not be applied unless so required in order to protect children and young persons from the harmful influence of moving pictures. Censorship of letters may only be imposed in institutions.
Everyone has a right of access to documents of the State and municipal administration and a right to follow the proceedings of the courts and democratically elected bodies. Limitations to this right may be prescribed by law to protect the privacy of the individual or for other weighty reasons.
It is the responsibility of the authorities of the State to create conditions that facilitate open and enlightened public discourse.
Further, Article 19 of the UN's Universal Declaration of Human Rights states:
Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.
The Freedom of Expression Foundation's Competition for Young People, Norwegian text (pdf)
Initiatives