Government to set up freedom of speech commission

Denmark has always held freedom of speech in high esteem and feels that it is something that needs to be safeguarded

A parliamentary vote on May 31 last year produced a solid majority in favour of setting up a freedom of speech commission. This came about in connection with the agreement on measures designed to combat so-called fanatical clerics.

Søren Pape Poulsen, the minister of justice, has now sent his proposals to the other political parties involved, the ministry website reveals.

The job of the commission is to describe the legal framework for freedom of speech in Denmark, its historical development and the social conditions that play an important role in the freedom of speech in the country.

READ ALSO: Freedoms of religion and speech on the back foot in Denmark

“Freedom of expression is one of the prerequisites for our democracy and society. That’s why we have to ensure that the framework for free debate is strong enough,” said Poulsen.

“We will do all we can to safeguard free political debate and the free exchange of ideas and views on which our society is built.”





  • How internationals can benefit from joining trade unions

    How internationals can benefit from joining trade unions

    Being part of a trade union is a long-established norm for Danes. But many internationals do not join unions – instead enduring workers’ rights violations. Find out how joining a union could benefit you, and how to go about it.

  • Internationals in Denmark rarely join a trade union

    Internationals in Denmark rarely join a trade union

    Internationals are overrepresented in the lowest-paid fields of agriculture, transport, cleaning, hotels and restaurants, and construction – industries that classically lack collective agreements. A new analysis from the Workers’ Union’s Business Council suggests that internationals rarely join trade unions – but if they did, it would generate better industry standards.

  • Novo Nordisk overtakes LEGO as the most desirable future workplace amongst university students

    Novo Nordisk overtakes LEGO as the most desirable future workplace amongst university students

    The numbers are especially striking amongst the 3,477 business and economics students polled, of whom 31 percent elected Novo Nordisk as their favorite, compared with 20 percent last year.