NORDNES: The proposal not to name streets or places after men in Bergen was adopted in April. Photo: Hallgeir Vågenes, VG
––
A complainant to the Discrimination Tribunal tried to stop the city council in Bergen from only naming street names after women. The tribunal has now responded with a rejection.
–
On April 22 this year, it became known that the city council in Bergen will not name new streets, squares or municipal facilities after men. This is meant to last until the gender balance in the names is “significantly improved”.
The proposal provoked strong reactions with politicians from the Conservative Party and the Progress Party.
On the same day, the Discrimination Tribunal received a complaint against the City Council’s decision.
Today came the decision showing that the appeal is rejected as it did not satisfy the conditions for the tribunal to deal with the case.
The complaint, which was submitted by a private individual, was addressed to the City Councilor for Culture, Diversity and Gender Equality, Katrine Berg Nødtvedt (MDG).
—-CITY COUNCIL: Katrine Blågestad (MDG). Photo: Nina Blågestad
––
The complainant referred to Nødtvet «as an employee in Bergen municipality, and the front figure for this foolish and discriminatory proposal / decision».
– I am still very surprised that some people react so negatively to the city council promising to work to correct a century-long gender imbalance in the cityscape, says city councilor Nødtvedt to VG.
– It is gratifying that the case is rejected
One of the conditions for the tribunal to be able to deal with a case is that the appellant is a party or has a so-called “legal appeal interest”. By legal appeal interest is meant that the appellant must have a real need to have the claim settled.
«As the chair of the board assesses the case, you (the complainant, journ.anm.) Have no legal interest in having this case processed. You state that you are not directly affected by the allegedly discriminatory decision regarding the naming of streets in Bergen municipality. You have also not shown any other current interest in having the appeal processed “, the Tribunal writes in the decision.
– It is of course gratifying that the complaint has been rejected, but I think it is a bit sad that an initiative that will only make the city more diverse and representative meets so much anger, says the city councilor.
She believes the decision has already had an effect and points out that the Gestapo Museum’s association in Bergen has suggested that the resistance hero Nancy Landås shall have a place named after him.
In 2018, the city council in Bergen decided that the municipality should increase the number of streets and squares named after women. At that time, there were 229 streets in Bergen that were named after people, of which 28 were female names while 201 were male names.
The City Council has also announced that they will be able to make an exception to the rule.
–
