ICORN international cities of refuge network

Danish Cities to Join ICORN

Following through on an initiative set forth by Denmark's former Culture Minister Elesbeth Gerner Nielsen and Danish PEN, current Culture Minister Brian Mikkelsen (photo) and Integrations Minister Rikke Hvilkshøj announced the beginnings of formal, political efforts to establish government-supported Cities of of Refuge in Denmark.

"The power of the word gives the powerless a voice and ensures the democratic dialogue."

The article pointed to the violence after the publication of 12 Danish Cartoons and to the murder of the Russian writer Anna Politskovsakaya as examples of the challenges and importance of promoting freedom of speech.

The cities that have already expressed their intentions to become ICORN members during 2007 are Odense, Copenhagen, Århus and Holbæk.