Organisation Against Institutional Discrimination

There is a large and very active voluntary sector concerned with diversity in Oslo and it plays a vital role in many things from combating racism and discrimination to the delivery of mainstream public services. One of the most interesting from an intercultural perspective is OMOD - Organisasjon mot offentlig diskriminering (Organization against Institutional Discrimination). They provide information, advice, and assistance to organisations in the area of race relations, serving as an ombudsman against institutional discrimination and alleged breaches of civil and human rights in Norway. They also scrutinize the central and local government's rules and policies and their implementation in relationship to minorities and immigrants. Whilst this in itself is an important but rather commonplace set of functions, the way OMOD perceives itself is as an opportunity to appraise public service ‘through an intercultural lens’. They pose a challenge to Norwegian society by arguing that integration is not simply an issue for migrants but for all.