Utøya has a long-standing tradition as a meeting place for international solidarity and peace work, going all the way back to the 1930s. International issues and perspectives have always been integral to the political and civil society engagement at Utøya. When the terror hit the Labor party youth camp at Utøya in 2011, participants from many countries across the world were at the island as guests.  

After the terror attacks 22 July 2011, Utøya has become an international symbol of how democracy cannot be taken for granted. What happened here resonates not only in Norway, but everywhere young people are fighting against anti-democratic, populist or extremist forces. The rebuilding of Utøya after the terror attacks as a place for peaceful dialogue is a powerful and inspiring example of young people’s resilience to extremism and terror. 

Young people come to Utøya to share experiences and find ways to collaborate in the face of various threats to peace and democracy. Utøya today represents hope and resilience in the face of growing threats to human rights and democratic values and principles. Utøya has become a symbol of how one cannot take democracy for granted, not even in a peaceful country like Norway. When young people come to Utøya today, they arrive at a place where young peers from all over the world meet to stand up for democracy, human rights, peace and reconciliation.