This article looks at how cultural heritage became a public human rights issue after the 2011 terrorist attack in Oslo, Norway, which damaged the Y-Block government building. The Y-Block became a symbol of public space and cultural expression, but a government redevelopment plan aimed to replace it with a new complex. This led to a long campaign by civil society and legal advocates to save the building.
Supporters used legal arguments such as claiming the cultural heritage protection process was never officially completed, appealing to international human rights standards, and questioning the transparency and legitimacy of political decisions. Despite these efforts, the Y-Block was demolished in 2020. The struggle, however, highlighted the role of cultural heritage in human rights debates and showed how legal mobilisation can shape public discussions in times of crisis and rebuilding.
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