Experts of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women Praise Norway’s Efforts to Close Gender Gaps in Employment and Education, Ask about Rape Legislation Amendments and Measures to Prevent Trafficking of Women and Girls

The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women today concluded its consideration of the tenth periodic report of Norway, with Committee Experts praising Norway’s efforts to close gender gaps in employment and education, and raising questions about amendments to legislation on rape and measures to monitor and prevent trafficking of women and girls.

Corinne Dettmeijer-Vermeulen, Committee Expert and Rapporteur for Norway, and other Committee Experts congratulated Norway on its efforts to address the gender gap, especially in employment and education.  One Expert commended efforts to increase the representation of women in private companies, but noted that the number of women on the boards of private companies in Norway was still low.  What measures were being taken to encourage the representation of women in private companies?

A Committee Expert asked about the timeline for the planned amendment of rape legislation?  A large percentage of reports of rape were closed, and alleged perpetrators acquitted.  Why was this?  Could the definition of rape within legislation be contributing to the low prosecution rate?

Ms. Dettmeijer-Vermeulen expressed concern about the lack of data on trafficking in Norway.  Had a central system for recording cases of trafficking and a national referral mechanism been established?  What measures were in place to prevent trafficking of women and girls through online channels, and to ensure the right to health for women who worked in prostitution?

Introducing the report, Anette Trettebergstuen, Minister of Culture and Equality of Norway and head of the delegation, said that Norway ranked third on the Global Gender Gap Index.  To increase the representation of women in the board and management of private limited companies, the Government had submitted for consultation a proposal that gender quota rules should apply to large private companies.

The delegation said that in cases of rape, there was often a lack of witnesses and clear evidence.  The Criminal Courts’ evidentiary requirements were strict, making prosecution of rape cases difficult.  Jan Austad, Specialist Director, Ministry of Justice and Public Security, said in opening remarks that the Criminal Law Commission had proposed that the current provision on rape be replaced by a new consent-based provision.  A public consultation on the proposal had a deadline of mid-April this year.

On trafficking, the delegation said that a report had been produced that analysed the number of victims, and methods of estimating the total number of victims were being developed.  Most traffickers used online escort services, which the police mapped and used to identify victims of trafficking.  Work to set up a national referral mechanism was in progress.  There was no national system for assisting immigrants who were victims of trafficking, but specialised services had been developed to support specific groups targeted by traffickers.  The Ministry of Health was assessing whether to expand the rights of foreigners regarding health.

In closing remarks, Ms. Trettebergstuen thanked the Committee for the thorough review of the State party’s report.  Norway was fully committed to implementing the rights set out in the Convention.  The delegation looked forward to receiving the concluding observations, which would contribute to further strengthening the Government’s policies promoting the rights of women and girls.

Ana Peláez Narváez, Committee Chair, in her closing remarks, thanked the delegation for the dialogue, which had provided further insight into the rights of women and girls in Norway.  The Committee invited the State party to implement the Committee’s concluding observations for the benefit of all women and girls in the country.

The delegation of Norway consisted of representatives from the Ministry of Culture and Equality; Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Ministry of Justice and Public Security; Ministry of Health and Care Services; the Norwegian Directorate for Children, Youth and Family Affairs; Ministry of Education and Research; Ministry of Climate and Environment; and the Permanent Mission of Norway to the United Nations Office at Geneva.

The Committee will issue the concluding observations on the report of Norway at the end of its eighty-fourth session on 24 February.  All documents relating to the Committee’s work, including reports submitted by States parties, can be found on the session’s webpage. Meeting summary releases can be found here.  The webcast of the Committee’s public meetings can be accessed via the UN Web TV webpage.

The Committee will next meet at 10 a.m. on Friday, 10 February, to consider the seventh periodic report of Tunisia (CEDAW/C/TUN/7).

Report

The Committee has before it the tenth periodic report of Norway (CEDAW/C/NOR/10).

Presentation of Report

ANETTE TRETTEBERGSTUEN, Minister of Culture and Equality of Norway and head of the delegation, said that Norway ranked third on the Global Gender Gap Index.  It passed its first Gender Equality Act in 1978, and was among the first countries to ratify the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women.  The Convention had been incorporated in Norwegian law through the Human Rights Act and took precedence over other legislation in cases of conflict. 

Gender mainstreaming was a principle enshrined in the Equality and Anti-Discrimination Act.  The Directorate for Children, Youth and Family Affairs administered a grant scheme for family and equality policy measures, which had been increased by 70 per cent in 2022.  The Government had also strengthened the funding of the four regional centres for equality.  The mandates of the Equality and Anti-Discrimination Ombud and the Anti-Discrimination Tribunal, which investigated discrimination cases, were being redefined to improve the system.

In Norway, a high number of women were employed, and three out of five students in universities and colleges were women.  However, the gender-divided labour market and the gender pay gap remained obstacles for gender equality.  In January 2020, the Equality and Anti-Discrimination Act was revised to require private employers with more than 50 employees and all public employers to map the difference in women's and men's pay conditions and the use of involuntary part-time work.  The Centre for Research on Gender Equality had been commissioned to investigate the pay gap and the possibilities for developing a national database on wages.  In December 2022, the Government began public consultations on a certification scheme for gender equality and diversity for private companies.

Far more women than men worked part-time, respectively 37 per cent and 17 per cent.  New regulations to strengthen the right to full-time work had been introduced in the Working Environment Act in January 2023.  Less than 16 per cent of directors and only 13 per cent of the chairs of the boards in the 200 largest Norwegian companies were women.  To increase the representation of women in the board and management of private limited companies, the Government had submitted for consultation a proposal that gender quota rules should apply to large private companies.

Norway was one of the first countries to criminalise female genital mutilation and forced marriage, and in recent years several legislative amendments had been enacted to strengthen legal protections.  A committee had been appointed to assess whether current legislation was adequate.  A report would be ready by 30 November 2023.

The Government had announced plans to develop a new strategy on women's health, and had also appointed a committee to review the abortion law, to consider alternatives to the current abortion boards, and to assess the counselling offered.  The committee’s recommendations would be submitted in December 2023.  The Government was gathering knowledge on the interconnections between gender and climate change, and how a gender perspective could be implemented in climate policies. 

Far more women than men were exposed to sexual harassment, especially young women.  The Government was currently working on a white paper on sexual harassment, which would be submitted to Parliament in 2024.  A proposal to ratify International Labour Organization Convention No. 190 on Violence and Harassment at Work had been subject to a public consultation.  The Norwegian Ministry of Labour and Social Inclusion had presented proposals to strengthen the protection against harassment and sexual harassment in the workplace.

In 2021, the Government introduced a new Integration Act.  The Job Opportunity Programme aimed at increasing the employment rate among minority women, particularly immigrant women; 74 per cent of the participants who completed the programme in 2020 were employed or in education.

JAN AUSTAD, Specialist Director, Ministry of Justice and Public Security, said that in March 2021, the Ministry of Justice and Public Security commissioned the Criminal Law Commission to conduct a review of provisions regarding sexual offences in the Penal Code, and to propose a regulation that safeguarded the individual’s right to sexual self-determination.  The commission had submitted its report, proposing that the current provision on rape be replaced by a new consent-based provision, among other amendments.  Since 2017, Norway had attempted to secure enough separate prison facilities for female prisoners, and to provide specialised mental health care services.  The national action plan against domestic violence 2021-2024 contained a chapter on violence and abuse in Sami communities.  Measures in the action plan included strengthening of awareness and expertise in Sami language and culture among employees in the public support services. 

Homicides where the perpetrator was a current or former partner of the victim accounted for a quarter of all murders committed in Norway over the past few decades.  Twenty-nine murders were committed in 2022, with seven of the victims – all of them women - being partners or previous partners of the perpetrator.  The Government had decided to establish a permanent commission on partner homicide and its work was scheduled to start in 2024. 

The Crisis Centre Act made it obligatory for all municipalities in Norway to provide shelter services for women, men and children who suffered domestic violence.  Weaknesses in the Act had been identified, and the Act was being revised.  Adequate services for women with addiction issues, services for the Sami population, and municipalities' obligations under the law, were some issues being considered.  A consultation paper would be ready later this year.

ADELE MATHESON MESTAD, Director of the Norwegian National Human Rights Institution, said that significant challenges remained in combatting violence against women.  The Police had not implemented significant measures to address gender-based violence, and support services were not sufficiently coordinated.  The national human rights institute supported amendments to the Penal Code, but noted that there were still significant judicial challenges, including long processing times.  There was a lack of sufficient knowledge about violence against vulnerable women amongst members of the public service.  There needed to be a strengthening of capacities and an improvement in access to support shelters.  The State party also needed to secure equal conditions for female prisoners. 

Climate change had a disproportionate effect on women.  The national human rights institute called on the State party to review its climate policies, particularly policies on the extraction of oil and gas.  The institution welcomed the decision to review the Anti-discrimination Tribunal, and called for other recommendations presented by the Equality and Anti-Discrimination Ombud regarding anti-discrimination measures to be implemented.

Questions by Committee Experts 

CORINNE DETTMEIJER-VERMEULEN, Committee Expert and Rapporteur for Norway, said that the Committee had taken note of Norway’s efforts to address the gender gap and gender-based violence.  With a strong reputation came a strong responsibility.  That would be reflected in the dialogue.

A Committee Expert congratulated Norway on its international reputation regarding women’s rights.  Innovation was needed to build back better from the COVID-19 pandemic.  The pandemic had had a negative impact on the health sector, and on equality at work.  What were the key areas addressed by new public policies, such as policies on development support and women, peace and security?  How would the State party further strengthen women’s rights? 

Responses by the Delegation

ANETTE TRETTEBERGSTUEN, Minister of Culture and Equality of Norway and head of the delegation, said that the Government aimed to create a society free from sexual violence and harassment.  More needed to be done to support women’s health.  Women’s rights were a key concern in development and aid policies.

The delegation said that the Government had been aware that measures implemented in response to the COVID-19 pandemic could have an impact on gender equality.  The Government had established a committee to assess these effects.  New policies promoting full-time work aimed to secure more freedom and job security for women during the pandemic.  A new action plan on women’s rights in crises was being developed based on lessons learned during the pandemic.  Civil society organizations had played a crucial role in responding to the pandemic.  The pandemic was not over, and civil society organizations were supporting women human rights defenders.  The Government was also pursuing women, peace and security policies, supporting women’s networks and peacebuilders to achieve peace and security for women worldwide. 

Questions by a Committee Expert 

CORINNE DETTMEIJER-VERMEULEN, Committee Expert and Rapporteur for Norway, said that there were anti-discrimination law courses on the Convention offered at the University of Oslo.  Did the State party make these courses known and accessible to the public?  How did it secure sufficient general visibility of the Convention and the Optional Protocol?  Was training on the Convention obligatory for judges?  How often was the Convention mentioned in court rulings?  Had there been any effort to develop a training programme for prosecuting authorities and law enforcement officers covering the Convention?

How did the State party ensure that the implementation of current gender-neutral legislation and policies did not ignore the pre-existing gender-based disadvantages and inequalities that women faced?  What progress had been made by the Ministry of Culture on gender equality considerations within the instructions for official studies?

The Tribunal had taken over the Ombud’s role of enforcing the Equality and Anti-Discrimination Act.  A large part of the requests sent to the Tribunal were not taken into consideration.  How were the Tribunal’s decisions enforced?  Did the State party plan to install independent monitoring of the working and the effectiveness of the work of the Tribunal?

The recently adopted Act for Compensation of Criminal Acts seemed to significantly limit the right to compensation for victims of violence and abuse.  The Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings, in its third report, recommended to make compensation possible by the Compensation Authority without the consent of the perpetrator.  Would the State party adopt the Group’s recommendation?  Had the State party investigated the effects that the amendments of the Free Legal Aid Act might have on the victims’ already limited access to justice?  How did the State party plan to ensure that crisis centres were able to provide quality legal assistance to victims of trafficking?

Responses by the Delegation

The delegation said that the Convention was incorporated into the Human Rights Act.  Students at the University of Oslo were made aware of the course on the Convention.  The Ombud disseminated information about the Convention.  The courts rarely made direct reference to the Convention as its provisions had been directly incorporated into Norwegian law.  The Ministry of Justice was working on a proposal for a new legal aid scheme.  It recommended that legal aid be granted based on recommendations by the Ombud.  Measures had been introduced to make it easier for victims of domestic violence to obtain compensation, and measures to safeguard the rights of victims had also been introduced.  A national professional development programme had been developed for judges, and information about the Convention was included within this programme.  Prison officers were required to complete a two-year training programme, which included training on human rights.  Police staff responsible for women had been established.  These officers considered the special needs of women throughout the judicial procedure.  The police academy had courses on sexual violence and abuse.

Legal aid was provided to victims of trafficking within shelters for victims.

In 2022, the Tribunal reviewed 415 complaints, examining merits on around 115 cases.  Reasons for rejections of allegations included the withdrawal of complaints and a lack of evidence.  The Tribunal had issued around 20 fines for discrimination based on age or disability in 2022, and one for discrimination based on gender.

Norway developed gender-specific legislation when needed, such as the national insurance act and the female genital mutilation act.  Gender-neutral legislation was important for securing equal rights for women.  Measures had been implemented to develop gender-neutral job titles.  Vigilance was required to ensure that gender-neutral legislation was gender sensitive in practice.

The Equality and Anti-Discrimination Act had been amended to require authorities to prevent sexual harassment and to counter stereotyping.

All ministries were considering the recommendations of the Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings, but it was too early to say whether these would be implemented.

Questions by a Committee Expert 

A Committee Expert commended the Government on its efforts to ensure access to justice for women through the Equality and Anti-Discrimination Tribunal.  Why had the Tribunal reviewed such a high number of cases in 2022, and what measures had been taken to reduce these numbers?  Many complainants had not received guidance on filing a case.  Why was this?  The Committee commended efforts to increase the representation of women in private companies.  The number of women on the boards of private companies in Norway was still low.  What measures were being taken to encourage the representation of women in private companies?

Responses by the Delegation

The delegation said that the Ombud provided guidance to complainants to the Tribunal.  Many of the cases registered as complaints today by the Tribunal were formerly registered as guidance cases.  The Government was strengthening awareness of the complaints system, which was one reason for the increase in complaints.  The Ombud was no longer responsible for handling complaints.  The Government would review the complaints system in collaboration with civil society.

Questions by a Committee Expert 

A Committee Expert said that Norway set an example to the world on measures to promote gender equality.  The number of reported cases of honour crimes had increased in recent years.  Why was this?

Did the State party plan to research the impact of the inclusion of gender topics in the curriculum?  Women were over-represented in the public sector and health sectors.  What measures were in place to address this?  Why was the State party opposed to implementing legislation on sexist hate speech?

Responses by the Delegation

The delegation said that gender equality had been included in the new national curriculum, which would be evaluated over the next two years.

Combatting honour-related violence was a high priority for the Government.  There was a need to increase the competence on such crimes within the Police.  The current action plan contained 33 measures to combat honour crimes.  The Government believed that the higher number of reports of honour crimes was due to increased awareness within society. 

A high percentage of women under 30 experienced online hate speech.  The Government had conducted public consultations on whether to incorporate gender as a basis of harassment in the Penal Code, and had concluded that such a measure would not be effective in combatting online harassment.  However, the Government was committed to combatting online harassment, and had conducted a study into the phenomenon.  The Government needed to address the issue at the domestic and international levels.  The Nordic Council of Ministers had conducted studies on the phenomenon internationally, and had created a think-tank to consider ways of regulating large social media platforms.  The Government was also developing a white paper on online harassment.

An effective strategy to combat hate speech had been implemented in 2014, and it was currently being renewed.  A strategy on regulating violence in video games also considered hate speech against women and girls.  The Government was raising awareness about the risks of digital harassment against children.  It had also developed legislation regulating online news media that required media outlets to report abusive content.  Despite criminalisation, most of the dissemination of sexual images of youths without consent went unreported.  A website had been established to report such dissemination and to offer support to victims. 

The educational choices of boys and girls were still gendered, and this led to gender segregation of the workforce.  A programme was in place to encourage girls to study science, maths and technology subjects.  Public authorities had a duty to counter gender stereotyping.  The Government had implemented a programme encouraging men to study health subjects and take up work in the health sector.

Questions by Committee Experts 

ANA PELÁEZ NARVÁEZ, Committee Chair, asked whether the State party planned to criminalise forced abortion and sterilisation in line with the Istanbul Convention and to provide compensation to victims?

Another Committee Expert said that the Committee welcomed the review of the legislation on rape.  A consent-based approach would bring legislation in line with international standards.  What was the timeline for the amendment of this legislation?  A large percentage of reports of rape were closed, and alleged perpetrators acquitted.  Why was this?  What measures were in place to support minority women in their interactions with police?

There were weaknesses in the authorities’ efforts to tackle domestic violence.  Deliberation of cases took too long.  What further measures were planned to tackle domestic violence?  Ninety per cent of homicides were femicides.  What measures were in place to prevent partner homicides?  Prevention of domestic violence was not prioritised by local police.  What steps were being taken to secure police resources and focus to ensure that domestic violence cases were prioritised?  What measures had Norway taken to ensure adequate support for victims of violence?  Had the State party taken steps to re-establish a victim centre for the Sami community?

One Committee Expert asked about measures to encourage boys to take up “pink” studies, and about efforts to provide support for child victims of gender-based violence.

A Committee Expert said that Norway had ratified the Istanbul Convention, but not incorporated it in domestic law.  Why was this?

Responses by the Delegation

The delegation said that statistics on gender-based violence were not positive for Norway, and further measures were needed to fight the phenomenon.

In some cases, forced abortion and sterilisation were in the best interests of a woman with a serious disability.  Legal guardians could apply for such procedures without the concerned person’s consent if the person concerned could not make an informed decision on the matter.

A directive concerning the investigation of domestic violence was currently being updated, and the action plan to combat domestic violence was being reviewed.  A plan against violence against children was also being developed.  Risk-assessment tools were used to prevent cases of honour-based violence and domestic violence.  An evaluation of the use of these tools was planned for 2023.

A new national survey on violence and abuse was planned to study trends in the phenomenon.  In cases of rape, there was often a lack of witnesses and clear evidence.  Police conducted sensitive interviews to obtain sufficient evidence, but many cases were closed because such evidence could not be obtained.

The Istanbul Convention afforded States parties discretion in terms of implementation.  The Government believed that the provisions of this Convention were less suitable for implementation in national legislation.  The Istanbul Convention did inform domestic legislation.

A plan to prevent violence and abuse in Sami communities had been developed.  Funding had been set aside for this plan, and research was being carried out into the effects of Government policies on Sami communities.  Since 2019, the Government had pursued a project to increase access to shelters for victims of gender-based violence in the northern region.  A service to increase understanding of the Sami language and culture among public officials was in place.

The Directorate for Children, Youth and Family Affairs had developed an online resource displaying statistics from shelters on victims of sexual abuse broken down by ethnicity.  Data on women, persons with disabilities, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons, and Sami communities was being collected to assess access to services.

The Government had launched a pilot project to encourage high-school boys to study “pink” subjects, and this would be developed into a national project in future.

New support centres had been established for victims of violence in all the municipalities of Norway.  These centres helped victims to access legal support, reparation and counselling support.

Questions by Committee Experts 

A Committee Expert asked whether the definition of rape within legislation could be contributing to the low prosecution rate.

CORINNE DETTMEIJER-VERMEULEN, Committee Expert and Rapporteur for Norway, said that the Committee was concerned about the lack of data on trafficking in Norway.  Had a central system for recording cases of trafficking and a national referral mechanism been established?  The most detected form of trafficking in the region was women and girls using Internet technologies.  What measures were in place to prevent this form of trafficking?  There were not many lawyers that specialised in trafficking.  Were there efforts to increase the number of such lawyers?  What measures were in place to ensure funding for non-governmental organizations that provided shelters for victims of trafficking, and to ensure the right to health for women who worked in prostitution?

Responses by the Delegation

ANETTE TRETTEBERGSTUEN, Minister of Culture and Equality of Norway and head of the delegation, said that the Government had developed an action plan against rape, and had acknowledged the need for an overall review of rape legislation and the development of a sexual consent law.  Prostitution was not illegal in Norway but purchasing of prostitution was.

The delegation said that there was a need to strengthen safeguards for victims of rape.  A national investigation into rape cases had found that the quality of investigations had improved, but there was a need to develop investigation plans.  The clearance rate of rape cases had fallen from 36 per cent in 2016 to 31 per cent in 2021.  The Criminal Courts’ evidentiary requirements were strict, making the prosecution of rape cases difficult.

There was a need for more data on trafficking to allow for an estimation of undiscovered victims.  A report had been produced that analysed the number of victims, and methods of estimating the total number of victims were being developed.  There were challenges in collecting and sharing personal data of victims.  The prosecution service would in future cases call for harsher punishments for trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation.  There were also increases in trafficking for the purpose of forced labour, and the Government had developed measures to protect migrant workers.  Most traffickers used online escort services, which the police mapped and used to identify victims of trafficking.  Newly arrived Ukrainian refugees were a target of traffickers, and so new measures were being developed to protect those refugees.  Highly experienced lawyers gave assistance to victims of trafficking for free.  Work to set up a national referral mechanism was in progress.  Several victims in Norway were receiving a high level of assistance from support organizations.

Norway employed a gender-sensitive approach in assessing asylum claims in human trafficking cases.  It followed the Dublin Procedure in most cases.  The immigration authorities ensured that they fulfilled their international obligations.

Norwegian citizens had access to social assistance services if they were victims of trafficking.  There was no national system for assisting immigrants who were victims of trafficking, but specialised services had been developed to support specific groups targeted by traffickers.  The Ministry of Health was assessing whether to expand the rights of foreigners regarding health.

Child protection services provided support when children were at risk of domestic violence or female genital mutilation, and could remove children from families if required to protect the child.

Questions by a Committee Expert 

A Committee Expert said Norway had made great progress in closing the gender gap in the education and employment fields.  Gender segregation persisted in the workforce.  What tools were being provided to teachers to raise awareness about and prevent bullying?  How did the State support migrant children to integrate into the Norwegian education system? 

How did the State plan to incorporate members of minority groups into the workforce?  A large percentage of women held part-time positions.  The pay gap was smaller than many other countries, but it did endure.  There were also significant differences in retirement pensions received by men and women.  How did the State intend to level the playing field?  What was being done to combat sexual harassment within the armed forces?

Responses by the Delegation

The delegation said that there was no specific training on trafficking issues for Norwegian judges, but there were courses on increasing judges’ skills in dealing with cases involving people with foreign backgrounds. 

Kindergartens promoted gender equality and anti-discrimination.  The new national curriculum promoted equality.  Gender-neutral career advice was offered to all students in schools.  Higher education institutes had a duty to promote gender equality, mapping gender equality across subjects using a gender points system.  Proposals to implement gender quotas in higher education subjects were being considered.

The new Integration Act introduced measures to support the language and vocational education of immigrant women and other women from minority backgrounds who had not received formal education.  Refugees in primary and secondary education could be eligible for grants to support their education.

The wage gap between women and men had gradually narrowed since 2015.  However, wage differences of around eight per cent still existed, and causes for this gap needed to be investigated further.  A committee had been established to analyse measures for further reducing the gap.

The percentage of women who received the minimum pension was higher than for men, however, this percentage had dropped in recent years.  The phenomenon was due to the labour market having been more segregated in the past.  Reforms were planned to increase the minimum pension.

Schools could decide to move students to other schools if they threatened the safety of other students in their schools.  The Government provided financial support to schools to tackle bullying online and offline and strengthen anti-discrimination education.

There was a zero-tolerance policy on sexual harassment in the armed forces.  A study had found that women were disproportionately affected by sexual harassment in the armed forces.  The results of the survey were made public; 21 per cent of women in the armed forces, compared to 5 per cent of men, had experienced some form of sexual harassment.

Questions by a Committee Expert

A Committee Expert asked about measures taken to improve the mental health of Sami women.  How had the Government increased health literacy in the Sami community?  Had specialist health services been developed for the Sami community?  Was abortion free?  How many abortions were carried out this year?  Many women reportedly found the Abortion Board’s assessment process to be stressful.  Were there plans to revise this system?  Endometriosis affected about one in five Norwegian women.  Why was this rate so high, and what was being done to reduce the rate?  What was being done to tackle the high rate of suicide among the transgender community?  How did the State party plan to deal with the old age care deficit?

Responses by the Delegation

ANETTE TRETTEBERGSTUEN, Minister of Culture and Equality of Norway and head of the delegation, said that a women’s health committee would give a report to Parliament in July this year.  The committee was investigating reasons for differences between men and women’s health, and issues such as the high rate of endometriosis.  The transgender community was subject to threats and bullying.  The Government planned to release a new action plan supporting lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons.

The delegation said that Sami women had a higher prevalence of mental health issues.  Substance abuse and mental health support services were available in Sami counties, and specialised health services for Sami persons had been developed. 

The number of abortions granted in 2021 was 10,400.  The report of the commission on women’s health would be developed into a national strategy on women’s health, which would address issues such as endometriosis.  Municipalities provided health support for older women living alone.  Research into measures to support the health of transgender persons was being carried out.

Questions by Committee Experts 

A Committee Expert congratulated Norway for its leadership in supporting the Security Council resolution on education in conflict.  Many violence prevention programmes in Sami communities had failed.  What measures were in place to increase the Police’s competencies to address violence in these communities?  How could Norway’s technological infrastructure be used in this regard?  The Sami Parliament was an important forum for Sami women’s leadership, with up to 50 per cent female representation.  What other measures were in place to support Sami women’s representation in political bodies?  There was a high rate of female self-harm and suicide in prisons.  What measures were in place to address this?  Did the State intend to adopt the Bangkok Rules in all stages of the justice system?  The rights to health care for undocumented migrants had been watered down by legislation introduced in 2020.  How would the State ensure this access?  Were new artificial intelligence technologies responsible for the underrepresentation of migrants from certain regions in the labour market?  The Expert encouraged the State party to ratify the Optional Protocol, and to analyse the role that women with disabilities played in the private sector.

Another Committee Expert said women and girls were disproportionately affected by climate change.  Climate change affected women’s access to food, water and livelihoods.  The Committee was concerned by expansions of the oil and gas industry.  What measures were in place to prevent this expansion?  How did the State party ensure that the activities of businesses did not harm the rights of women, especially rural women, and that women were involved in the development of climate policies?  Did Norway intend to participate in the Loss and Damage Fund?

Responses by the Delegation

The delegation said the Constitution and the Sami Act formed the basis for the Government’s efforts to protect the language and way of life of the Sami people.  The Sami community had developed their own gender policies and policies to counter gender-based violence.  The Truth and Reconciliation Commission was looking into the former assimilation policy and its effects on the Sami people.

Questions by a Committee Expert 

CORINNE DETTMEIJER-VERMEULEN, Committee Expert and Rapporteur for Norway, said that families affected by domestic violence were often offered ineffective mediation services.  There was reportedly limited willingness to identify domestic violence cases by public officials.  Ms. Dettmeijer-Vermeulen called for more data on domestic violence cases.

A foreigner could be granted a residence permit after terminating a marriage with a Norwegian national if there was evidence of domestic violence.  However, the thresholds for proving domestic violence were reportedly high.  What measures were in place to support foreign women to prove claims of domestic violence?

Responses by the Delegation

The delegation said that the Government aimed to increase the number of women who served sentences outside of prison.  In 2022, 145 million Norwegian kroner had been invested in increasing the capacity of women’s prison facilities.  A working group had been established to assess the quality of prison services for women, and the group would release a report later this year.

Training was provided to police services on identifying domestic violence, and the scope of this training was being expanded.  Families with a background of violence were provided with regular counselling sessions.  Screening tools used to detect violence were being improved.  All joint property was divided equally between spouses in cases of divorce.  Visitation rights were not provided if they were not in the best interests of the child. 

Foreign victims of domestic violence were provided with a residence permit.  The threshold of proof of abuse was low, and applicants did not need to file a police report.  Information on victims’ rights was provided in support centres.

The former Government had considered whether to ratify the Optional Protocol in 2015 and decided not to ratify it.

Concluding Remarks 

ANETTE TRETTEBERGSTUEN, Minister of Culture and Equality of Norway and head of the delegation, thanked the Committee for the thorough review of the State party’s report.  Norway was fully committed to implementing the rights set out in the Convention.  Ms. Trettebergstuen thanked all non-governmental organizations that had submitted supplementary reports.  The delegation looked forward to receiving the concluding observations, which would contribute to further strengthening the Government’s policies promoting the rights of women and girls.

ANA PELÁEZ NARVÁEZ, Committee Chair, thanked the delegation for the dialogue, which had provided further insight into the rights of women and girls in Norway.  The Committee invited the State party to implement the Committee’s concluding observations for the benefit of all women and girls in the country.  The Committee looked forward to receiving the State party’s next periodic report.

Link: https://www.ungeneva.org/en/news-media/meeting-summary/2023/02/examen-de-la-norvege-au-cedaw-la-bonne-reputation-du-pays