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19 October 1999
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AFTERNOON HR/CT/99/33
19 October 1999
HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE CONCLUDES REVIEW OF NORWEGIAN REPORT
ON CIVIL AND POLITICAL RIGHTS
Recommends Direct Incorporation of Treaties in Domestic Legislation
The Human Rights Committee concluded this afternoon its consideration of the fourth periodic report of Norway, recommending, among other things, that the country incorporate international treaties, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, directly into the domestic law.
In preliminary observations and recommendations, Committee Chairperson Cecilia Medina Quiroga thanked the Norwegian delegation for the depth and accuracy of their responses to the questions raised by Committee members. She congratulated Norway for its contribution and participation in strengthening international human rights laws.
The Chairperson said that the adoption of human rights acts aimed at implementing treaties into the country's legal order was to be appreciated; however, she said it was preferable that international treaties be directly incorporated in the Norwegian legal system. She also appreciated the measures taken by the Government to involve more women in the country's affairs in order to put an end to discrimination.
The Committee will issue its final, written concluding observations and recommendations on the report of Norway near the end of its three-week session, which concludes 5 November.
Earlier in the meeting, a three-member Norway delegation responded to oral questions raised by Committee members in the course of yesterday's meeting.
Norway, as one of 144 States parties to the International Covenant to Civil and Political Rights, is obliged to submit periodic reports to the Committee on the status of civil and political rights in the country.
Before adjourning its afternoon meeting, the Committee went into private session to examine communications.
When the Committee reconvenes at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, 20 October, it will deliberate in private to consider confidential communications received from individuals claiming to be victims of violations of rights proclaimed under the treaty. Only States parties that recognized the competence of the Committee under the First Optional Protocol to the Covenant are concerned by such procedures.
Discussion
In response to a number of questions put by Committee member in the course of morning meeting, the members of the Norwegian delegation said that the Government was planning to review all it reservations on certain provisions of the Covenant. Norway had made reservations to article 10, paragraph 2 (b) and paragraph 3 with regard to the obligation to keep accused juvenile persons and juvenile offenders segregated from adults; to article 14, paragraphs 5 and 7 and to article 20, paragraph 1.
Asked if victims of telephone monitoring received compensation, the delegation said following the findings of the Lund Commission on the issue, Parliament had requested the Government to prepare an act which could give a person the right to seek information about himself or herself that was kept in the records and registers of the police security service. The act was adopted last month and would enter into force in the beginning of next year. The act provided for a right to compensation for a person who had been granted the right to see his or her file, and who had suffered serious damage.
Concerning the right of adopted children to find out their true parents, the delegation said that children adopted nationally or internationally had the right to seek information and to learn about their authentic parents once they reached the age of 18. Similarly, children born of artificial insemination could also trace their parental identity once they reached 18.
Police approval was necessary for any peaceful assembly, even for spontaneous acts of public demonstration, the Norwegian officials said. Even peaceful assemblies that were organized on short notice required police notification, the delegation said.
With regard to self-determination of the Saami people, the delegation said that the Government had empowered the Saami Parliament, through the its Constitution and practical measures, to allow the people to exercise their rights. The Saami people enjoyed differential treatment because of their status as minority and indigenous.
Foreigners who resided in Norway for at least five years could vote at the municipal level, the delegation said.
Teachers whose religion was different than the State religion were obliged to follow the teaching directives of the State curriculum, which included the Lutheran religion, the delegation said. In addition, although taxes were collected in the name of the State Lutheran Church, financial assistance was provided for churches and religious organizations registered officially.
The Norwegian officials reaffirmed that, to a lesser extent, asylum-seekers could still be expelled before their cases were determined, although the principle of non-refoulement was incorporated in the country's laws.
Preliminary Observations and Recommendations
In preliminary observations and recommendations, Committee Chairperson Cecilia Medina Quiroga thanked the Norwegian delegation for the depth and accuracy of their responses to the questions raised by Committee members. She congratulated Norway for its contribution and participation in strengthening international human rights laws.
The Chairperson said that the adoption of human rights acts aimed at implementing treaties into the country's legal order was to be appreciated; however, she said it was preferable that international treaties be directly incorporated in the Norwegian legal system.
Ms. Medina Quiroga appreciated the measures taken by the Government to involve more women in the country's affairs to put an end to discrimination.
She said that the recognition of a State religion at the constitutional level might not be a good sign and could constitute discrimination against other non-State religions. It could also cause emotional and social problems for teachers seeking exemption from teaching a religion which was not theirs.
The expulsion of refugees before their final results might harm those genuine asylum-seekers, and the Government should review its procedure, Ms. Medina Quiroga said.
Finally, she said that the Government should consider its procedure of administrative detention and the possibility of judicial review.
19 October 1999
HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE CONCLUDES REVIEW OF NORWEGIAN REPORT
ON CIVIL AND POLITICAL RIGHTS
Recommends Direct Incorporation of Treaties in Domestic Legislation
The Human Rights Committee concluded this afternoon its consideration of the fourth periodic report of Norway, recommending, among other things, that the country incorporate international treaties, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, directly into the domestic law.
In preliminary observations and recommendations, Committee Chairperson Cecilia Medina Quiroga thanked the Norwegian delegation for the depth and accuracy of their responses to the questions raised by Committee members. She congratulated Norway for its contribution and participation in strengthening international human rights laws.
The Chairperson said that the adoption of human rights acts aimed at implementing treaties into the country's legal order was to be appreciated; however, she said it was preferable that international treaties be directly incorporated in the Norwegian legal system. She also appreciated the measures taken by the Government to involve more women in the country's affairs in order to put an end to discrimination.
The Committee will issue its final, written concluding observations and recommendations on the report of Norway near the end of its three-week session, which concludes 5 November.
Earlier in the meeting, a three-member Norway delegation responded to oral questions raised by Committee members in the course of yesterday's meeting.
Norway, as one of 144 States parties to the International Covenant to Civil and Political Rights, is obliged to submit periodic reports to the Committee on the status of civil and political rights in the country.
Before adjourning its afternoon meeting, the Committee went into private session to examine communications.
When the Committee reconvenes at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, 20 October, it will deliberate in private to consider confidential communications received from individuals claiming to be victims of violations of rights proclaimed under the treaty. Only States parties that recognized the competence of the Committee under the First Optional Protocol to the Covenant are concerned by such procedures.
Discussion
In response to a number of questions put by Committee member in the course of morning meeting, the members of the Norwegian delegation said that the Government was planning to review all it reservations on certain provisions of the Covenant. Norway had made reservations to article 10, paragraph 2 (b) and paragraph 3 with regard to the obligation to keep accused juvenile persons and juvenile offenders segregated from adults; to article 14, paragraphs 5 and 7 and to article 20, paragraph 1.
Asked if victims of telephone monitoring received compensation, the delegation said following the findings of the Lund Commission on the issue, Parliament had requested the Government to prepare an act which could give a person the right to seek information about himself or herself that was kept in the records and registers of the police security service. The act was adopted last month and would enter into force in the beginning of next year. The act provided for a right to compensation for a person who had been granted the right to see his or her file, and who had suffered serious damage.
Concerning the right of adopted children to find out their true parents, the delegation said that children adopted nationally or internationally had the right to seek information and to learn about their authentic parents once they reached the age of 18. Similarly, children born of artificial insemination could also trace their parental identity once they reached 18.
Police approval was necessary for any peaceful assembly, even for spontaneous acts of public demonstration, the Norwegian officials said. Even peaceful assemblies that were organized on short notice required police notification, the delegation said.
With regard to self-determination of the Saami people, the delegation said that the Government had empowered the Saami Parliament, through the its Constitution and practical measures, to allow the people to exercise their rights. The Saami people enjoyed differential treatment because of their status as minority and indigenous.
Foreigners who resided in Norway for at least five years could vote at the municipal level, the delegation said.
Teachers whose religion was different than the State religion were obliged to follow the teaching directives of the State curriculum, which included the Lutheran religion, the delegation said. In addition, although taxes were collected in the name of the State Lutheran Church, financial assistance was provided for churches and religious organizations registered officially.
The Norwegian officials reaffirmed that, to a lesser extent, asylum-seekers could still be expelled before their cases were determined, although the principle of non-refoulement was incorporated in the country's laws.
Preliminary Observations and Recommendations
In preliminary observations and recommendations, Committee Chairperson Cecilia Medina Quiroga thanked the Norwegian delegation for the depth and accuracy of their responses to the questions raised by Committee members. She congratulated Norway for its contribution and participation in strengthening international human rights laws.
The Chairperson said that the adoption of human rights acts aimed at implementing treaties into the country's legal order was to be appreciated; however, she said it was preferable that international treaties be directly incorporated in the Norwegian legal system.
Ms. Medina Quiroga appreciated the measures taken by the Government to involve more women in the country's affairs to put an end to discrimination.
She said that the recognition of a State religion at the constitutional level might not be a good sign and could constitute discrimination against other non-State religions. It could also cause emotional and social problems for teachers seeking exemption from teaching a religion which was not theirs.
The expulsion of refugees before their final results might harm those genuine asylum-seekers, and the Government should review its procedure, Ms. Medina Quiroga said.
Finally, she said that the Government should consider its procedure of administrative detention and the possibility of judicial review.