Norway Criticized for Human Rights Violations in the UN Human Rights Council

 

 

April 28th this year (2014), was Norway's turn to face the UN Human Rights Council for their Universal Periodic Review, with the opportunity for 90 countries to provide comments, criticism and suggestions about the human rights situation in Norway.

Norway's representative Brende was chosen to respond for Norway. Many of the countries praised Norway for their efforts to protect human rights beyond their borders. Within the country, the situation is different. A common denominator for the criticism was inadequate protection of the individual and family, and a faltering support of minorities.

The criticism basically revealed a country with a high level of aggression, and the government's failure to address the problem and protect individuals and their rights.
Widespread occurance of domestic violence in Norway was mentioned by several countries, and violence against women and children-at home and in foster care, particularly sexual violence. France pointed out specific deficiencies in legislation and public definition of sexual assault, and suggested expansion of the definition to better the protection of survivors of sexual violence.
Criticism about the lack of state protection of survivors of domestic violence in law and practice, was by Norway defended by referring to a law from the 1980's and unfortunately not a mine was shown to take the criticism into consideration. In addition to the high occurance of violence against women, many countries noted large disparities between the sexes. Measures to ensure equal pay for equal work and work to counteract gender stereotypes, was proposed.

Several countries, as Russia, Brazil, India and Turkey, criticized Norway's policy of large number of children in foster care, and forceful removal of children  from their families.
Russia was highly critical to, and commented with authority on the fact that so many children are separated from their families by force, and often subject to abuse in foster homes and institutions. Brazil also pointed out the arbitrariness of these interventions in family life. India and Turkey in addittion emphasized strongly that the family is the most important element in a child's upbringing.

The harsh criticizm was by Norway dismissed with reference to "the best interests of the child", claiming that strict guidelines were followed to separate children from their families.

Several countries'  were concerned about the fact that a great number of children are denied contact with their families, roots, culture and language. The critique was brushed off  with claim that the best interests of children must come first. This makes one wonder why Norway's view on their practice differs so greatly from the views of many other countries, and what makes Norway  defend human rights violations as best for children.

China commented a high prevalence of drug use among young people in Norway, and requested that the issue was highlighted, and measures should be taken to reduce this.

Inadequate training in human rights in general was criticized several times.

Many countries commented on widespread occurrences of race and culture-related hate crimes and the lack of protection of victims of these crimes in Norway, especially women and children.

Focus on the high occurence of xenophobia and even racist attitudes among the population and the country's politicians, repeatedly came up during the hearing.

It emerged that a large number of children traveling alone to Norway as asylum seekers, keep disappearing from reception centers. This problem should get more attention, according to Brende, as well as the issues surrounding human trafficking, which came up repeatedly. The indigenous people, the  Sami-people, in Norway, and their rights, was mentioned as a focal point, and the situation for the Romani-people.

It was also pointed out that Norway should focus on putting an end to arbitrary detentions, and reduce the use of solitary confinement drasticly. It was suggested that minors should not be detained with adults, and that children's and adolescents' legal rights should be strengthened. Criticism for Norway not having ratified the Optional Protocol to the CRC, thus denying their children to report human rights violations to the UN, was rebuffed by Norway's representative. It is not as important to  ratify a protocol, as to act, was emphasized by Brende, with the phrase "Walk the Talk".

Now  we must wait and see  if the words were a result of an attempt to mislead the international community, or if Norway in fact plans to put into action new focus on human rights violations in the country, by assisting the victims, who we know are thousands.

A great number of them are children.