Common core document forming part of the reports of States parties : International Human Rights Instruments : Norway

Table of Contents

• Common core document forming part of the reports of States parties 1
• Norway* 1
• Abbreviations 3
• I. General information about the reporting State 4
• A. Demographic, economic, social and cultural characteristics of the State 4
• (a) Demographic characteristics 4
• Members of religious and life stance communities outside the Church of Norway, by religion/life stance per 1 January 20231 6
• (b) Economy 6
• Household income 7
• Consumer price index 9
• (c) Social expenditures 9
• The National Insurance Scheme 10
• The Government Pension Fund 10
• (d) Health 10
• All ages 12
• (e) Education and training 14
• Highest completed education in the population aged 16 years and older 15
• Kindergarten 15
• Percentage of children attending kindergarten by different age groups 15
• Primary and secondary education and training 16
• Pupils, apprentices, and trainees in upper secondary education as a percentage of registered cohorts aged 16–18 16
• Higher education 16
• Students in higher education in Norway and abroad 17
• New entrants to higher education and awarded qualification after 8 years. Numbers and per cent, interval 17
• Teacher-to-pupil ratio in publicly funded schools 18
• Literacy rates 18
• (f) Employment 18
• Employment rate (as a percentage of the population) and unemployment rate (as a percentage of the labour force) by age group. 2021–2023 18
• Numbers of persons employed by major industry and age group. Residents. Percentage of women and men in each industry. Q4 2023 19
• Percentage of employed immigrants as a share of the population, by background. 20–66 years. 2021–2023. Q4. 20
• Registered unemployed persons as a percentage of the labour force. Non-immigrants and immigrant population. 15–74 years. Per Q4 2017–2020. 21
• Percentage of employed and unemployed persons with disabilities in the age group 15–66 years. Q2 2017–2020. 21
• (g) Proportion of international assistance provided in relation to GNI 21
• B. Constitutional, political and legal structure of the State 21
• (a) Form of government 21
• (b) Democracy, political parties and the electoral system 21
• Distribution of seats in the Storting by political party/organisation 22
• Number of recognised national political parties 23
• Number of eligible voters 23
• Percentages of female members of the Storting 23
• (c) The Norwegian Government 24
• (d) Counties and municipalities 24
• (e) Legal structure 24
• (f) Indigenous peoples 25
• (g) National minorities 26
• (h) Recognition of non-governmental organisations 27
• (i) Crime and administration of justice 27
• II. General framework for the protection and promotion of human rights 28
• A. Acceptance of international human rights norms 28
• (a) Main international human rights conventions and protocols 28
• (b) Other United Nations human rights and related conventions 34
• (c) Conventions of the International Labour Organization (a selection) 34
• (d) Conventions of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization 35
• (e) Conventions of the Hague Conference on Private International Law 36
• (f) Geneva Conventions and other treaties on international humanitarian law 36
• (g) Conventions of the Council of Europe (a selection) 36
• B. Legal framework for the protection of human rights at the national level 37
• (a) Legislation 37
• The Constitution of Norway 37
• The Human Rights Act 38
• Other legislation 38
• (b) Competencies of judicial, administrative and other public authorities in relation to human rights 39
• (c) Remedies 39
• The European Court of Human Rights and other regional complaints mechanisms 39
• C. Framework within which human rights are promoted at the national level 39
• (a) Introduction 39
• (b) National and regional parliaments and assemblies 40
• The Storting (Norwegian Parliament) 40
• County and municipal authorities 40
• (c) National human rights institutions 41
• The Norwegian National Human Rights Institution 41
• The Parliamentary Ombud for Scrutiny of the Public Administration 41
• The Ombud for Children 41
• Other Ombud institutions 42
• (d) Dissemination of human rights instruments 42
• (e) Raising human rights awareness among public officials and other professionals 43
• (f) Promotion of human rights awareness through educational programmes and Government-sponsored public information 43
• Kindergartens 43
• Primary and secondary education 43
• The European Wergeland Centre 44
• The Sami and the Jewish Pathfinders 44
• (g) Promotion of human rights awareness through the media 45
• (h) Role of civil society, including non-governmental organisations 45
• (i) Budget allocations and trends 45
• (j) Development cooperation and assistance 45
• D. Reporting process at the national level 46
• (a) The Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (UNCAT) 46
• (b) The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) 46
• (c) The Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) 46
• (d) The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) 47
• (e) The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD) 47
• (f) The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) 47
• (g) The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) 47
• (h) The International Convention for the Protection of all Persons from Enforced Disappearances (ICPPED) 47
• III. Information on non-discrimination and equality and effective remedies 47
• A. Legal framework 47
• (a) The Constitution 47
• (b) Incorporation 48
• (c) The Equality and Anti-Discrimination Act 48
• (d) The Working Environment Act 49
• (e) Housing legislation 49
• (f) The Penal Code 49
• B. Institutional framework and effective remedies 49
• (a) The Equality and Anti-Discrimination Ombud 49
• (b) The Equality and Anti-Discrimination Tribunal 49
• (c) Organisation within the central public administration 50
• C. Gender equality and specific vulnerable groups 50
• (a) Efforts against hate speech 50
• (b) Gender equality 50
• (c) Equal rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) persons 51
• (d) Equal rights for persons with disabilities 52
• (e) Equal rights for ethnic and religious minorities 52
• (f) Immigrants, including asylum seekers and refugees 53
• D. General measures adopted to reduce economic, social and geographic disparities 55
• (a) Education and training 55
• (b) Employment 56
• (c) The Norwegian National Insurance Scheme 56
• (d) Social Services and housing 56
• (e) Other measures to promote social inclusion and poverty reduction 56
• (f) Measures to reduce geographic disparities 57
• Annex 58
• Useful Websites 58
• Legislation* 58