COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL RIGHTS CONSIDERS REPORT OF NORWAY
Press Release
HR/4241
COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL RIGHTS CONSIDERS REPORT OF NORWAY
19951124 GENEVA, 22 November (UN Information Service) -- Norwegian society is based on equality between women and men and discrimination in terms of employment and wage treatment does not exist, the Norwegian delegation told the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights this morning as it took up the third periodic report of that country. The Committee further examined the numerous measures undertaken by Norway in implementing the provisions of the Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.Also this morning, the Committee focused, among others, on questions of intolerance against asylum seekers and migrant workers, trade unions, the right to strike, unemployment and social security.
Petter Wille, Counsellor at the Permanent Mission of Norway in Geneva, led the delegation. He was accompanied by Oyvind Vidnes, Counsellor at the Permanent Mission; Jan Edoy, Advisor at the Ministry of Local Government and Labour; and Guro Camerer, Executive Officer, Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Introduction of Report
Mr. Wille (Norway), introducing the third periodic report, stated that consideration of reports by the supervisory committees of human rights conventions was a vital component of an international system for monitoring implementation of States' obligations. Those were indeed matters of legitimate interest to the international community, as proclaimed in the concluding document of the World Conference on Human Rights (Vienna, 1993).
Moreover, economic, social and cultural rights were part and parcel of international human rights law, not only at the global, but also at the regional level. At the European level, such rights were contained in the European Social Charter, to which Norway had been a party since 1965, he said.
Discussion of Report
Responding to additional questions and to the list of issues to be taken up in connection with the consideration of the report regarding the general framework within which the provisions of the Covenant were implemented, the Norwegian delegation assured the Committee that whenever a legislative amendment was being considered, its conformity with Norway's international commitments was verified.
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With regard to measures taken by the Government to prevent the increasing trend towards intolerance of foreigners, particularly asylum seekers and migrant workers, the delegation said the Ministry of Local Government and Labour, which was the coordinator of governmental anti-racism policies, had adopted a plan of action against racism and ethnic discrimination in 1992. The Norwegian legislation did not differentiate between nationals and non-nationals except in a few areas where nationals were accorded priority. However, the unemployment rate among foreigners resident in Norway was higher than for nationals. Similarly, living standards of foreigners were generally lower than those of Norwegian citizens. There was no difference between nationals and naturalized foreigners.
As to a question regarding equality between men and women, the delegation said that the Equal Status Act prohibited all discrimination. As a result, it had ensured equality of treatment between the sexes and influenced general attitudes regarding sex roles. The Act was particularly aimed at improving the status of women. Public authorities had the responsibility to promote gender equality in all sectors of the society. In principle, Norwegian women had the same opportunities for promotion and gaining higher positions as men. The Act prohibited gender discrimination in all aspects of working life, including promotion or access to higher positions. In practice, however, women were underrepresented in higher positions in both the private and public sectors, although the percentage of women in managerial positions had increased in recent years.
The authorities did not interfere with the right of a person to join any organizations, the delegation said. There were no provisions concerning the establishment of trade unions of particular categories of workers. About 60 per cent of the Norwegian workforce belonged to trade unions. Around 35 to 40 per cent of the workers in the private sector were union members, as were about 90 per cent of the workers in the public sector. In total, some 1,387,000 workers belonged to various trade unions.
The question of the right to strike was also raised by members. The delegation responded that that right was not specifically laid down in Norwegian legislation. However, in theory as well as in practice it was considered part of the legal system. Thus, unions had the right to strike unless it was explicitly prohibited, as in the case of the police, the armed forces and senior civil servants.
Regarding social security, the delegation stated that every person residing or working in Norway was insured under the National Insurance Scheme. Accommodation and treatment, including medication, in hospitals was free of charge for all insured persons. The retirement age under the Scheme was 67 years for everyone. There were no provisions for early retirement under this scheme.
The questions of alcoholic consumptions and drug abuse were raised by members of the Committee to whom the delegation would respond during its dialogue scheduled for tomorrow morning.
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