ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL RIGHTS COMMITTEE EXAMINES REPORT ON NORWAY
Press Release
HR/4243
ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL RIGHTS COMMITTEE EXAMINES REPORT ON NORWAY
19951124 GENEVA, 23 November (UN Information Service) -- The Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights this morning continued its examination of the third periodic report of Norway, focusing on questions of abandoned children, domestic violence, prostitution, adequate standards of living, gender equality in education and the rights of children born out of wedlock.In a dialogue with the Committee, the delegation of Norway stated that the number of female students in universities and colleges, stood at 53.8 per cent while the percentage of female students in secondary schools was lower to that of boys.
Regarding abandoned children, the delegation termed this a marginal problem in Norway. However, the child welfare authorities were responsible for the well-being of all children whose parents were not able or willing to afford them adequate care. There were no particular groups of children who did not enjoy the same rights as others, nor were there groups who did not have access to measures of protection and assistance.
As to the rights of children born out of wedlock, Norwegian law did not discriminate against them. Adoption of the Children's Act in 1981 ensured equal conditions for all children, regardless of their parents' legal relationship. In 1989, an additional provision to the Act was introduced providing children and parents with rights of access to assistance and protection even if the parents had not lived together since the child was born.
In response to questions regarding domestic violence and child abuse, the delegation assured Committee experts that any violence, including sexual violence and abuse was punishable by law, no matter who the victim was. Parents were legally prohibited from using violence against their children or abusing them physically or mentally. Other measures specifically designed to help victims of domestic violence and abuse included the establishment of crisis centres, crisis telephone lines and centres to support incest victims.
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The crisis centres provided provisional refuge for victims of domestic violence. Furthermore, coercive measures, including withdrawal of parental authority, might be applied if a child was subjected to parental abuse.
On prostitution, the delegation stated that it was not illegal in Norway and that there were no official statistics on the number of persons involved in that field. According to a rather uncertain estimate, there were 2,000 prostitutes in Oslo alone. The number of foreign nationals among them seemed small. The picture might, however, be different if less obvious prostitution was taken into account, including illegal immigrants who were brought to the country specifically for that purpose.
Committee members also expressed concern over the amount of alcohol abuse among minors. In reply, the delegation said alcohol consumption by minors between ages 15 and 20 had declined since the mid-1980s. Extensive measures had been taken to protect the youth from both drug and alcohol abuse.
With regard to adequate living standards, the delegation affirmed that local authorities were responsible for providing a means-tested safety net for persons who could not provide for themselves through work or exercising economic claims. Everyone, including pensioners, persons with disabilities and the unemployed, was ensured sufficient resources to cover their basic needs.
The creation of a 39-member Sami Parliament was one of Norway's efforts to promote and protect the rights of its indigenous minorities, said the delegation. The Sami people could exercise their own language in schools, municipalities and other official places. They could take their own decisions in matters of culture, education and other measures promoting their well-being. However, the Sami people were not looked upon as a separate entity within the Norwegian society.
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