Norway's commitment to prevent, detect and take actions against gender based violence
Commitment description:In addition to Norway's main pledge (1), The Norwegian Government and its health-service providers have a legal responsibility to prevent, detect and intervene in cases of violence and abuse.
Midwives and physicians attending to pregnant patients are encouraged to be aware of symptoms indicating that their patients may be exposed to violence, and provide necessary support or action. Questions about violence or abuse are among the recommended questions on the maternity consultations' check list.
Regional health authorities have a responsibility to offer specialist health services to adults and children who are victims of sexual assault.
Harmful practices
Norway has an action plan on eliminating female genital mutilation, forced marriage and negative social control. In addition, prevention of negative social control and harmful practices has been made one of four main pillars in the Government’s new integration strategy “Through Knowledge 2019 – 2022”.
One of the actions to prevent negative social control and harmful practices in Norway is to appoint minority councilors in upper secondary schools.
In 2019, NOK 18 million was earmarked to increase the number of minority councilors in upper secondary schools. The councilors provide expertise and counselling for students to help prevent harmful practices and forced marriages. In 2020, an additional NOK 15 million has been earmarked for this purpose. Services are also provided for survivors.
Address gender-based violence and the harmful practices of child, early and forced marriages and female genital mutilation(5) (a) Zero sexual and gender-based violence and harmful practices, including zero child, early and forced marriage, as well as zero female genital mutilation; and (b) Elimination of all forms of discrimination against all women and girls, in order to realize all individuals’ full socio-economic potential.
