The Parliamentary Ombudsperson expressed concerns over conditions and treatment experienced by vulnerable people in prison. Women’s reporting of rape increased. A new law extended legal abortion limits. UN experts expressed concern at high levels of hostility and discrimination against people of African descent. The government failed to stop the exploration of new oil and gas fields.

Cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment

Reports released by the Parliamentary Ombudsperson in May and June expressed concerns based on visits to the Halden and Bodø prisons in 2023. The reports noted the use of reinforced “security cells” as a coercive measure, including for people at risk of suicide.

On 15 October, the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) ruled that Norway had violated the right to life and the right to an effective remedy after a man took his own life in prison in 2020. The ECtHR found that, despite having been aware of his mental health issues, the authorities had failed to provide adequate follow-up care after the man was transferred from hospital to Oslo prison.

On 18 October, the Equality and Anti-Discrimination Ombudsperson filed a complaint to the Directorate of Correctional Services on behalf of women in prisons. He noted that, while only 6% of people in prison were women, they accounted for 80% of self-harm cases and 75% of suicide attempts.

Sexual and reproductive rights

In December, parliament adopted a new law extending the legal limit for abortion on request to 18 weeks’ gestation.

Discrimination

In March, UN experts urged the government to take steps to ensure the human rights of people of African descent, who continued to face racial profiling, advocacy of hatred and discrimination in employment.

Right to a healthy environment

The government continued to express support for phasing out fossil fuels but had yet to stop the exploration of new oil and gas fields. In January, the Oslo District Court ruled that development permits issued for three new oil fields without an assessment of their climate impact were invalid. The government appealed the ruling and the Court of Appeals split the case, requesting an advisory opinion from the EFTA court on the understanding of the EIA Directive. The opinion was pending at the end of the year. In October, the environmental organizations lost the part of the case regarding an interim injunction to cease the oil field developments. They appealed against this to the Supreme Court.

Indigenous Peoples’ rights

In March, agreements were reached between Indigenous Sami reindeer herders and wind power companies on the Fosen peninsula. The agreements followed a 2021 Supreme Court verdict declaring invalid any licences for wind farms built on winter grazing lands.

Corporate accountability

In August, the Norwegian sovereign wealth fund stated that it was re-evaluating its investments in companies involved in Israel’s occupation of the Palestinian territory. The announcement followed the advisory opinion issued by the International Court of Justice in July on the unlawfulness of the Israeli occupation. In October, the government stated that businesses should avoid activities that “may be associated with serious violations of human rights and international humanitarian law”.