Country detail - yourHRC.org

Norway

Regional group:

Western European & Others Group

Council member:

2006-2007

2007-2008

2008-2009

2009-2010

2010-2011

2011-2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024

Council Bureau membership:	Vice-president (2010-2011)
Coordinator of regional group:	1 (2009-2010, 2015)
Voluntary financial contribution to OHCHR (2023) :

Other HRC positions:	Member of Consultative Group (2011-2012, 2017-2018)
OHCHR presence:	– No field presence
NHRI accreditation status:	A

National Mechanisms for Implementation, Reporting, and Follow-up (NMIRF): Unknown

Engagement with the HRC

Principal sponsorship of HRC resolutions

Mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders; Assistance to Somalia in the field of human rights; Business and human rights; Mandate of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on the issue of human rights and transnational corporations and other business enterprises; Contribution of the Human Rights Council to the special session of the General Assembly on the world drug problem of 2016; Enhancement of technical cooperation and capacity-building in the field of human rights; Establishment of a special fund for the participation of civil society in the Social Forum, the Forum on Minority Issues and the Forum on Business and Human Rights; Human rights, democracy and the rule of law; Protecting human rights defenders; Promoting the Voluntary Technical Assistance Trust Fund to Support the Participation of Least Developed Countries and Small Island Developing States in the work of the Human Rights Council; The right of the child to engage in play and recreational activities; The right to privacy in the digital age; High-level panel discussion on the occasion of the tenth anniversary of the Voluntary Technical Assistance Trust Fund to Support the Participation of Least Developed Countries and Small Island Developing States in the Work of the Human Rights Council; Situation of human rights in South Sudan; Recognizing the contribution of environmental human rights defenders to the enjoyment of human rights, environmental protection and sustainable development.

Voting record

Since it first became a member of the Council in 2009, Norway has either voted in favour of or has joined consensus on every resolution tabled under item 4 (situations that require the Council’s attention), and country-specific resolutions under item 2. For item 7 resolutions (human rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territories), Norway has either voted in favour or abstained on all resolutions (almost equally), with one exception: a March 2010 resolution on ‘Grave violations by Israel in the OPT, including East Jerusalem.’ For thematic resolutions dealing with civil and political rights, where a vote has been called, Norway has tended to vote in favour (e.g. South Africa’s 2011 text on sexual orientation, Egypt’s resolution on multiculturalism). It has voted against two resolutions on the ‘right to peace’ and one on ‘defamation of religions.’ For thematic resolutions dealing with economic, social and cultural rights, Norway has joined consensus on a majority of texts. Where there have been votes on such texts, Norway has usually voted in favour of resolutions on the ‘right to development.’ It has voted against resolutions on: international solidarity (Cuba), and unilateral coercive measures (NAM). Norway has abstained on a number of resolutions, including those dealing with: the non-repatriation of funds of illicit origin, and foreign debt.

HRC participation

During HRC general discussions, panel debates and interactive dialogues with the Special Procedures, during the past three years, either as an HRC member or not, the State has joined:

Regional
group statements

Average of statements for all countries: 78

228

Subregional
group statements

Average of statements for all countries: 50

Political group
statements

Average of statements for all countries: 109

138

Cross-regional
group statements

Average of statements for all countries: 96

Other joint
statements

Average of statements for all countries: 5

HRC member empty chair?

Overall, as a HRC member, has participated in more than 10% of panel discussions, general debates and interactive dialogues.

Cooperation with international human rights system

Special Procedures

Standing invitation

Communications responded to / received

Visits requests status

Completed
Invitation sent by the State not (yet) accepted by the SP
Accepted / date set
Visit request by the SP and not (yet) accepted by the State
Postponed / cancelled

Longest visit request not (yet) accepted by the State >
SR on development, 2017

Treaty Bodies

Ratified

Reporting Status

Ratification status
Party Not Party
Individual complaint procedure accepted.
Reporting status

Submitted on time
Submitted late
Not applicable

On schedule
Overdue (outstanding)

CAT

ICCPR

CED

CEDAW

CERD

ICESCR

CRC

CRPD

Most overdue report

CAT
1.5 Years

OP-CAT

Ratified

NPM established

Universal Periodic Review

Reported

(2009, 2014, 2019)

Mid-term report

1st cycle

Level of delegation

Minister

Participation in other reviews
1^st cycle: 127 / 192

2^nd cycle: 137 / 192

Cooperation with the UN, its representatives and mechanisms in the field of human rights

Cited in the Secretary General’s reports on 'alleged reprisals for cooperation with the United Nations, its representatives and mechanisms in the field of human rights' (2010-2023)?

Fulfilment of past voluntary pledges & commitments

Specific voluntary pledges: 5

Norway tabled voluntary pledges and commitments in support for its candidacy for membership for the period 2009-2012 on 19 March 2009.

The document outlines Norway’s support for the UN and multilateralism. Norway is one of the three largest contributors to the UNDP, UNICEF, UNIFEM, UNFPA and UNEP, and is the second largest voluntary donor to OHCHR. The document further describes Norway’s commitment to providing development cooperation and humanitarian assistance. The voluntary pledges and commitments also note that Norway is Party to 6 core human rights conventions, and has passed legislation implementing them in Norwegian law; cooperates fully with Treaty Bodies; and has issued a Standing Invitation to all Special Procedures. In terms of thematic priorities, Norway highlights child rights, women’s rights, gender equality and indigenous rights. It also emphasises its commitment to poverty eradication, the MDGs and UN peace building.

In terms of concrete pledges, Norway committed to work in a spirit of engagement, cooperation and dialogue to strengthen the work of the Council; to promote and cooperate with the UPR mechanism; and to ratify CRPD, CPED and OP-CAT (all already signed) as soon as the necessary national legislation has been adopted.

An analysis of steps taken by Norway in fulfilment of its international pledges shows that it has actively participated in and contributed to the work of the Council. For example, it has participated in 64% of panel debates, and 60% of interactive dialogues and general debates. Norway maintains a Standing Invitation, has facilitated 4 out of 8 Special Procedures visit request and responded to all communications (2). Norway did indeed move to ratify the CRPD and the OP-CAT (in 2013) but has yet to ratify the CPED. Norway is Party to nearly all the core conventions, and has a strong record of reporting on time. Regarding the UPR, Norway was represented at ministerial level, submitted a mid-term report on implementation, and contributed to the reviews of 127 other states (first cycle).

Norway

Western European & Others Group

Engagement with the HRC

Principal sponsorship of HRC resolutions

Voting record

HRC participation

HRC member empty chair?

Cooperation with international human rights system

Special Procedures

Standing invitation

Communications responded to / received

Visits requests status

Treaty Bodies

Ratified

Reporting Status

Universal Periodic Review

Participation in other reviews 1st cycle: 127 / 192

2nd cycle: 137 / 192

Cooperation with the UN, its representatives and mechanisms in the field of human rights

Fulfilment of past voluntary pledges & commitments

Specific voluntary pledges: 5

Participation in other reviews
1^st cycle: 127 / 192

2^nd cycle: 137 / 192