An Indian-Norwegian heroine

Printed in Dagbladet

Dear Sarita Skagnes,

Thank you for your book, which I read with great interest. Your story fills me with sadness, anger and sorrow. But most of all you make me proud to be an immigrant and a woman, and you inspire and challenge me through your book and your commitment. I wish to stand together with you in the struggle against violence and oppression.

Sarita’s story makes very clear the social change that Norway has undergone in recent decades. We have become more private in our concerns. The concept of fellowship has grown narrower, while political correctness to some degree has prevented us from acting. Caring – whether for the neighbour kids or for the neighbourhood itself – can have a scary dimension.

Another, far more visible, change in Norwegian society has been the increase in immigration. Today there are about 415,000 immigrants in Norway, myself included. More than half of them (230,000) come originally from non-western countries. On balance, immigration has had a positive effect on this country. Norway has become a more exciting place to live, and economic value creation is on the rise.

The brave Sarita Skagnes personifies the darker sides of family life. She looks evil in the eye and neither tolerates violence nor turns away from it. We may have no problem with garlic fumes in the stairwell, but if a neighbour abuses his spouse or children, we must report it to the police and the child welfare service!

Let me make this crystal clear: nothing can excuse violence and oppression against children and women – not religion, not "culture", not ethnic background, not gender. Violence is prohibited and must be treated with the utmost seriousness by law enforcement and child welfare authorities. The mechanisms of oppression can be explained, but they must never be defended.

Many people live in families in which violence occurs frequently. Denying a woman the ability to learn Norwegian and take part in the life of the community strengthens a man's power and influence over family and financial matters. Employment provides economic independence and is a key to freedom for women in violent relationships. By participating in the workforce, women gain equality!

The government takes domestic violence seriously, and right now we are preparing a new action plan for the period 2008-2011. This plan will include measures to expand collaboration and expertise in the public service apparatus and to prevent violence within families and other close relationships. Other measures will provide assistance and protection to the victims of such abuse.

Efforts to combat violence among relatives must also focus on the perpetrator. Punishment alone is not the way to go. The government is working to expand the geographical reach of assistance and treatment services for perpetrators of violence, so that such services will become available nationwide. Some immigrants come from societies where violence is used to exert control within families. Some immigrants bring this behaviour pattern with them to Norway, where all violence (fortunately) is forbidden; a method of family control previously considered acceptable is thus taken away. That's why those who commit violence must be included in treatment programmes. The government seeks to make such assistance and treatment plans available nationwide.

In its Soria Moria declaration the governing parties put a high priority on efforts to protect children from violence and abuse. Our goal is for children to receive high-quality care and not be subjected to violence or other unacceptable conduct. These principles are engraved in provisions of the Children's Act. Norway has also signed the United Nations' Convention on the Rights of the Child, whose Article 19 obligates us to protect children against "all forms of physical or mental violence, injury or abuse, neglect or negligent treatment, maltreatment or exploitation".

For several years the government has put violence and abuse high on its agenda, and many programmes and measures have been implemented. This has been done in the knowledge that violence against children represents one of the greatest health risks in society. Children must receive high-quality care. They must feel safe at home and in their nearby surroundings. Far too many children – regardless of ethnic background – are exposed to violence and abuse. The government has therefore chosen to put in place measures designed to help all children who are subjected to violence and abuse, while acknowledging that special challenges apply to working with minority families.

For the time being we lack solid figures confirming that children with immigrant backgrounds are more exposed to violence and abuse than children of ethnic Norwegian background. But disturbing stories like Skagnes’ give cause for worry. The government has therefore arranged for a survey to chart the extent, causal factors and consequences of sexual and physical abuse as well as the effect on children who witness such abuse in the home. The survey project is being conducted by the NOVA social research institute, whose report is to be released at the end of November. The knowledge gleaned will be important when designing additional preventative measures and specific assistance and support mechanisms.

We know that working with minority families can present special challenges. Our child welfare system must therefore be culturally sensitive. We need to increase the number of professionals with the necessary competence. The ministry is in the process of strengthening multi-cultural expertise and culturally sensitive practices within the child welfare services. We are developing a practical training program to enhance the expertise available in both the local and national child welfare services. The aim is to offer training to municipalities, starting with the 2008-2009 school year. It is also important that municipalities themselves put a premium on child welfare work and ensure that the services provided are highly professional.

We must also get more people to report violence against children. To gain such cooperation, we must make the population in general more aware of the consequences of violence against children. We must also enhance public support agencies so that they are better at exposing violence, putting an end to it and following up the children involved. Schools and kindergartens are important arenas for discovering and reporting violence. All of us must dare to take this responsibility upon ourselves. It is a matter of common decency and concern for our fellow citizens. Yes, it’s awkward to report abuse, violence and intimidation in the private sphere, but we cannot afford to look away.

Let us therefore commit ourselves at the local level to all children and young people, including those with minority backgrounds. It costs nothing to show respect, generosity and loving care in our own neighbourhoods, and that may be all it takes to overcome violence and intimidation in every social community, whether Pakistani, Tamil, Indian or ethnic Norwegian.