Norway’s report on human rights to the UN

Under the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) mechanism, the human rights record of all UN member states is reviewed by the Human Rights Council once every five years. The review assesses the actions countries have taken to follow up their human rights obligations. Norway will be reviewed for the third time on 6 May this year, and the report is being presented in connection with this.

As part of the UPR, UN member states make recommendations to other countries regarding what should be done to improve the human rights situation. All countries receive recommendations and all countries can make recommendations. The reviewed countries can choose which recommendations to accept.

‘Since its last review, Norway has, among other things, implemented various measures to combat domestic violence and sexual abuse. We have also strengthened national complaints procedures for children. But, although Norway has made a lot of progress, certain challenges still remain. Improving healthcare services for prisoners with serious mental health problems is one such challenge,’ Ms Eriksen Søreide said.

The report that is being presented today gives an account of the steps Norway has taken to follow up the recommendations it accepted in the previous review in April 2014 and describes the general human rights situation in Norway.

‘The implementation of human rights obligations is a continuous process in all countries. The Universal Periodic Review provides a good basis for constructive dialogue on human rights between countries and with civil society. Norway makes active use of the UPR process to raise human rights issues in other countries. I would like to thank everyone who has contributed to the preparation of Norway’s third report,’ Ms Eriksen Søreide said.

• You can read the whole report here. 
• Annex to the report.
• More information about the UPR is available on the webpages of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).