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Offices and agencies associated with the Ministry of Children and Equality

Responsibilities

The Ministry of Children and Families has the overall responsibility for family matters, children and upbringing, religious and life stance affairs and consumer affairs.

Administrative leadership

The Secretary General is the administrative head of the ministry. The information secretariat and the office-reception staff for the secretary and political leaders are part of the permanent secretary’s staff.

Contact

The Norwegian Directorate for Children, Youth and Family Affairs Tel: +47 466 15 000 E-mail: barnebortforing@bufdir.no Office address: Fredrik Selmers vei 3, Oslo Postal address: PO Box 2233, 3102 Tønsberg, Norway Ministry of Foreign Affairs Phone +

Other political staff

Marketing

The Marketing Control Act lays down the framework for business marketing to consumers and other business operators. The purpose of the Act is to prevent unscrupulous marketing.

Available positions in the Ministry of Children and Families

Ministry of Children and Families

The Ministry has the overall responsibility for children welfare services, family affairs, childhood development, religious and life stance affairs and consumer affairs.

Parental responsibility and travelling abroad with children

You will find information here about the Norwegian regulations relating to parental responsibility and the right to travel abroad with children.

Forms

For applications in accordance with the Hague Convention of 1980, please use the following forms: Forms in English: Application for repatriation/access (PDF) Application for repatriation/access (Word) Forms in Norwegian: Søknad om tilbakelevering/

Abduction from the Child Welfare Services

When the Child Welfare Services have taken over care of a child, it will be considered wrongful child abduction to travel to another country with the child without the consent of the Child Welfare Services.

Settlement of refugees

Settlement with public assistance is a voluntary service offered by the Norwegian government. The Norwegian Directorate of Integration and Diversity (IMDi) and municipalitices decides where refugees are setteled.

Division of responsibility in the Child Welfare Services

Both the local and central authorities have duties and responsibilities in the child welfare field. The municipality is responsible for performing those functions under the Child Welfare Services Act which are not assigned to a central government

Legal assistance

The Ministry of Justice and Public Security and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs provide guidance in child abduction cases. There is often also a need for legal assistance from a lawyer/legal practitioner.

Parental responsibility and travelling abroad with children

Child welfare service assistance measures for young persons between 18 and 25 years of age

The objective of providing assistance measures for the 18-25 age group is to give these young persons the necessary help and support during the transition to an independent adult life.

The Ombudsperson for Children in Norway

The Ombudsperson for Children in Norway is charged with promoting the interests of children in both the public and private spheres, and with paying close attention to changes in the conditions of childhood development.

Web page: http://barneombudet.no/english/

The best interests of the child

Children’s right to be heard and to make their own decisions is regulated in sections 31–33 of the Children Act. There may also be special provisions in other Acts concerning children’s right to be heard and to make their own decisions. Before

The child's place of residence and contact arrangements

Parents are free to agree on arrangements regarding parental responsibility, the child's place of residence, and access and contact arrangements. In the event of a separation, married and cohabiting parents with children under the age of 16 are

Department of Childhood, Youth and Family Affairs

The Department of Childhood, Youth and Family Affairs is responsible for the design and coordination of overall child and youth policy as well as government family policy.

Director General Elin Holmedal