U.S. Department of State 2007 Trafficking in Persons Report - Norway

Norway (Tier 1)

Norway is a destination country for women from Nigeria, Russia, Albania, Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia trafficked for the purpose of commercial sexual exploitation. Women from these countries are sometimes trafficked through Italy, Sweden, and Denmark to Norway.

The Government of Norway fully complies with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking. Norway provided more than $650,000 to UNODC's anti-trafficking programs around the world in 2006. The government also adopted a new anti-trafficking national action plan in December 2006. Norway should continue to focus efforts on increasing the number of trafficking prosecutions and convictions conducted under its trafficking law, and seeking longer sentences for convicted traffickers. Norway should also take steps to reduce the domestic demand for commercial sexual exploitation.

Prosecutions

The Norwegian government showed sustained law enforcement efforts in addressing trafficking crimes over the last year. Norway prohibits all forms of trafficking in persons through its Crimes Against Personal Freedom Law of 2004. The maximum penalty prescribed for trafficking under this law is five years' imprisonment, which is sufficiently stringent and commensurate with punishments for sexual assault or rape. Norway conducted 29 investigations during the reporting period and prosecuted two cases in 2006, compared to eight cases prosecuted in 2005. Five traffickers were convicted in 2006. Four traffickers were convicted under a pimping statute; two of them were sentenced to six months' imprisonment, and the other two sentenced to four months' imprisonment. One trafficker was convicted under the 2004 trafficking statute and was sentenced to 2.5 years' imprisonment. No traffickers received suspended sentences in 2006. The police worked closely with counterparts in Albania, Spain, and Romania during several transnational investigations. The Norwegian police continued giving a two-day training seminar for police officers working on trafficking issues. The police also offered separate two-day awareness training seminars for immigration officials.

Protection

The government continued its strong efforts to provide assistance and protection to victims of trafficking. The government established the "Oslo Pilot" that connects the police, NGOs, healthcare providers, and other ministries and developed a set of indicators to assist in identifying victims. The government funds an NGO that provides a 24-hour hotline for victims of trafficking. Victims are permitted to stay in Norway during a six-month reflection period in order to receive assistance and counseling. In 2006, the government expanded the free legal aid system and now permits victims of trafficking to have up to five hours of legal aid; such legal aid is helpful for victims when determining whether or not to make an official report with authorities. This is expected to increase the number of trafficking investigations. The government encourages victims to participate in trafficking investigations and prosecutions and does not penalize victims for acts committed as a direct result of being trafficked.

Prevention

Norway continued its trafficking prevention efforts both domestically and abroad. In 2006, Norway funded anti-trafficking programs in the Balkan states, Russia, South Africa, and Vietnam. Authorities monitor immigration patterns for trafficking and coordinate with police when trafficking is suspected. Norway's anti-trafficking task-force is required to provide a written report to a steering committee every six months to assess both the scope of the problem in Norway and government efforts to combat it, although these reports are not distributed publicly.